Go Out and Play!

Outdoor Toys Provide Tremendous Learning Opportunities for Children as Their Classroom Becomes a Playground.

by Jacqueline Cucco View Bio

Jacqueline Cucco

Jacqueline Cucco is an associate editor at Adventure Publishing Group, where she writes toy reviews and manages the social media accounts for The Toy Insider, a site that provides parents, grandparents, or any gift-giver with the most up-to-date insight on toys and kids’ entertainment year-round. The Toy Insider also publishes an annual Holiday Gift Guide, which appears in Family Circle magazine. Cucco also contributes to The Toy Book and The Pop Insider.

Now that warmer weather is finally on its way, it’s time to start thinking about outdoor play! It’s so important to get kids off the couch and encourage them to play outside. There are so many great outdoor toys big and small, from bicycles, ride-ons and swing sets to sidewalk chalk, bubble blowers and pool toys.

Outdoor play goes hand-in-hand with active play, which is not only fun for kids, but also has so many health benefits. Kids can get in their daily dose of exercise without even realizing it, which can help reduce the risk of developing diseases such as heart disease and obesity.

Staying active with toys such as sports balls or lawn games can promote coordination, balance, and motor skills. There are also plenty of group activities and games that can help kids practice socializing, while teaching them the fun of a little friendly competition.

Here are some tips to encourage kids to get outside:

1. Invite some friends over. Outdoor toys often make great group activities. Plan a play date so kids can socialize as they play. Chances are, if there is a whole bunch of kids hanging out on a nice spring or summer day, they probably won’t want to stay inside anyway.


2. Throw a BBQ, a pool party, or a family fun day. If kids are reluctant to leave the couch, give them a reason to get outside with a party of some kind. It doesn’t have to be big or elaborate but if the rest of the family is hanging out outside, the kids will likely want to join in on the fun too!


3. Get creative. Give kids several different options of what to play with to appeal to their interests. If they like arts and crafts, grab some sidewalk chalk or a tie-dye kit. If they are sportier, choose a bicycle or skateboard. If they’re tech-obsessed, there are all kinds of drones on the market, even ones for younger kids. If they get distracted easily, create an obstacle course with multiple elements. Pro tip: Bubbles are always a good idea!

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• Benefits of Play

  Playing outdoors is one of the most memorable aspects of childhood.

  Physical - When kids play outside, they are likely using their entire body, learning reflexes and movement control, developing fine and gross motor skills and increasing flexibility and balancing skills.

  Cognitive - One of the best ways to stimulate brain development is to encourage your child to explore objects and physical spaces, processing sights and sounds.

  Social - Playground interactions are where kids learn valuable everyday life lessons about interacting with others, social norms and independence, all while gaining important relationship-building skills.