Outdoor toys
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Von
Vanessa M.
Outdoor toys and the role of physical education
Get out into the fresh air: outdoor activities are good for children and adults alike. While we adults enjoy taking a leisurely stroll or soaking up some sun while reading in a deckchair, kids often need more "input" to have fun outside. This is where outdoor toys come into play. Outdoor toys bring the fun to the garden, parks, walking paths and balconies . As we all know that exercise is an important factor in healthy child development, outdoor toys for children serve a valuable purpose and can be used optimally for physical education. The toy can therefore be a tool with which you can support your child's development through targeted movement.
In this article, you can find out exactly how your child benefits from such outdoor toys and which outdoor toys are suitable for which age.
Why outdoor toys are important for your child's development
Getting children moving in the fresh air not "only" has health benefits, but also offers plenty of opportunities for development. Above all, playing with outdoor toys for children promotes motor skills. Logically, after all, these are typically play experiences that involve a lot of physical activity. As soon as several kids get together to play with outdoor toys, social skills are also promoted. Your child can gain experience of interpersonal interaction, dealing with differences of opinion and finding compromises through contact with siblings and friends. In the process, they will expand their skills in the areas of empathy, cooperation, communication and teamwork. Below we take a closer look at some types of outdoor toys for toddlers and older children and discuss their developmental effects:
⚽🏀 Balls and throwing games 🏐🏈
Your child can practise throwing and shooting outdoors without directly endangering the living room lamp, TV or expensive vase. Balls and throwing games as outdoor toys for the home garden or kindergarten improve coordination and promote eye and hand coordination. Your child practises aiming and can compete with other kids in penalty shoot-outs or can throwing. The option of playing together is a serious argument for throwing toys earning the title of "cool outdoor toy".
Swings, slides, climbing frames 🛝🪜
The main reason why the playground is a favorite place for many children is the exciting equipment that can usually be found there. Swings, slides, climbing frames, seesaws, sandboxes etc. awaken a thirst for adventure and encourage your child to put their motor skills to the test. The activating outdoor toys primarily train their gross motor skills and strengthen their muscles through playful movement. Outdoor toys of this type are available in different materials, such as wood or plastic.
Vehicles: tricycles, bicycles, scooters 🚲
Children's vehicles are outdoor toys that get children moving. With balance bikes, bicycles, scooters, slide cars, pedal tractors, bobby cars and similar vehicles, the development of balance, motor skills and coordination picks up speed. And one thing is certain: equipped with a sporty vehicle, every walk will be a highlight for your child.
Skipping ropes and bouncy balls 🪢
Skipping ropes and bouncy balls will make your child work up a sweat. There is certainly no shortage of physical action with these outdoor toys, as they require stamina. Playing with skipping ropes and bouncy balls can even promote heart health.
Sledges 🛷
Of course, child-friendly encouragement with outdoor toys doesn't have to stop in winter! If the snow gets in the way of rides on children's vehicles or a ball game in the garden, sledges are a great alternative. To conquer the slopes on a sledge, your child needs both balance and coordination skills - clear the way, here you come!
The best outdoor toys for different age groups
Whether playing with BIG Waterplay water rides, racing with children's vehicles, creating sandcastles in the BIG Sand and Water Shell or bravely scaling a climbing toy: cool outdoor & garden toys for children make time in the fresh air a real experience. Which is the best outdoor toy among the many options, from sandboxes to sledges, always depends on the age of the children. Let's take a look at which outdoor toys are suitable for toddlers of which age group:
Indispensable outdoor toys from the age of 1
Outdoor toys from the age of 1 are rather simple and adapted to the needs of one-year-old children. As mobility plays a major role at this age and children are slowly but surely discovering how to walk, baby walkers and children's vehicles such as the BIG Bobby Cars are ideal. The BIG Buggy 3-in-1 baby walker, for example, provides optimum support for the first attempts at walking and also functions as a practical means of transport for everything your child always wants to have with them.
In principle, seesaws, age-appropriate swings and low slides are also outdoor toys for children aged 1 and over, as long as you support your child in using them. The same applies to sandpits and outdoor water toys: one-year-olds should not play with them unsupervised, but can certainly benefit from the sensory experience of handling sand and water under supervision.
Outdoor toys for children aged 3 and over
Compared to outdoor toys from the age of 1 or 2, outdoor toys from the age of 3 may have slightly more complex functions. The focus is often still on motor skills, now paired with creativity and imagination. The BIG Power Worker Maxi Digger, for example, addresses both skills comprehensively: The bright yellow digger with fully movable arm invites your child to dig diligently, developing a basic understanding of motor processes and training their fine motor skills. An instructive experience, as the training of fine motor skills is becoming increasingly important for children at the age of three. They are increasingly able to perform movements with sensitivity and fine-tune small physical movements. They need these skills, for example, to be able to tie their shoes or eat cleanly with cutlery.
Playing with the Claas Celtis children's tractor with trailer is similarly effective. The pedal tractor in an authentic Claas design has a precision chain drive that makes it easy to start off and lets your child slip into the role of a farmer. The best food for children's imaginations!
We would like to introduce you to two more BIG outdoor toys for children aged 3 and over: the Sammy Rocker seesaw. The seesaw in the shape of a friendly-looking dinosaur lying on its back can accommodate two children, who can train their coordination and balance at the same time in a lively "back and forth". Improving balance in turn has a positive effect on almost every gross motor movement. This also applies to climbing: With the BIG Kraxxl climbing toys, children have to place their feet and hands carefully and learn to keep a cool head even at heights. The better their balance is trained at a young age, the easier it will be for your child to run, swing, dance or climb.
Action-packed outdoor toys for children aged 6 and over
Outdoor toys for children aged 6 and over should definitely not lack action. Kids who are slowly outgrowing their toddler years need toys that match their comparatively high level of ability. Outdoor toys that test dexterity, require stamina and promote teamwork are ideal. Despite the fact that they should be exciting and action-packed, outdoor toys for older children must of course be safe. Bicycles, skateboards and equipment for various outdoor team sports, such as soccer or badminton, are popular.
Conclusion: Encouraging movement with outdoor toys
Whether new or classic outdoor toys: if the outdoor toys are suitable for your child's age and personal preferences, you have made the right choice. This will bring plenty of fun outdoor exercise into your child's life, which will have a positive effect on their health and their physical, motor and social development. In addition to the age recommendation, you should pay attention to another important feature when buying outdoor toys: the quality. At BIG, we are committed to manufacturing durable, safe and absolutely high-quality toys that we produce in Germany in an environmentally friendly way. In the BIG Shop you will find outdoor toys that you can buy with a clear conscience.
