Outdoor Toys with the Highest Playtime and Broadest Appeal

The worst outdoor toys are the ones that are difficult to carry, set up, and break down. They hold attention for only two minutes or require enough skill that half the group is excluded from playing.

Wasting precious outdoor time.

A beautiful toy gets long frequent outdoor play sessions and engages everyone around, from preschoolers to adults.

I score my toys across 3 dimensions:

1. Practicality
   Play once 1 —|—|—|— 5 Play daily for years
2. Length of play session
   Play once 1 —|—|—|— 5 Play daily for years
3. Learning Curve
   Experts only 1 —|—|—|— 5 Immediate fun

My 3 best scoring toys

1. Foxtail

Score: 14

Ease: 5

Repeatability: 4

Learning curve: 5

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2. Frisbee

Score: 12

Ease: 5

Repeatability: 5

Learning curve: 2

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3. Velcro Hand Catcher

Score: 11

Ease: 4

Repeatability: 2

Learning curve: 5

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A low scoring toy that seems similar

What makes a high-scoring sports toy

1. Something for everyone

I always loved Pixar movies because they were fun for kids and yet filled with jokes and scenes that adults love too. It’s a hard needle to thread.

The best toys ensure that everyone who wants to play, can play.

2. Easy to start, room to master

Top-scoring toys are also easy for a beginner, but allow for games of increasing skill. i.e The Foxtail is easier-to-play than traditional catch because the tail. However, it also has game rules sewn onto the fabric to add a skill element once players are ready.

There’s lots of game variations, and we're constantly creating new variations at home.

In contrast, toys requiring advanced skills from the start (like volleyball, tennis, hacky sack, etc.) naturally exclude some family members.

3. Enduring

The highest-scoring toys are durable both in "fun" and as an object. They start out fun your first time, and they stay fun for years. The Foxtail from my childhood still functions perfectly decades later. And when I bring it out to play, everyone can get involved.

Compare this to toys with multiple components, electronic parts, or materials that degrade. Even if they are fun, and easy to bring, they have much shorter lifespans. Especially when you consider sand, or mud, or grass.

Toy I want next

The Aerobie Pro Ring seems cool: like a frisbee but flies even farther. I predict it would be a top scoring toy. Lasts forever, long play sessions, though maybe slightly less inclusive for the youngest kids.

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