It seems like almost every week, we hear about how our children are overweight. I’m not sure about you, but I particularly hate the hear word “obese” when describing a child. It may sound like I am on a soapbox, but before we put our children on medication for the rest of their lives, it is our job as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other favored adults to help our children get outside and get active.

Many of us can relate to what it is like to be overweight. I didn’t have too much of a problem until after high school but throughout my adult life I have been going up and down in weight. Currently? My weight is good but it’s an everyday struggle to watch what I eat and make sure I get enough exercise – and I’m almost 50 and I am in control of my body. I’m sure many of you reading this can relate to that comment. Now imagine being 5 and really not in control of yourself. It’s up to your family to make sure you get exercise and eat properly, right?

One thing our children need today is encouragement to get out of the house and play. So as parents, how can we encourage our kids to be active every single day? Signing your kids up for an outdoor team sport such as baseball, soccer, or tennis is a great way if you are able to afford the weekly fees and cost of getting your child started. If this isn’t an option for you, investing in a few outdoor toys will help motivate your children to venture outdoors.

Why outdoor toys? Outdoor toys are helpful in developing many skills during children’s playtime. In addition, outdoor toys are an excellent way for children to enjoy the fresh air and get some exercise at the same time while tending to be durable and easy to clean. Playhouses, climbing frames, trampolines, pedal cars, and swing sets are some of the most popular outdoor toys purchased by families today but don’t forget about classic outdoor games such as hopscotch, tag, kickball and more.

Kids love board games and they will always be classic way for children to learn simple skills like math, color balance and coordination. These toys are available in giant versions which you can take outside, giving more space, fresh air and getting the children out of the house. Some great choices to consider in this category are an outdoor bowling set, soccer set or t-ball set for smaller children and playhouses. Also, many of the toys in this category may be brought in the house during the cooler months and played indoors.

Don’t forget water! What child doesn’t love to play in the water? Kiddie pools are available in many popular character themes such as pirates and dinosaurs, different colors and many with built in activity stations. The pool toys you select will only add to the enjoyment with water guns and canons, kick boards, lifejackets, inflatable water wings, retrieval toys, rafts and loungers, inflatable sharks, tubes, inflatable basketball hoops, seat rings and beach balls to name a few.

Investing in a few outdoor toys will help make outdoor playing time enjoyable for your children – and you too!