The Great Outdoors

Outdoor toys aren't limited to balls and bikes anymore. These Parents' Choice award winners highlight the great selection of outdoor products that offer opportunities for kids to dig in the sand, build the ultimate fort, paint the sidewalk in 3D or drive their own sport coupe. Of course no outdoor list would be complete without a few balls and bikes too, but these winners are anything but ordinary.

Radio Flyer #74W Sport Coupe

Ages: 1 - 3 yrs.

Radio Flyer, Inc., $79.00

The Red Sport Coupe features an electronic lights and sound dashboard. This car has a cup holder, a clicking key, clicking gearshift, and honking horn that make for wonderful play features. The door even opens and closes so kids will feel like this is the real thing. Sturdy chrome push handle is great for parents but goes down to resemble a rear spoiler when the child is in control. There is even storage room behind the seat, great for a jacket or sack lunch. When your child is ready to coast, they can slide their tired feet onto the innovative "stow away" footrest. Product Description

CAT 3-in-1 Dump Truck

Ages: 1 & Up

MEGA Brands, Inc., $39.99

Toddler truck and construction enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the CAT 3-in-1 Dump Truck. The unique design of this durable dump truck allows kids to play with it in three ways: they can push it around and play with it as a standard dump truck, lift the dumping bin to reveal a seat to use it as a ride-on, or stand behind the truck and use the handle on the dumping bin to walk behind it, making it a unique "walker" for toddlers taking their first steps. In either position, the truck is solid and sturdy.

Ultimate Beach Ball Sprinkler

Ages: 18 months - 8 yrs.

The Little Tikes Company, $10.00

A unique sprinkler combining beach ball action with wild water play. Inflate the ball; hook it up to a hose, water sprays out of four different spray heads. Kick it around the yard or fill up a water pouch in the bottom and make it a stationary sprinkler.

Little Tikes Cozy Cruisin Wagon

Ages: 18 months & Up

The Little Tikes Company, $59.99

Well-designed and well-constructed, the high seatbacks increase the comfort level of older riders as well as the safety of younger ones. This roomy wagon includes two built-in cup holders and a handle that folds for easy storage. We loved the wet/dry storage area that can be used to keep snacks and drinks cold, or to store gloves, toys, or other items.

Radio Flyer #540G Little Miss Flyer My 1st Scooter

Ages: 2 - 5 yrs.

Radio Flyer, Inc., $49.00

Radio Flyer's Little Miss Flyer My 1st Scooter allows your little girl to scoot in bright pink style. The two front wheels provide stable steering capabilities that make this a great first scooter. The design includes an extra wide base for maximum stability so your child can develop a sense of balance, safely and comfortably. The rear wheel has a cover making this a safe ride. With just the push of a button, the fold-down handle will hug the base making storage and portability easy. Product Description

Also look for the Radio Flyer My First Scooter

Little Tikes Drive, Chip & Putt Golf Trainer

Ages: 2 - 6 yrs.

The Little Tikes Company, $24.99

The Little Tikes Drive, Chip & Putt Golf Trainer is fun introduction to golf for the youngest PGA hopeful. The set includes 2 balls, 2 clubs with storage on the base and the flags are removable for putting practice.

Little Tikes Sand & Water Fun Factory

Ages: 2 - 6 yrs.

The Little Tikes Company, $49.99

Little Tikes Sand & Water Fun Factory combines sand and water fun without the mess or hassle of a big pool or sandbox. The separated trays give children the option of sand play or water play. Children enjoyed discovering how gears and funnels interact with water as they explored new ways of mixing sand with the water. The cleverly-shaped umbrella allows the table to be placed flush against the wall as well as providing much needed shade on sunny days.

KikaFlik

Ages: 3 - 7 yrs.

KikaFlik Inc., $35.00

With this innovative piece of equipment, a child can practice catching and batting a ball without need of a teammate. A 39-inch length of brightly-painted wood has a small fulcrum near one end. As a ball rolls down the incline, it becomes airborne when the child steps on the other end of the board. The child can either catch the ball as it drops, or use a racket or bat to practice tennis or baseball. Three soft, foam balls in different sizes and colors are included.

