Fun toys, games, and DIY ideas to elevate your NEXT family fun night!
PaddleSmash
Our family LOVES pickleball and now we can enjoy a version of it right in our backyard. PaddleSmash is the perfect mix of Pickleball and spikeball. Play anywhere, any time of year (think portable Pickleball) - All you need is a flat surface. Enjoy in your backyard, at the park, at the beach, or while waiting for a pickleball court to free up! PaddleSmash is best for adults and teens (ages 12+). Available at paddlesmash.com
My husband had a blast (pun intended) enjoying a friendly game of family warfare with Gel Blasters. More gentle than paintball, and without the water of a water pistol, this is a fun game that can be enjoyed outside even in the winter months. We tried both regular gels and glow-in-the-dark blasters. These toys fire non-toxic, eco-friendly Gellets® (beads disintegrate on contact and leave no stain, no mess, and no cleanup). Each kit includes protective eyewear and a starter set of Gellets®. The Surge Gel Blaster comes with semi-- and fully automatic blaster modes, 10,000 eco-friendly Gellets®, and up to 4 hours of play on a single charge via USB-C. The Surge XL comes with a velocity dial that adjusts blaster power from 170 to an astonishing 250 feet per second. Gel Blasters are a great idea for family night fun the entire crew will love!
Big Dill Pickleball Co.
My girls LOVE pickleball. These new pickleball paddles from the Big Dill Pickleball Co. are hilarious and fun! Our family loves the grip, and the kids love the fun design. Purchase at bigdillpickleballcompany.com. Tip: Chicken N Pickle is our favorite local hangout for pickleball - learn more about this amazing local attraction where you can play pickleball, ice skate, enjoy shuffleboard and bocce, and delicious food!
Mosquito Bands
Outdoor play is fun but no one likes mosquito bands. Enter Mosquito Bands. Simply wear as a bracelet or anklet and detract mosquitos. Features: Natural Essential Oils, Lasts up to 300 hours! One size fits all. Safe for kids, pregnant and nursing women. Reusable & Use Anywhere - Sweatproof! Resealable bag Available at Grandpa Gus.
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Popdarts
I grew up with lawn darts. For modern parents looking for a safe option full of fun, try Popdarts. Popdarts brings a modern twist on traditional darts, with suction darts that stick to smooth surfaces. The viral game has more than 1 million TikTok followers and more than 5,500+ five-star reviews on Amazon. Stick the orange target marker on a smooth surface and take turns throwing towards the marker. Earn three points for the Popdart that’s closest to the marker, one point for each that sticks, and 10 points for landing on the marker! The first team to 21 points wins. This is a great outdoor game and an easy alternative to cornhole. Available on Amazon.
Bolderplay Swing House + 40" Sky Swing
We're always looking for fun ways to elevate the fun in our backyard. The Bolder Play The Swing House is designed with UV-resistant material, a Vented-top, a roll-up door, and see-through mesh windows for fresh air and a view of the sky and perfect for any compatible swing attached to a Build-A-Branch, healthy tree, or sturdy play structure. My girls LOVE the shaded swing for fun and for reading in the backyard. Follow them on Instagram @bolderplay.
Slackers Ninjaline
If you're looking for less screen time and more time enjoying exercise the great outdoors and imagination, consider a gift for the entire family. My kids love Slackers Ninjaline. The 36’ Ninjaline Intro Kit helps increase your child’s balance, strength, and capacity, while also enabling them to try hard things that encourage them to rise to new levels. Simply install the kits between 2 healthy trees or posts and store them in our handy drawstring backpack to protect them from the weather. With the storage back, you can take the kit and set it up in your backyard, at a nearby park, or even while camping in the great outdoors. The Ninjaline Intro Kit includes Two (2) Grip Clips, One (1) traverse ring, and Six (6) hanging obstacles: Two (2) 10" x 2.5" Ninja Fists, Two (2) 16" steel Monkey Bars, Two (2) steel gym rings with ABS textured finish, Max weight: 250 lbs and a drawstring backpack for storage. All obstacles include 6,000-pound steel hanging delta safety clips and use either, UV-resistant nylon rope with safety buckle attachment, or UV-resistant webbing straps. Available at Bolderplay.com.
GO-FIND Series by Minelab
Most kids dream of a great treasure hunt. Minelab’s GO-FIND detector series has action, innovation, and passion locked into every model, ranging from $99 to $249. The Minelab GO-FIND 11 is the entry-level machine in Minelab’s GO-FIND metal detectors. The GO-FIND 22 packs in all the fun and excitement of finding treasure and is perfect for passionate beginners of all ages. The GO-FIND 44 offers an enhanced advantage, searching even deeper so it can discover treasure others have missed. The GO-FIND 66 steps up the power and performance. With precision control and maximum depth, it will have you hunting like a pro in no time. The GO-FIND series also includes an app that keeps you connected when you’re detecting miles from anywhere. There is the Standard App, which is free for GO-FIND 44 users. And the Pro App, which is free for GO-FIND 66 users. Available at https://www.minelab.com/
Stomp & Pass by Stomp Rocket®
Just in time for football season (what better way to spend half time?!), Stomp Rocket® introduces the new Stomp & Pass by exclusively at Target and Target.com. Stomp on the launcher and watch as the football soars through the air, ready to be caught in an exhilarating pass, thrown for the perfect long shot, or make that field goal. The kids (and the adults!) will be exploring STEM concepts of physics, trajectory, and aerodynamics in a hands-on, engaging manner. Stomp & Pass includes an Aerodynamic Football and Launch Pad, the specially designed football is built for optimal flight, ensuring each pass and throw is a masterpiece of aerodynamics, an Inflatable Jumbo Goal Post, like having your very own football field in your backyard, and the option for Team Play or Solo Fun. Whether you want a friendly match with a partner or practice your skills solo, Stomp & Pass is versatile enough for any scenario.
