| Kids need to be active. Playing outside is the best | | | | math and science. |
| way for them to develop muscles and large motor | | | | 2. Developing physical skills requires practice and |
| skills like balance. There are additional health benefits | | | | freedom of movement. As these skills improve, a |
| like increased cardiovascular fitness and lung capacity. | | | | child builds a sense of self and increased confidence. |
| Without access to the outside, most kids find some | | | | Trying new things and healthy self-esteem follow |
| creative way to burn energy, whether it's bouncing | | | | along. Little Tikes climbers combine different |
| on the bed, somersaults on the sofa, or literally | | | | challenges from sliding to climbing. Swinging back and |
| climbing the walls. Most parents prefer to have their | | | | forth leads to knowing how to "pump the swing" and |
| kids spend some time out of the house. | | | | use feet to stop or start. Repetitively sliding allows |
| The outside world offers endless possibilities from | | | | kids to learn how to control their speed and balance. |
| climbing trees to kicking rocks. Parents can encourage | | | | Climbing builds muscle strength and balance. Balls |
| outdoor play by providing kids with the right toys. A | | | | develop hand-eye (or hand-foot) coordination. Other |
| large variety of outdoor play toys are available from | | | | outdoor toys support further motor skills. |
| brands like Toobeez, Step2 and Little Tikes. Little | | | | 3. Free time outside allows kids to create their own |
| Tikes offers a wide range of products designed to | | | | games. A little imagination turns outdoor toys into |
| cover a wide range of activities, including gross | | | | space rockets or fortresses, while balls easily become |
| motor play, pretend play, and social play. Kids love to | | | | a complicated sports challenge. Add in a few props or |
| swing, climb, and slide. There are castles and houses, | | | | a timer to further the possibilities. |
| sand tables, and picnic tables. Other outdoor toys | | | | 4. Playing in a group involves many different skill sets. |
| include balls, mats, and kites. | | | | Communicating with other kids requires an expanded |
| Apart from promoting healthy physical activity, | | | | vocabulary, listening, clear speech, as well as sharing |
| outdoor toys have educational benefits as well: | | | | and taking turns. These social skills are associated |
| 1. Babies and young children explore the world | | | | with improved academic outcomes once children |
| through their senses. Cognitive growth occurs as | | | | reach school age. |
| they see, smell, hear, and touch objects. Feeling the | | | | 5. Some outdoor toys can be built differently each |
| breeze, rain, and sun is a direct learning experience, | | | | time. Like other construction toys, items like Little |
| just like crunching autumn leaves and smelling | | | | Tikes Waffle Blocks and Toobeez encourage an |
| blossoms. Natural curiosity leads children to become | | | | understanding of spatial relations, architectural |
| budding scientists. Rain dripping on a slide, pouring | | | | principles, balance, and much more. Taking |
| sand in a sand box, and crawling through a tunnel are | | | | construction toys outside allows children to make |
| all learning experiences. Kids discover gravity, motion, | | | | larger structures and expands the creative |
| water properties, volume, numeracy, and much more. | | | | possibilities. Even knocking down large construction |
| These early experiences give children an innate | | | | projects shows kids some basic engineering concepts. |
| understanding of some principles later introduced in | | | | |