Top Summertime Toy Tips for Tots

iVillage "Chief Toy Officer" Elizabeth Werner Offers Advice for Outdoor Play

Parents and kids are ready to head to the backyard for outdoor fun, but according to Elizabeth Werner, after a few weeks it takes unique toys to keep kids happy and having fun in the sun for the entire summer. As the Chief Toy Officer for online parenting community iVillage.com and a toy industry expert, she offers these top tips for choosing outdoor toys and equipment for kids.

• Let Kids be Kids — The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends spontaneous "kid play" for healthy physical and social development. Take advantage of the weather and find toys that lend themselves to unstructured play outdoors — like play houses or ride on vehicles.
• Role Play Promotes Creativity — Play houses and make-believe cottages offer creative environments for neighborhood kids to play together and create story lines in their own fantasy worlds. Role playing is an important way children practice decision making skills and express their own interests and personalities.
• Just Add WaterAs the temperature heats up, take the fun outside and spray, splash and soak the hot weather away. Find toys that circulate or pump water to allow for increased child interaction and products that allow for easy drying and storage.
• Kick It — Outdoor exercise is one of the best ways to entertain kids and promote their health at the same time. Sports-related toys can help teach kids how to aim, jump, kick and toss — keeping them active while helping develop gross motor skills.
• Classics in Plastic — Easy to clean, sturdy and durable, plastic toys can last a lifetime without a splinter or chip of paint. For example, Step2's Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center looks like a wooden classic, but it's made with plastic and much more convenient to care for and store.
• Portability Makes Play Easier — Pull handles and wheels on heavy toys like sandboxes and water tables let you easily move them around the yard — in and out of the sun and shade. Look for sturdy wheels and handle construction, and plugs that allow draining water or rinsing out sand.
• Better Safe than Sorry — Buy brands you trust, and make sure you read the labels. Quality toys are well-tested, and many are made in the USA. Be sure that toys are properly labeled with easy to understand sales and manufacturing information, and include a customer service email or hotline to contact for help.
• Block the Rays — Toys with umbrellas or canopies are helpful in preventing sun exposure that can leave tots with unhealthy sun rashes and burns. Always use sunscreen on yourself and little ones.