You can hear it again: The sound of video games coming from the basement. Glancing out the window at the brilliant sunshine, green grass, and dancing leaves, you wonder for the millionth time why it seems so tough to get your kids to go play outside.
At Refresh Sports, we put a new twist on classic outdoor toys that are simple, safe, super fun, and 100% screen-free. Our products are designed to put a smile on kids' faces and get them out the back door without a fight. We believe that active play makes for healthy, resilient kids (but don't take our word for it, check out this recent article in Psychology Today). Ultimately, we want to help a new generation make outdoor memories that will last a lifetime.
Our toys make it easy to get started getting your kids outdoors, but there are also plenty of ways to make outdoor time enticing without any toys at all. Here are a few of our top suggestions for easy outdoor activities for kids to do at home - or at the beach, pool, park, or playground!
Move Around With Active Outdoor Toys
What do kids want to do the second they burst out the door? Move around. It's only natural to start running, jumping, skipping, and climbing as soon as you're freed from the confinement of walls!
Climbing trees or heading to the playground down the street offer natural outlets for pent-up energy, as do toys like bicycles, jump ropes, trampolines, and sports equipment. Even loose parts like boards, cardboard boxes, blankets, and clothespins can offer an invitation to children that quickly evolves into hours of creative, active play - especially if you can look past the fact that these "treasures" might look like junk to the neighbors. The bottom line is this: It's not hard for kids to activate their bodies and spark their imaginations once they're out in the fresh air!
Looking to add some cool options with a "wow" factor to your kids' collection of active outdoor toys? Our Rocket Howler Slingshot has a high-strength EVA foam tip and durable plastic frames that provide all the excitement and adventure of launching a powerful slingshot with none of the danger. Hoping for something your kids can hurl across the lawn without breaking a window - or each other's skulls? Our Soft Flyer Fabric and Foam Disc is easy to throw and doesn't hurt to catch - plus it also floats on water!
Dig For Worms
This one's so simple it sounds ridiculous - and yet, we swear, kids of all ages can spend hours playing with these juicy pink pals. So, put out some garden tools (hoes, trowels, and shovels work great) and a bucket or two (old yogurt containers will also do in a pinch), and watch the mucky, slimy magic unfold.
Can't find any worms? Try watering your garden or lawn to bring them to the surface. We take no responsibility for the muddy footprints that may ensue.
Celebrate With Outdoor Birthdays
Sure, a fancy birthday party at an indoor venue is fun - we've got nothing against that. But nothing beats the energy and delight of a good old-fashioned outdoor birthday bash with kids running all over the backyard - and, ok, let's be honest, probably spilling over into the front yard and onto the sidewalk too.
From creating an obstacle course to making mud pies, having a water balloon fight, or designing a nature scavenger hunt to be completed in teams, there are a million and one ways to get kids at a birthday party enjoying themselves outdoors. If you're looking for something to really get the party vibe started and keep kids of all ages entertained for hours, consider our Ultimate Summer Fun - NO SHARING bundle, which includes 2 Rocket Howler Slingshot Darts, 2 Mini Gliders, 2 Boomerangs, 1 Water Hockey Game, and 1 Bouncy Paddle Game.
Searching for birthday gift ideas for a special kid in your life? We've got you covered with outdoor toys perfect for every age.
Splash And Swim Fun At The Pool
It doesn't matter if you're young or old: Playing in and around the water on a hot summer day is one of life's great joys! At Refresh Sports, we take water play at the pool or lake to the next level with versatile toys that the whole family will love.
Don't have a pool or a lake in your backyard? Not a problem. Our Aqua Flyer Water Splash Discs can be dunked into a bowl or bucket of water to transform any outdoor space into a water fight arena like no other - simply soak, squish, and splash! When swimming's involved, toys like our self-propelling Glideray Underwater Pool Toy or Aqua Hockey Water Game will keep the energy high and the laughter and splashes echoing for hours. Explore our full collection of pool toys here!
Team Up With Multiplayer Outdoor Games
Spending time alone outdoors can be a wonderful way for kids to recharge and connect with nature, but when it comes time for outdoor play with friends, nothing beats teaming up for a totally fun, no-holds-barred round of an outdoor game you can learn in 30 seconds but work on mastering - and winning - all afternoon. At Refresh Sports, some of our most popular multiplayer outdoor games include the Bouncy Paddle and Stringy Ball Game, Baseball Sticky Paddle Toss and Catch Game, and our Mini-Toss Lacrosse Set. Enjoy a selection of unique multiplayer outdoor games with our Ultimate Sport Toss Bundle!
Search For And Collect Some Insects
No matter where you live or what time of year it is, there are sure to be insects in your neighborhood. While this fact of life gives some people the creepy crawlies, most kids are more than thrilled to go hunting for bugs at a moment's notice - especially armed with tools like a net, a jar, and a magnifying glass.
Want to take your bug-catching excursion to the next level? Consider taking along a notebook for sketching and a field guide (hard copy or digital) to help you identify all your new six-legged friends.
Stay Calm And Engaged With Outdoor Fidget Toys
Fidget toys can help to improve concentration, self-regulation, fine motor skills, and more, so why not help your child enjoy these benefits in the great outdoors? At Refresh Sports, our collection of outdoor fidget toys includes crowd pleasers like Stringy Balls and Gator Pop Sensory Tubes, perfect for small hands and fingers.
Dig And Play At The Beach
When you think of beach toys, your mind may automatically go to buckets, shovels, and floaties, but at Refresh Sports, we know there's more to fun at the beach than that. Besides our water toys and multiplayer outdoor games, which are ideal for any beach setting, we also offer favorites like our XL Beach Ball and Soft Stone Skippers Water Skip Discs - which glide across the water like real skipping rocks, but don't sink like stones and are always within reach for another throw!
Trace Different Tree Leaves
What better way to learn about local flora than by going on a walk to collect leaves of every shape and size and then tracing them afterwards? Flip leaves over to expose their textured veins before placing them under a sheet of paper to create stunning leaf rubbings with crayons or dip them in paint and turn them into living stamps to make one-of-a-kind cards. Need some more inspiration? Check out these leaf craft ideas for kids and adults!
Throw And Catch With Boomerangs And Flying Toys
There's just something exhilarating about holding a toy in your hand one moment and watching it soar through the air the very next. Kids have been captivated by flying toys ever since the very first paper airplane was folded (and probably even before that), which is why our collection of boomerangs and flying toys is always flying off the shelves - yeah, we went there.
Our soft boomerangs make for safe and easy throwing, rewarding return action, and painless catching - something your kids will appreciate and won't get bored with in 5 minutes. Of course, gliders are another classic that's always sure to please. Check out our Mini Glider Foam Airplane and Soaring Commander Plane Glider, or try multiple flying toys at once with our Ultimate Outdoor Flight and Adventure Bundle!
Make Memories With These Fun Outdoor Activities For Kids
Ready to turn off the screens and get your kids fully engaged with some backyard-approved fun for all ages? We give you our word: Our outdoor toys are safe, durable, weather-ready, and 100% screen-free.
Contact our friendly, Canadian-based team today with any questions. We're here to help your family embrace fun and healthy outdoor play every day of the year!
