10 Outdoor Toys Parents Enjoy More Than Kids

The other day, I whined about all the reasons spring sucks for parents. Now, it’s time to rejoice, for it is the season of fun in the sun and if your kids eschew their outdoor toys, great. That means you can play with them! Honestly, my kids don’t even appreciate how wonderful it is to be a kid and to have “playing with toys” be their number one job. To that end, you can catch me on many a summer day snatching their toys for myself and having a grand old time in the yard. Because I’m nothing if not mature and reserved.

1. Hula Hoops

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Any other moms out there who love to drink a little wine and make sad attempts at hula-hooping in front of the neighbors? Just me? Alright, then.

2. Jump Ropes

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I may be 33 years old but I still LOVE to jump rope. Much to my daughter’s embarrassment when I bust out my skills in our driveway. Sorry, honey! Mommy is a shameless show-off!

3. Sidewalk Chalk

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Drawing with sidewalk chalk is so much fun but most kids lose interest after a few minutes. Not parents! I have mom friends who come over with their kids and we’re doodling on my driveway like idiots long after the kids have lost interest. CSI crime scene body outlines of everyone!

4. Bikes

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Once your kids get big enough to have a bike that won’t break under your weight, you can totally borrow it for a quick ride down the block. Nothing brings back childhood like cruising around on a pink Huffy with streamers on the handlebars.

5. Roller-blades 

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Again, they have to be old enough for them to fit you, but roller-blading is so much fun and a fantastic work-out to boot! I may buy my own this season.

6. Water Tables

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There’s something very soothing about watching the little waterfalls and other do-hickeys on a toddler’s water table. They only give a shit for maybe 10 minutes and then, it’s all yours! It’s better than therapy, I swear.

7. Skip-it

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Nothing brings out my competitive side like an activity with a little counter to tell me just how awesome I am. Long after my daughter gets tired of tripping over it, I’m swirling that thing around and around. It’s like summer of ’92 all over again.

8. Sand Toys

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The kids might whine that they’re bored but tell them to shush while you finish your amazing sand castle complete with moat and little turrets.

9. Playground Balls

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I love playground balls because they remind me of going outside for recess when I was a kid. Is anything more satisfying than giving that ball a hard kick and watching it fly into the neighbor’s yard? The answer to that would be a big, fat NOPE.

10. Street Hockey Equipment

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My husband and I have more fun with the kid’s hockey goal and sticks than they do. Game on, all summer. I always win, of course.

(Image: GettyImages)

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