Ollyball
If your kids love to play ball, and always want to play in the house - then Ollyball is the answer. My girls love the texture of the ball that is almost balloon-like (without the threat of popping) and they loved personalizing the design. This fun, indoor play ball keeps kids moving and having fun indoors and outdoors. The ball is water-resistant, tear-resistant, and guaranteed not to break windows. Ollyball's Patented KrunchCOR was designed for full-speed, full-force indoor play. The ball weighs less than an ounce, so kids can safely play ball in the house in any weather, day or night. Waterproof and perfect for outdoor pool play, too! One of my girls' favorite features of the Ollyball was the ability to customize their ball and decorate it with non-toxic markers. They offer Glow Party, Girl Power, Twilight, and additional designs. Ollyball.com
Lay & Stay
Lay & Stay has the solution with their custom securing stakes and lounge chair bands, making beach days hassle-free and stylish. Features include: Custom securing stakes keep your towel in place on windy beach days. Wide range of towel designs to choose from! Sand-resistant while also being light and compact. Lounge chair bands hold your towel in place on loungers and beach chairs. Patented design. Available at layandstaybeachtowels .com.
magdal3na - stock.adobe.com
Desk of free space and grill time.
Minioke LED GO
Perfect for your next backyard party, Sway Audio, has introduced the new Minioke LED Go Portable Karaoke Set. This portable LED Karaoke Speaker with a wireless microphone is a favorite for the tweens and teens in our house. The TWS (true wireless stereo) Capable Minioke LED Go allows you to bring the entertainment and fun anywhere - from a kid’s birthday party and the beach to hosting friends for a summer BBQ, in a college dorm and tailgating at the game. Featuring a five-watt, multi-ambient LED speaker, an upgraded Bluetooth 5.3 chipset, and premium components, the speaker produces crystal clear audio with deep, rich sound to fill any room or outdoor location and keep the tunes pumping for six hours. And to round out the experience, did someone say Karaoke? A state-of-the-art wireless microphone, using the latest 2.4G connection technology is also included. Available on Amazon.
Playfinity's Backyard League Gaming Baseball
Playfinity’s Backyard League Gaming Baseball combines the game of catch with technology. The ball is connected to iOS and Android devices through a mobile app via Bluetooth. The Backyard League Gaming Baseball is the same size and weight as a regulation MLB baseball. It allows players to track different stats about each throw they toss and catch, such as speed, airtime, height, and transfer speed. Once players have tried all six games at least once, they’ll unlock the application’s League Mode, which allows them to compete against other players around the world by playing games and comparing stats. The Backyard League Gaming Baseball is designed for kids 6-14, and it offers 70 hours of playtime on a single-cell battery. Available at https://backyard-league.com/ and Amazon.
LectroFan Micro2 Sound Machine + Bluetooth Speaker
If you're hosting a backyard cookout or even just a family night on the deck, this festive red sound machine doubles as a portable Bluetooth speaker. This tiny device is so small it even fits in the palm of your hand! Pair with a smartphone for streaming audio and making calls with the built-in microphone, or select sleep sound mode. Also available on Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
National Geographic Kids Books
On rainy days, you can learn about science and the outdoors with books from National Geographic Kids. Their colorful books overflow with fun trivia kids love. For dog-crazy and insatiably curious young readers, Can’t Get Enough Dog Stuff is the ulti-mutt treat. Filled with mind-blowing facts about dogs, fascinating articles about dog history and traits, fun dog-related activities, detailed diagrams, colorful infographics, and more than 250 photos of cute, cuddly dogs. How to Survive in the Age of Dinosaurs gives adventurous kids the chance to test their chops against the forces of nature and the rulers of prehistoric Earth. An authentic time-travel tour through the Age of Dinosaurs—and its dangers. With National Geographic Kids Almanac 2024, middle-graders will find all kinds of fascinating information and fun activities to capture their interest, feed their curiosity, broaden their knowledge, and expand their horizons. WHY? The Human Body: 99+ Awesome Answers for Curious Kids is packed with insights from experts in anatomy, physiology, genetics, epidemiology, and brain science, this book raises lots of intriguing body-related questions that kids may have been wondering about and delivers straightforward answers that moms and dads can trust (and just might have been wondering about too!).
LectroFan Micro2 Sound Machine + BlueTooth Speaker
LectroFan Micro2 Sound Machine + Bluetooth Speaker: This festive red sound machine doubles as a portable Bluetooth speaker and is essential for picnics. The LectroFan Micro2 Sound Machine is also the answer to feeling well-rested while you’re on the go. It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand! Pair it with a smartphone for streaming audio and making calls with the built-in microphone, or select sleep sound mode and enjoy your choice of five digital fan sounds, four variations of white, pink, and brown noise, and two ocean surf sounds. Also available on Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
Colsen Fire Pit
Colsen Fire Pits We love this mini tabletop firepit. This small, portable firepit has been great to take on trips to the lake or enjoy in our backyard. Experience the instant ambiance of a real fire with Colsen Fire Pits and leave the smoke and clean up behind. The eco-friendly fire pits are easy to light and extinguish. Simply use rubbing alcohol to get that fire going! Just be sure to have proper ventilation. Made from temperature-resistant concrete for an enhanced, safe, smokeless, and odor-free experience. The modern, portable designs go with today’s decor and offer an easy way to stage an inviting atmosphere for quiet moments alone or while celebrating with loved ones. Also available on Amazon.