Playing outside games is so hit and miss in the UK. The typical summer here in the UK is grim and wet. It’s lovely up until the schools break up for the long summer holiday, but then the heaven’s open and it doesn’t stop until they go back! However, 2018 is proving to be different. We’ve had hot, dry weather for weeks now – a veritable heatwave.
With the fantastic weather, we’re all getting out and about. Earlier this year we posted a round up about ‘Rainy Day Toys and Games’ – so why not do one now on Outdoor Toys and Games! What follows is a selection of toys and games that we love.
Junior Foil Sport Kite by Brookite
We LOVE flying kites. In fact, we’ve arranged a kite flying beach party to celebrate the end of school, where we want to get as many kites in the air as we can! This Junior Foil Sport kite by Peterkin is so much fun to fly … not the easiest – you think you’ve mastered it, just at the moment it decides to change direction and plummet to the ground. But when it’s airborne, it looks fantastic. It’s aimed at children (and adults) over 8 years old. It is 1.2m wide and has two lines/two handles. It works best when there’s a light-to-fresh breeze.
Link to purchase: Junior Foil Sport Kite
Pass the Pigs – Big Pigs
You must surely know by now that we love Pass the Pigs. I bought my first Pass the Pigs travel game when I was a teenager (30+ years ago). We were lucky enough to be sent Giant Inflatable Pass the Pigs last year, which became a family favourite pool game on a Maldives holiday. And now we have a set of ‘Big Pigs’ – same simple rules, but you won’t lose these ones in the sand on the beach! Fabulous fun, as always!
Link to Purchase: Pass the Pigs ‘Big Pigs’
Chicco Fit&Fun – 3 in 1
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- Balance Board
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- Scooter
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- Skateboard
This brilliant toy was suggested to me by some friends with young children. For 18-month olds the board acts as a balance board for sitting on – it even plays songs and sound effects to encourage movement. When the child is 2, you attach a handle and it converts into a scooter (you turn the wheel axis over that allows the wheels to spin); it’s a really sturdy first scooter. And when they reach 3 years of age, the handle comes off and it becomes a ‘my first skateboard’. It’s a toy that will last more than one summer. A cool piece of kit, available from Kiddies Kingdom.
Link to Purchase: Chicco Fit&Fun
One World Futbol
Outdoor playing often involves a football of some kind. However, if you’re anything like us, you’ll store a ball all winter and when you go to play with it, it’s deflated. And we can never seem to find the pump! Well, that’s no longer a problem. The One World Futbol is practically indestructible – it never needs inflating. Not that you should, but if you run over it with your car it’ll still be fine … put a match to it – no impact. The reason it is so strong is because the One World Futbol has been made for disadvantaged communities throughout the world. It’s built to last and to endure all terrains.
The One World Futbol is part of the One World Play Project. For every One World Futbol sold, another is given to organisations working in youth projects in disadvantaged communities around the world. Over 1 million balls have been donated to date. It’s a great cause. And it’s a great product; one football that lasts a lifetime.
Link to Purchase: One World Futbol
Splash Out!
Splash Out! is a game that involves water and getting wet. It’s a very simple concept, but a lot of fun. You separate the two halves of the ball and place a filled water balloon within it. Then you set a ticking timer. You throw the ball between the players, and at some point in time the timer will run out and the water balloon inside will explode, drenching the unlucky catcher!
We like this game, but we equally found it rather frustrating. The water balloons included in the box were awkward to fill, then awkward to tie the tops. And during the throwing, if we accidently dropped the ball (as is common with young children playing), the balloon exploded on the ground. More time was spent filling up water balloons than playing the game. When working properly though, we have had some great laughs playing it.
Link to Purchase: Splash Out!
Nikko Velocitrax Remote Control Tank
I’m typing this while sitting in my caravan, watching children from at least three surrounding tents/vans speeding their remote-control cars up and down the field. Some are ‘road cars’ and not built for the rough ground, so aren’t working too well. There’s of course a petrol-fuelled beach buggy RC, but it’s SO noisy. And then there’s Toby, with his Nikko Velocitrax. It can’t compete with the petrol buggy, but it leaves all the battery ones standing still! You drive this in much the same way as you do a tank – each track is controlled independently. And it LOVES rough ground!
Link to Purchase: Nikko Velocitrax
Garrett ACE 200i Metal Detector
OK, this isn’t a game nor is it a toy, but it’s given us hours and hours of outdoor fun this summer already. Having found a WWII Sten gun bullet while out walking on the dunes, Huw and Toby have been using the metal detector in the hope of finding more metal shells. Nothing yet, but they love trying! The Garrett ACE 200i metal detector, from Regton Ltd, is a great ‘serious’ entry level machine. Quick to set up and easy to operate.
Link to purchase: Garrett ACE 200i
Fun Kite – Safari Lion
We started with a kite, and we’re going to end with a kite … well, we love flying kites! This kite is a Safari Lion Fun Kite, from Brookite, and it is so easy to fly. It is a single line kite from Kites4Fun and it hardly needs any setting up – just clip in the cross pieces, tie on the line, and off you go. It flies in barely any breeze too. Great fun.
Link to Purchase: Fun Kite
There are so many other outdoor toys and games we could mention. This selection represents what is popular with the PackThePJs’ kids at the moment! Some we’ve purchase and some we were sent to review over the last 12 months. We’re always looking for new games to play – if you have a favourite, please tell us about it in the comment box below. Happy playing 
