The Must Have Toys of Summer

Believe it or not the same toys that you played with as a child are still some of summer's must have toys for our own children. Great toys never go out of style!

Balls
Ideal for 18 months and up
I have not found a child yet that does not like to play with a ball. They love to chase them around, play catch, and toss them to their friends. There are numerous types of balls to purchase; soft, hard surfaced, squishy, ones with grips. Consider choosing a sports ball which are always a big hit among children. A baseball and glove is one of summers favorite past times. You can purchase a ball inexpensively and it will provide hours of good old fashioned fun.

Sprinkler and Little Wading Pool
Ideal for 18 months and up
Almost everyone I knew, included myself, had a sprinkler growing up. They were inexpensive to purchase, easy to assemble, and provided hours of fun for everyone involved. What better way is there to cool off during the summer then running through a sprinkler. Your children get exercise and you get a break. Nowadays there is so many different designs then the typical green basic sprinkler that I had. There are animal shaped ones, beach ball ones, and more elaborate ones that spit water in every direction. You will also find that many kiddie pools now have them built into the design. For older children consider purchasing a slip and slide. It is like a sprinkler for big kids!

Small wading pools are great for summer fun. Even if you have a larger pool they are still practicable. They are great because the small wading pool is relatively safe with only a few precautions. There are many different options to chose from; soft ones, hard ones, elaborate set ups. Many come with built in slides along with the sprinkler.

Jump Rope
Ideal for 5 years-old and up
A jump rope is great; it provides exercise and helps with coordination. It is also a fun way for children to work on their counting abilities. How many of us have tried to beat our own personal record? Jumping rope can be done solo or with a group.

Sidewalk Chalk
Ideal for children 2 years-old and up
This is a fun toy for both parents and children. It lets children be creative and have an artistic expression in the fresh summer sun. If you tell children they are allowed to draw anywhere besides the standard coloring book they love that. Unlike most art projects this one is such an easy clean up; let the rain take care of it or bring out your sprinkler and wash it off yourself.

Bicycle
Ideal for children 2 years-old and up
Learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage. Start the little ones out with big wheels and before you know it they will be moving onto a bike with training wheels. Children love the thrill and independence of riding a bike. For those daring children and parents you can also try skateboards and roller blades. All of these are great for exercise. Get those children away from their video games and outdoors.

Bubble Mower
Ideal for those 18 months old and up
Both Fisher Price and Little Tikes are still marketing these. They make a great Birthday gift for around $20. They are easy to use and children at this age love to do yard work. Most children love bubbles. The bubble lawn mower is great for parents because they do not have to worry about a big mess from the bubbles. The lawn mower does all the work.

Sandbox
Ideal for children 2 years-old and up
You can build one yourself with an inexpensive kit from a home improvement store like Home Depot. Or you can purchase an already assemble one like a cute turtle, crab, or lady bug. These sandboxes come with sealed tops which is great to keep all the unwanted bugs out. Most children love digging around in sand. They will spend hours creating sandcastles or driving their toy trucks through the mounds of sand.

Small plastic slides
Ideal for 18 months old and up
Believe it or not children do not need a big elaborate set up to enjoy themselves. Sometimes I prefer having just a small little plastic side because there is less of a risk of my child getting injured. They are also great because on a rainy day you can pull the slide inside and your child can still enjoy it. Honestly these sides are made of durable heavy duty plastic that will last for years to come. If your small wading pool did not come with a built in slide consider placing this little slide over the side for some added fun.