Air Pogo - The Pogo Swing

Ages: 3 - 10 yrs.

HYPERGEE, Inc., $115.00

A pogo stick? A tire-swing? Both. This swinging, jumping, twisting, floating contraption makes a Joey out of anyone - under 90 lbs. This meets and exceeds US safety standards.

The Original Fortamajig

Ages: 3 - 12 yrs.

The Happy Kid Company LLC, Sugar Mountain PR, $49.95

The concept is nothing short of brilliant. 24 Velcro loops are sewn at well-positioned points throughout this 8x8 foot square of brightly colored nylon ripstop. Use the loops to attach to stable objects (chairs, deck railing, table legs, tree branches) to configure and reconfigure a variety of play structures. With no pieces to lose, break, or replace, this highly inventive product is durable, washable, and easy to store. Packaged as a tote-bag carrying-case, the Fortamagig is a perfect travel companion.

EZYROLLER

Ages: 3 - 14 yrs.

EZYROLLER LLC, $119.00

Not a luge, not a bike, not a scooter, the EzyRoller moves like a snake, without chains or pedals, using easy right-left leg movements. There are no chains and no batteries - the EzyRoller moves and turns silently. It offers the enjoyment of new locomotion possibilities that can't be experienced on any other bike or ride-on. Product Description

Little Tikes Octopus Party Machine

Ages: 3 & Up

Imperial Toy LLC, $9.99

This automated non-toxic bubble blower allows parents to take a break and join in on the fun. This octopus is sure to bring a lot of contagious giggling to any party.

Sack Racing

Ages: 3 & Up

ALEX, $19.99

On your mark, get set, go! Children had tons of fun racing to the finish in these colorful nylon sacks. Sturdy enough to hold the weight of a ten-year old, the woven handles provide support younger children might need. Each sack set comes with two different animals: frog and monkey or rabbit and kangaroo. When the games are over, these sacks can be used to carry toys, beach towels, or a worn out racer to the car.

Cranium Super Fort Carnival Clubhouse

Ages: 4 & Up

Cranium Inc. , $79.99

After pulling it out of the box, it took about 20 minutes to assemble the clubhouse according to the directions. The magnet connectors come together with a satisfying click. Part fort, part clubhouse, the "carnival" theme includes tickets and accessories for a variety of carnival games, an air-pressure launcher to shoot balls in the air and some idea cards to inspire fun ways to play with the ring toss or use the cloth flags as parachutes.

Crayola 3D Sidewalk Chalk

Ages: 4 & Up

Crayola, LLC, $9.99

You have to see this to believe it. This unique twist to the traditional sidewalk chalk, mesmerized our testers. The stencils, contrasting colors of chalk, and 3D glasses transform ho-hum sidewalk sketches into dazzling driveway drawings. Wearing the 3D glasses, children watch their creations come to life as they "pop" off the sidewalk. It’s affordable, fun, and will challenge children to find new ways to use the 3D effect.

OgoSport Super Sport Disk Set

Ages: 4 & Up

OgoSport LLC, $40.00

The Super Sports Disk set is comprised of two foam filled rings each with a high strength elastic membrane center. Testers were intrigued to discover that not all balls react in the same manner, and dreaming up rules for an Ogo contest with water balloons.

Construct-a-Kingdom Beach Builder

Ages: 5 & Up

International Playthings, Inc., $25.00

Let sand be the canvas for creativity! This Beach Builder Construct-A-Kingdom is an 18-piece set that includes a small brick mold and holder, pumper, shovel, 2 piece tower mold, tower lever, 6 mold clips and a convenient storage tote for easy carrying and storing. A great beach activity for the whole family! Product Description

Phlat Ball

Ages: 5 & Up

Tucker Toys, Inc., $11.99

Throw a disc, catch a ball! The transformation takes place in midair by means of a spring mechanism that pops the circle into a sphere. There is a randomized time delay, so it’s impossible to know exactly when the change will happen. This unpredictability adds suspense when children play hot potato, tag, and other games and stunts described in the accompanying booklet. Be forewarned -- dogs love it, too!

