Hobbies And Interests
History
Toys made of bone and clay have been found in prehistoric and ancient ruins. In earlier times, children did not have as much time to play as they do now. Families depended on children for chores and help support the family. Families were also larger, so mothers probably sent children outdoors to play just to have a little quiet in the house. The outside toys children had were often homemade from whatever they had around the yard and a lot of imagination. For example, an old tin can became an outside toy when the game "kick the can" was born. Trees often held an old tire made into a swing. A regular rope became a jump rope where little girls created various jumping games and rhymes. In more recent generations as economic status rose, more outside toys became mass produced. Today, most outside toys are sold in retail stores.
Function
The main function depends on who you ask, the kids or adults. The kids would answer with a unanimous answer of fun. The adults think more along the lines of children learning, being creative and getting exercise. A child might enjoy using toy bug catchers, but as she has fun catching the bugs, she's learning about nature. A creative outside toy that is popular is sidewalk chalk. Children can use imagination to draw and color, wash it away with water and start again. The most common function though is to keep children engaged and active outside. Outside toys help keep boredom at bay and because many outside toys are played with most over summer vacations, that's a big bonus. Other exact functions depend on the outside toy being used. For example, a ball is to throw or catch. The function of a tricycle or wagon is to provide something a child can ride on or in and become mobile. Some toys have the function of being active but not mobile, such as a swimming pool or swing set. Some outside active toys, like sleds, have the function of active play but only in the snow.
Types
Generally, toys can be divided into a few types, including water play, sports play, gymnastics-type toys and role-playing toys like a playhouse that becomes a pretend home or a tree house that becomes a fort. There are also outside toys that are games such as horseshoes, badminton or tether balls. Some outside toys can be played with by adults as well as children.
Features
One feature of an outside toy is that it needs to be sturdily made. Aside from the fact that children are usually rougher on outside toys, they are also usually left outside in all kinds of weather. Another feature of modern outside toys is that many are made of plastic and have rounded corners, so they are safe. Outside toys are usually very colorful because children love and are attracted to brighter colors. One very important feature of mass-produced outside toys is that most manufacturers in the United States have strict safety guidelines and the toys are routinely inspected before they are sold.
Warning
Parents should be aware that not all toys are made in countries that inspect safety features. Also, occasionally, an outside toy that was deemed safe is recalled due to defective parts or other concerns. Before buying an outside toy for a child, consult a consumer watch group to make sure the toy is not on the recall list. If you find a toy you already have has been recalled, call the place of purchase to find out what the return policy is for that particular recall. Make sure when children are playing that there is adult supervision, especially when the outside toy being used is a pool or something else they could be injured without proper supervision. For many outside toys, such as sports equipment, roller skates, skateboards and bikes, purchase and use safety helmets and safety equipment.
Benefits
The major benefit of outside toys is active, healthy kids. Childhood obesity is on the rise as kids have come inside on the couch to watch TV and play video games. Outside toys are one answer to getting kids moving and staying fit. A secondary benefit is they will be having so much fun playing with their outside toys they won't even know it's good for them! Outside toys also offer the benefit of developing good motor skills and hand to eye coordination.