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Splish splash
Water toys are summer’s biggest hits,
among many ways to have outdoor fun
Gone are the days when kids spent lazy summer days climbing trees, riding bikes or playing tag. Advanced technology means children are eager to be sent to their rooms, where they're likely to find MP3 players, a small television or mini-DVD player, computer games or, at the very least, hand-held electronic games, which can keep them occupied for hours. But that's not healthy.
Sunny days call for getting out and being active, and a new batch of summer toys makes it easy to turn your back yard into a little adventure park.
Slip 'N Slides are a great way to splash into the season. My son John Paul and his friends -- Jason and Jordan Bayang, and Kai Casey, ages 9 to 12 -- were willing guinea pigs in testing the Batman/ Joker slide sold at Wal-Mart for about $22.
"It goes really fast," said Jason, who seemed to enjoy tumbling over the edge.
"We could overshoot the bumpers," Jordan said.
Being able to race one another was one of the slide's most appealing features.
John Paul and Kai said the best part was "getting soaked." The boys spent hours playing on the slide before giving it up to try super-soakers, squirt guns and water bombs.
For this mom it was nice to see the children excited about playing outdoors for such a long time. The outdoor toys definitely encourage social and physical play that they just don't get with video games.
The slides are available in an array of styles that reflect different interests. The football-themed "Splash Down" lets children slide through the defense to score touchdowns. An inflatable football and two inflatable players provide atmosphere. The slide retails for about $25.
The firefighter-themed "Heat Wave" includes an overhead hydrant system that soaks you as you slide through. This slide sells at Toys 'R' Us for about $35.
Jason Bayang, left, Kai Casey and Jordan Bayang found the more expensive Frisbee flying discs to be better flyers than cheaper counterparts.
A Battle Boogie Board costs $14.99 and can be used like a super-soaker in the pool. Part boogie board, part weapon, it draws water directly from the pool.
If you prefer conserving to playing with water, water toys are not the only items that can hold kids' attention. Many other toys costing less than $10 can provide hours of outdoor fun.
Hover Discs are among the hottest-selling items. "It looks like a flying saucer," said Kelly Abregano, manager of KB Toys. But she cautioned, "It's so weightless that in high winds it's gone."
The store also sells a lot of kids' golf sets, no doubt to a few young players who aspire to be the next Michelle Wie.
The faithful Frisbee remains fun for both children and adults and can be used almost anywhere ... in the back yard, at the park or on the beach. But consider the more expensive discs -- they're worth the investment. The Frisbee Freestyle Disc and the Ultimate Disc soared with ease, unlike cheaper counterparts. Both came with DVDs that demonstrate some tricks and moves.
Frisbees date to 1967, when some high school students in New Jersey introduced the idea of a noncompetitive, no-contact sport with a flying disc. A group of students played with the first Wham-O Frisbee in 1968. More details can be found at www.frisbeedisc.com.
Soap bubbles are old-fashioned but a continual source of fun for young children. Another plus, this fun costs pennies. A 64-ounce bottle runs about $3. The tools are similarly inexpensive. A plastic fly swatter can be used as a wand to create hundreds of bubbles at once.
You don't even have to buy the bubbles. Young scientists can concoct their own using a recipe of 2 cups of water, 5 tablespoons of glycerin or corn syrup and one-third cup of dish detergent.
Sidewalk chalk (about $5 for 50 pieces) and water balloons (about $2 for dozens) are other cheap ways to get kids outside.
Unique hobby kits and toys can be found in the HearthSong catalog, which offers a number of choices for athletic to artistic kids.
Parents can get involved in setting up a pop-up clear vinyl aquarium, resulting a minipond that will sit in your back yard or on your lanai. The kit costs $29.95 and includes a 15-gallon tank, a pump and fountain; you supply the fish and water plants.
For girly types, Lucky Bug Flip Flop kits allow the fashionable to get creative. The $11.95 kits come with a pair of slippers that can be embellished with glass beads and nylon thread.
Of course, you don't need a pre-packaged kit -- an ordinary pair of slippers from Longs Drug Stores and notions available at any dry-goods or craft supply store will also do the trick.
Also featured in the catalog are rope ladders, air power rockets, archery sets, pool toys and sand castle kits. Visit www.hearthsong.com or call 800-325-2502.
After a weekend of play, the kids' favorite item turned out to be one of the most basic of toys: an oversize 16-inch sport ball from Kmart. It cost $9.99 and was definitely worth the price. The lightweight ball can be tossed, kicked around and chased for all-day play and exercise.
It might even get me out of the house more often.
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