RipRider 360

Ages: 5 & Up

Razor USA, LLC, $99.99

Our testers couldn't get enough of the many twists and turns the RipRider 350 can perform. As the young riders perfected their techniques, they set up obstacle courses. After they mastered the simple turns, they devised increasingly more complex "gates" creating a greater need to spin to complete the turns. The racecourse drivers dubbed it a very cool 21st century Big Wheel. And no one in the group was too old for a ride.

Maxi Kick Scooter

Ages: 6 - 10 yrs.

Kickboard USA , $149.99

Urban or Suburban, the new Maxi is the perfect mode of modern mobility for kids ages 6-10 Swiss-designed with a unique lean-and-steer mechanism, the Maxi gives kids the feeling of "surfing the sidewalks." Light weight, yet durable enough to be used every day, the Maxi really curves and carves. Product Description

Hyper Dash

Ages: 6 - 12 yrs.

Wild Planet Entertainment, Inc., $19.99

Known as Hyper Dash, this electronic action game for kids aged six and up comes with a "tagger" as well as five "targets". Targets can be arranged in any space (as long as it is not too big), and the hand-held unit calls out a target that the kids have to run to and "tag." Four different levels of play keep the kids running for hours: level one calls out the colors they need to tag, level two throws numbers into the mix, level three adds special commands such as Double Strike, Triple Strike, Reverse, Double Reverse, and the final level features Compu-Strike (math problems that involve addition and subtraction). No two games are ever the same.

BucketBlast

Ages: 6 & Up

Lolo Company, Inc., $29.95

Buckets and bean bags come together as kids and adults toss, run, balance, chase, strategize, and team up for points and laughs. The kit comes with 15 different games -- 5 indoor, 5 outdoor, and 5 water games. Indoor games include beanbag concentration and a blindfolded bean bag toss. Great for parties.

Air Hogs Wind Chaser

Ages: 8 & Up

Spin Master Toys, $29.99

There is something about kite flying that brings out the child in all of us. This eye-catching kite is provides hours of outdoor activity for the whole family. The string release mechanism makes launching simple and fun. Our young fliers tested the kite’s limits on windy spring days. Staying aloft was a pleasure. And unintended crashing was no fun at all. All in all, this wind chaser is certainly worth a try.

Boochie

Ages: 8 & Up

Gamewright, $34.99

Boochie is a fun new ball game that can be easily played by both parents and kids, indoors and out. In the game, players throw the 12-sided boochie ball, then take turns throwing their smaller bean ball and rings, trying to get as close as possible to the boochie ball. The game comes with a wrist-worn scoring disc complete with iconic Gamewright instructions about how (over your head, between your legs, eyes wide shut) to throw next.

The Bug Book & Bottle

Ages: 8 & Up

Author: Hugh Danks
Workman Publishing, $13.95 (Hard Cover)

The Bug Book & Bottle is a bountiful bundle of goodies stored inside a hard plastic oval about the size of a crayon box. Inside are a bug identification chart with nearly 50 common insects that you might find in your yard, or even, yes, in your house, a 110-page Bug Book, an illustrated field guide and activity booklet, a bug bottle and magnifier to help identify and store the winged creatures you might catch, and a Bug Journal, designed like a miniature school notebook with pages to catalog and draw your discovery.

Zoingo Boingo™

Ages: 8 & Up

Tucker Toys, Inc., $19.99

When first unpacked, there were more than a few head scratchers in the groups of testers. Cool. Awesome. How does it work? Determination and perseverance (two of our favorite attributes) were put to the test as kids worked to master the balance and the bounce. After about twenty minutes, our testers weren't bouncing off the walls, they were bouncing down the driveway, across the lawn and around the playroom. Brain and brawn combine to make this toy a hit. Safety helmets required.

