Having a bored child around the house is no fun for anyone. Kids have so much to entertain them these days that boredom doesn’t have to last for long, but it’s wise to look closely at what kinds of entertainment children are consuming. The most popular diversion for children is electronic entertainment like video games, online gaming, social networking, television, and movies. While these tech toys are fun and can provide some intellectual stimulation, they don’t address a child’s need for physical exercise.

The rate of childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years, in part because of all the new games and toys that keep kids in their seats in front of a screen. Even kids who aren’t overweight may be suffering ill effects from too many hours indoors. Rates of depression and anxiety are on the rise in otherwise healthy kids. Any doctor (or mother) will tell you that in addition to love, food and clothing, children need fresh air and sunlight to grow and thrive.

One way to promote a healthy lifestyle to children is to get them outdoors with backyard toys. These products are designed to get kids moving and having a great time right in their own backyard, where their parents can sit and relax, cheer them on, or better yet, join in the fun.

Backyard toys also work great for children at the other end of the spectrum: those who have a lot of excess energy. Going to the park all day isn’t doable for most parents, and a nice cache of backyard toys comes in handy when the kids need to blow off some steam.

Shopping for backyard toys can be a bit tricky. Some parents have shied away from the full backyard swing/slide/teeter-totter set-up. These large, cumbersome backyard ensembles can be hard to assemble and take up a lot of space. If you have a park-like backyard, a play structure may be able to occupy a corner without much problem, but in a more modest lot, the play structure takes over. And when your kids grow tired of it, where does it go?

When it comes down to it, parents are interested in toys that are durable, easy to use, and easy to store. Most of all, they want toys that are safe. The Consumer Product Safety Commission website (www.cpsc.gov) is the best place to go to keep up with recalls and other safety issues.

Classic Fun

A backyard play tent is a great investment for warm, pleasant weather. They’re usually made of tough, weatherproof material, and provide at least some protection from sun, rain and mosquitoes. A tent encourages imaginative play and can serve as a fort or base camp for all your children’s adventures.

When it comes to outdoor games, classic sports like baseball and soccer still rule. The one drawback is that these games in their full version don’t play well in the limited space of a backyard and with only one or two children to play.

Thankfully, there are backyard toys that offer the best parts of these games in a scaled-down format. Drybranch, Inc.’s Soccer Goal Set With Bounce Back Target allows children to practice their soccer skills either alone or with their friends. When a child kicks the ball at the target, it gets bounced back at them. How convenient!

Swingball is another fun way to pass some time outdoors. The Mookie Swingball game is a full-sized tennis-like set that packs and stores easily into its own base when you’re done playing with it.

Cool When It’s Cold

When you think of outdoor toys, you usually think of summer, but there’s no reason you have to sit indoors when the weather is cold and snowy. There’s plenty to do in the winter, especially when you have toys like the Slicer All-Season Sled from Ice Meister. This sled looks like most traditional toboggan-style sleds, but its inventive design allows it to be used all year round. The bottom features groves that can hold strips of ice, so kids can glide down the green grass of their lawn and celebrate Christmas in July.

For more winter activity, try the L.L. Bean Snow Castle/Snowball Maker Set. This set features the basics for making snow structures ranging from basic to elaborate. The size and style is limited only by your time and your imagination. Children and grown-ups alike will get into the chilly fun.

If your backyard space allows, you can have lots of fun with a small inflatable ice rink. Just inflate it, fill it with water, let it freeze, and you’re set to skate. Try the Oval Inflatable Ice Rink from Leaps and Bounds. It’s small enough for beginner skaters (and medium yards), and big enough for kids to enjoy.

Silly and Fun

Ultimate Beach Ball Sprinkler from Little Tykes looks like your average large beach ball, but has holes that shoot streams of water. Just hook it up to your hose and watch the little ones have fun. You can stabilize it by weighing down the base, or leave it as is and let the kids roll it around. It’s big, it’s round, it’s colorful, and it sprays water. What else could a kid ask for? Is your kid in a giant hamster wheel? No, it’s the Inflatable Fun Roller From Back to Basics Toys! The fun roller does resemble a hamster wheel a bit, but it’s soft, durable and filled with colored balls that move as it’s rolled. Young children will especially enjoy this toy, but don’t be surprised if big brother or sister takes a spin, too.

Exploring Earth

Outdoor activities don’t always have to involve running, jumping, and sliding. Kids can exercise their minds and their bodies exploring all the cool and interesting things on planet Earth.If your child likes to hunt creepy crawly things, a bug-catching kit may be a good choice. Try the chic and user-friendly bug catching equipment from Melissa and Doug. Colorful children’s guides that depict and describe different types of birds, animals, rocks, and trees might also be a good idea for a young naturalist.