We Have Tested These 5 Outdoor Toys… But Which Ones Actually Work?
In today’s digital age, children are spending more time indoors than ever before. While indoor activities have their own merits, there are harmful effects of a sedentary lifestyle on children’s health and development. One of the key benefits of outdoor play that often goes overlooked is the exposure to natural sunlight. Sunlight is a rich source of vitamin D, an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in bone health and immune system function.
The Importance of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is especially important for growing kids as it helps their bones and teeth develop properly. Children need vitamin D to absorb calcium and build strong bones, which is crucial during their growth and development years. Without enough vitamin D, children can develop rickets, a condition that can cause weak and soft bones, leading to bone deformities and fractures. Vitamin D is also essential for children’s immune system function. It helps the body fight off infections and reduces the risk of certain diseases. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of respiratory infections, including the flu, and other autoimmune disorders. By ensuring their kids get enough vitamin D through outdoor play and a balanced diet, parents can help support their children’s health and well-being.
Need More Sunlight? Play Outside!
Playing outside exposes kids to sunlight, which helps their systems produce vitamin D, an essential nutrient for their health. More time outside means more vitamin D, which is crucial for growing bodies. We’ve selected the top 5 outdoor toys to encourage kids to spend more time outside by engaging them in fun activities. Here’s our list!
1. Overall Best Choice: GROWGO 2-in-1 Mud Kitchen & Grocery Store
- Engagement: 100%
- Longevity outside: 90%
- Educational value: 100%
- Price point: $$
When it comes to valuable and engaging play, nothing beats a good mud kitchen. We’ve chosen the GROWGO brand because it offers the most benefits.
First, it has a waterproof coating and is sturdy and well-made (we gave it 90% just because the wood will start to wear after a long period of use and will need re-coating).
The engagement and educational value are through the roof! This piece has running water, a nice worktop, an “oven”, and a few blackboards to write or draw on.
It’s also double-sided! Not only can kids play kitchen, but a cafe or a lemonade stand, too!
Kids can get creative, social, learn practical skills, and explore nature. The nature aspect is boosted even more with the sustainable packaging box that transforms into a DIY bug hotel. The skills children can develop using this toy are as abundant as the ways to play with it, meaning no kid will get bored.
By far, GROWGO 2-in-1 Mud Kitchen or Grocery Store is the most efficient new toy on the market for this summer.
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2. Doctor Dolphin Inflatable Bounce House
- Engagement: 100%
- Longevity outside: 100%
- Educational value: 50%
- Price point: $$$
What kid doesn’t love a bounce house? This outdoor toy outshines others by having many options packed in one: a jumping area, two slides, a climbing wall, and even an area you can fill with pit balls! This bounce house will keep children playing outside for hours and significantly improve their overall physical development. However, outside of physical skills, it doesn’t offer other kinds of development. It’s also quite pricey, so we gave it second place.
3. Hapinest Find and Seek Scavenger Hunt
- Engagement: 80%
- Longevity outside: 80%
- Educational value: 80%
- Price point: $
A scavenger hunt is an ultimate game for trips and hikes, but it can also bring lots of joy to your backyard! It’s super engaging and fun, making children feel like they’re going on an adventure! It also offers educational value as it encourages kids to explore nature, textures, colors, and items in general. It’s also a great way to bond with family or friends, and it doesn’t even cost much! That being said, we gave it only 80% on longevity and engagement, because it’s not a game you’ll play every day. Kids will get bored after one time playing it, and as excellent as the hunt is, you’ll need to wait for some time or go on a trip to spark their interest again.
4. Intex Fun ‘N Fruity Inflatable Pool
- Engagement: 60%
- Longevity outside: 100%
- Educational value: 30%
- Price point: $$
There’s nothing better than having a nice cool pool on a hot summer day. And what if the pool looks as awesome as this one from Intex? Even better! Equipped with a slide and a colorful, fun design, kids will absolutely love splashing and playing in there! However, it only offers physical benefits (and less than the bounce house) and only works on hot days, so it went down to the fourth place.
5. Creativity for Kids Glow in the Dark Rock Painting Kit
- Engagement: 70%
- Longevity outside: 100%
- Educational value: 80%
- Price point: $
If we’re talking about educational value, this simple kit hits the mark! It motivates kids to go outside and explore looking for rocks, stretch their creative muscles by painting various designs, and learn about glow-in-the-dark magic! Plus, it’s really affordable! But it might not be as engaging as other options listed here. And there’s always the risk kids will just paint the rocks inside. The kit would work better paired with some other outdoor toy, like a mud kitchen, which could serve as the rock-painting station.
So, why the GROWGO 2-in-1 Mud Kitchen or Grocery Store?
As parents, we’re always on the lookout for toys that provide both entertainment and educational value for our kids. The GROWGO mud kitchen is the perfect outdoor toy. Its dual-purpose design, featuring a play kitchen on one side and a grocery store on the other, provides children with the opportunity to engage in imaginative play from multiple perspectives.
The running water with a tap adds a realistic touch to the play experience, encouraging children to develop good hygiene habits. I was also impressed by the realistic oven door with a magnet lock, storage shelf, and storage baskets that provide ample space for kitchen tools and ingredients, promoting organization and life skills development. There’s even a bell the kids can ring!
Lastly, the GROWGO mud kitchen’s sturdy and durable design, coated with waterproof paint, ensured that it could withstand the elements and last for years to come. And the design is very cute, so it will look great in any backyard.
This toy just hits every mark on engagement, looks, and overall value for children. And the positive reviews on this toy prove it!
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Laura Johnson
The GROWGO mud kitchen has been a game-changer for my grandkids! It encourages them to spend more time outdoors and enjoy the sunshine while having fun with imaginative play.
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