Did You Hug Your Planet Today? Introducing Games to Kids Chinese Lantern Festival Make-Your-Own Indoor Olympics Puzzle This 10 Creative Projects for Crafty Kids Browse All Articles >>	You are in: Play \| The Great Outdoors The Great Outdoors Outdoor toys aren't limited to balls and bikes anymore. These Parents' Choice award winners highlight the great selection of outdoor products that offer opportunities for kids to dig in the sand, build the ultimate fort, paint the sidewalk in 3D or drive their own sport coupe. Of course no outdoor list would be complete without a few balls and bikes too, but these winners are anything but ordinary. Radio Flyer #74W Sport Coupe Ages: 1 - 3 yrs. Radio Flyer, Inc., $79.00 The Red Sport Coupe features an electronic lights and sound dashboard. This car has a cup holder, a clicking key, clicking gearshift, and honking horn that make for wonderful play features. The door even opens and closes so kids will feel like this is the real thing. Sturdy chrome push handle is great for parents but goes down to resemble a rear spoiler when the child is in control. There is even storage room behind the seat, great for a jacket or sack lunch. When your child is ready to coast, they can slide their tired feet onto the innovative "stow away" footrest. Product Description CAT 3-in-1 Dump Truck Ages: 1 & Up MEGA Brands, Inc., $39.99 Toddler truck and construction enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the CAT 3-in-1 Dump Truck. The unique design of this durable dump truck allows kids to play with it in three ways: they can push it around and play with it as a standard dump truck, lift the dumping bin to reveal a seat to use it as a ride-on, or stand behind the truck and use the handle on the dumping bin to walk behind it, making it a unique "walker" for toddlers taking their first steps. In either position, the truck is solid and sturdy. Ultimate Beach Ball Sprinkler Ages: 18 months - 8 yrs. The Little Tikes Company, $10.00 A unique sprinkler combining beach ball action with wild water play. Inflate the ball; hook it up to a hose, water sprays out of four different spray heads. Kick it around the yard or fill up a water pouch in the bottom and make it a stationary sprinkler. Little Tikes Cozy Cruisin Wagon Ages: 18 months & Up The Little Tikes Company, $59.99 Well-designed and well-constructed, the high seatbacks increase the comfort level of older riders as well as the safety of younger ones. This roomy wagon includes two built-in cup holders and a handle that folds for easy storage. We loved the wet/dry storage area that can be used to keep snacks and drinks cold, or to store gloves, toys, or other items. Radio Flyer #540G Little Miss Flyer My 1st Scooter Ages: 2 - 5 yrs. Radio Flyer, Inc., $49.00 Radio Flyer's Little Miss Flyer My 1st Scooter allows your little girl to scoot in bright pink style. The two front wheels provide stable steering capabilities that make this a great first scooter. The design includes an extra wide base for maximum stability so your child can develop a sense of balance, safely and comfortably. The rear wheel has a cover making this a safe ride. With just the push of a button, the fold-down handle will hug the base making storage and portability easy. Product Description Also look for the Radio Flyer My First Scooter Little Tikes Drive, Chip & Putt Golf Trainer Ages: 2 - 6 yrs. The Little Tikes Company, $24.99 The Little Tikes Drive, Chip & Putt Golf Trainer is fun introduction to golf for the youngest PGA hopeful. The set includes 2 balls, 2 clubs with storage on the base and the flags are removable for putting practice. Little Tikes Sand & Water Fun Factory Ages: 2 - 6 yrs. The Little Tikes Company, $49.99 Little Tikes Sand & Water Fun Factory combines sand and water fun without the mess or hassle of a big pool or sandbox. The separated trays give children the option of sand play or water play. Children enjoyed discovering how gears and funnels interact with water as they explored new ways of mixing sand with the water. The cleverly-shaped umbrella allows the table to be placed flush against the wall as well as providing much needed shade on sunny days. KikaFlik Ages: 3 - 7 yrs. KikaFlik Inc., $35.00 With this innovative piece of equipment, a child can practice catching and batting a ball without need of a teammate. A 39-inch length of brightly-painted wood has a small fulcrum near one end. As a ball rolls down the incline, it becomes airborne when the child steps on the other end of the board. The child can either catch the ball as it drops, or use a racket or bat to practice tennis or baseball. Three soft, foam balls in different sizes and colors are included. Air Pogo - The Pogo Swing Ages: 3 - 10 yrs. HYPERGEE, Inc., $115.00 A pogo stick? A tire-swing? Both. This swinging, jumping, twisting, floating contraption makes a Joey out of anyone - under 90 lbs. This meets and exceeds US safety standards. The Original Fortamajig Ages: 3 - 12 yrs. The Happy Kid Company LLC, Sugar Mountain PR, $49.95 The concept is nothing short of brilliant. 24 Velcro loops are sewn at well-positioned points throughout this 8x8 foot square of brightly colored nylon ripstop. Use the loops to attach to stable objects (chairs, deck railing, table legs, tree branches) to configure and reconfigure a variety of play structures. With no pieces to lose, break, or replace, this highly inventive product is durable, washable, and easy to store. Packaged as a tote-bag carrying-case, the Fortamagig is a perfect travel companion. EZYROLLER Ages: 3 - 14 yrs. EZYROLLER LLC, $119.00 Not a luge, not a bike, not a scooter, the EzyRoller moves like a snake, without chains or pedals, using easy right-left leg movements. There are no chains and no batteries - the EzyRoller moves and turns silently. It offers the enjoyment of new locomotion possibilities that can't be experienced on any other bike or ride-on. Product Description Little Tikes Octopus Party Machine Ages: 3 & Up Imperial Toy LLC, $9.99 This automated non-toxic bubble blower allows parents to take a break and join in on the fun. This octopus is sure to bring a lot of contagious giggling to any party. Sack Racing Ages: 3 & Up ALEX, $19.99 On your mark, get set, go! Children had tons of fun racing to the finish in these colorful nylon sacks. Sturdy enough to hold the weight of a ten-year old, the woven handles provide support younger children might need. Each sack set comes with two different animals: frog and monkey or rabbit and kangaroo. When the games are over, these sacks can be used to carry toys, beach towels, or a worn out racer to the car. Cranium Super Fort Carnival Clubhouse Ages: 4 & Up Cranium Inc. , $79.99 After pulling it out of the box, it took about 20 minutes to assemble the clubhouse according to the directions. The magnet connectors come together with a satisfying click. Part fort, part clubhouse, the "carnival" theme includes tickets and accessories for a variety of carnival games, an air-pressure launcher to shoot balls in the air and some idea cards to inspire fun ways to play with the ring toss or use the cloth flags as parachutes. Crayola 3D Sidewalk Chalk Ages: 4 & Up Crayola, LLC, $9.99 You have to see this to believe it. This unique twist to the traditional sidewalk chalk, mesmerized our testers. The stencils, contrasting colors of chalk, and 3D glasses transform ho-hum sidewalk sketches into dazzling driveway drawings. Wearing the 3D glasses, children watch their creations come to life as they "pop" off the sidewalk. It’s affordable, fun, and will challenge children to find new ways to use the 3D effect. OgoSport Super Sport Disk Set Ages: 4 & Up OgoSport LLC, $40.00 The Super Sports Disk set is comprised of two foam filled rings each with a high strength elastic membrane center. Testers were intrigued to discover that not all balls react in the same manner, and dreaming up rules for an Ogo contest with water balloons. Construct-a-Kingdom Beach Builder Ages: 5 & Up International Playthings, Inc., $25.00 Let sand be the canvas for creativity! This Beach Builder Construct-A-Kingdom is an 18-piece set that includes a small brick mold and holder, pumper, shovel, 2 piece tower mold, tower lever, 6 mold clips and a convenient storage tote for easy carrying and storing. A great beach activity for the whole family! Product Description Phlat Ball Ages: 5 & Up Tucker Toys, Inc., $11.99 Throw a disc, catch a ball! The transformation takes place in midair by means of a spring mechanism that pops the circle into a sphere. There is a randomized time delay, so it’s impossible to know exactly when the change will happen. This unpredictability adds suspense when children play hot potato, tag, and other games and stunts described in the accompanying booklet. Be forewarned -- dogs love it, too! RipRider 360 Ages: 5 & Up Razor USA, LLC, $99.99 Our testers couldn't get enough of the many twists and turns the RipRider 350 can perform. As the young riders perfected their techniques, they set up obstacle courses. After they mastered the simple turns, they devised increasingly more complex "gates" creating a greater need to spin to complete the turns. The racecourse drivers dubbed it a very cool 21st century Big Wheel. And no one in the group was too old for a ride. Maxi Kick Scooter Ages: 6 - 10 yrs. Kickboard USA , $149.99 Urban or Suburban, the new Maxi is the perfect mode of modern mobility for kids ages 6-10 Swiss-designed with a unique lean-and-steer mechanism, the Maxi gives kids the feeling of "surfing the sidewalks." Light weight, yet durable enough to be used every day, the Maxi really curves and carves. Product Description Hyper Dash Ages: 6 - 12 yrs. Wild Planet Entertainment, Inc., $19.99 Known as Hyper Dash, this electronic action game for kids aged six and up comes with a "tagger" as well as five "targets". Targets can be arranged in any space (as long as it is not too big), and the hand-held unit calls out a target that the kids have to run to and "tag." Four different levels of play keep the kids running for hours: level one calls out the colors they need to tag, level two throws numbers into the mix, level three adds special commands such as Double Strike, Triple Strike, Reverse, Double Reverse, and the final level features Compu-Strike (math problems that involve addition and subtraction). No two games are ever the same. BucketBlast Ages: 6 & Up Lolo Company, Inc., $29.95 Buckets and bean bags come together as kids and adults toss, run, balance, chase, strategize, and team up for points and laughs. The kit comes with 15 different games -- 5 indoor, 5 outdoor, and 5 water games. Indoor games include beanbag concentration and a blindfolded bean bag toss. Great for parties. Air Hogs Wind Chaser Ages: 8 & Up Spin Master Toys, $29.99 There is something about kite flying that brings out the child in all of us. This eye-catching kite is provides hours of outdoor activity for the whole family. The string release mechanism makes launching simple and fun. Our young fliers tested the kite’s limits on windy spring days. Staying aloft was a pleasure. And unintended crashing was no fun at all. All in all, this wind chaser is certainly worth a try. Boochie Ages: 8 & Up Gamewright, $34.99 Boochie is a fun new ball game that can be easily played by both parents and kids, indoors and out. In the game, players throw the 12-sided boochie ball, then take turns throwing their smaller bean ball and rings, trying to get as close as possible to the boochie ball. The game comes with a wrist-worn scoring disc complete with iconic Gamewright instructions about how (over your head, between your legs, eyes wide shut) to throw next. The Bug Book & Bottle Ages: 8 & Up Author: Hugh Danks Workman Publishing, $13.95 (Hard Cover) The Bug Book & Bottle is a bountiful bundle of goodies stored inside a hard plastic oval about the size of a crayon box. Inside are a bug identification chart with nearly 50 common insects that you might find in your yard, or even, yes, in your house, a 110-page Bug Book, an illustrated field guide and activity booklet, a bug bottle and magnifier to help identify and store the winged creatures you might catch, and a Bug Journal, designed like a miniature school notebook with pages to catalog and draw your discovery. Zoingo Boingo™ Ages: 8 & Up Tucker Toys, Inc., $19.99 When first unpacked, there were more than a few head scratchers in the groups of testers. Cool. Awesome. How does it work? Determination and perseverance (two of our favorite attributes) were put to the test as kids worked to master the balance and the bounce. After about twenty minutes, our testers weren't bouncing off the walls, they were bouncing down the driveway, across the lawn and around the playroom. Brain and brawn combine to make this toy a hit. Safety helmets required.	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