Looking for the best toys to get kids outside and playing in the sun? Toy Insider Senior Editor Ali Mierzejewski stopped by Fox 61 in Hartford to show off some of the summer’s hottest toys for outdoor play. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for our complete rundown of the best gifts for the season, check out our Spring and Summer gift guide.


H2OGO! WATERMELON ISLAND (BESTWAY)

  • This extra-large food float is a sweet treat for kids and adults this summer. The Watermelon Island has an all-around grab rope so you can jump in the water and hold on to the float as you cool off.
  • Play or relax on this summertime floating island!
  • All-around grab rope makes it easy to mount and maneuver.
  • Includes interlocking quick release valves allows for easy inflation and deflation.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $29.99
  • Available: Amazon

MORFBOARD SKATE/SCOOT COMBINATION (JAKKS PACIFIC)

  • Morfboard is a new, exciting, and innovative brand.  This high-performance deck and component system transforms in seconds and creates an entirely new play experience.
  • The Morfboard ecosystem encompasses super simple Lock & Release Technology (LRT): simply drop Xtensions into the board and turn them 90-degrees.  The flex trigger locks in so kids are ready to skate, ride, balance, or bounce.  Morfboard is year-round fun – anywhere, anytime.
  • Includes: A Morfboard, front and rear skate, scoot Xtensions and scoot T-Bar.
  • Skate Xtensions feature 53mm Urethane wheels, durable cast aluminum trucks, and Performance ABEC 5 skate bearing.
  • Scoot Xtensions feature lean to steer wishbone front truck and rear wheel with inset lever brake.
  • Variable height T-Bar with rubber anti-slip grips.
  • Available in a variety of color options to customize the board.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $99.99
  • Available: Target, Walmart

CRAYOLA OUTDOOR CHALK SPIRAL ART KIT (CRAYOLA)

  • The Crayola Outdoor Chalk Spiral Art Kit allows kids to create intricate designs and patterns outside using Outdoor Chalk.
  • The kit helps kids to create complex, spiral designs using a movable orbiter tool and Crayola Chalk, allowing them to layer their designs and colors.
  • Each kit contains six stencil shapes, a spiral art unit and four pieces of colorful chalk to inspire children’s imagination.
  • Ideal for outdoor fun: The Chalk Spiral Art Kit transforms sidewalk art with unique stencils that allow kids to create intricate designs with chalk like never before.
  • Requires no plugs or batteries, kids can simply stack stencils into unit and use the chalk to create line after line of spiral fun.
  • Washable chalk won’t leave permanent marks on surfaces, skin or clothing and washes away easily with water.
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $9.99
  • Available: Crayola.com, Amazon, Target, Walmart

NEXTWAVE – JUMBO BEACH BASKET (AMLOID)

  • Get ready to have tons of fun in the sun with the all-new, totally redesigned NextWave Jumbo Beach Basket from Amloid! This bright and colorful activity set is packed with play value with all the accessories kids need to spend hours at the beach or in the sand box with new sand forms and a collection of multifunctional sand tools.
  • New features include a sturdy nylon shoulder strap along with a comfort grip handle for easy on-the-go portability. And the collapsible folding case makes clean up a breeze by shaking out water and sand when its time to go. Plus, the cover detaches from the basket to double as a super-sized animal sand form!
  • The 15-piece set comes complete with assorted sea creatures and nautical forms, bucket with handle, castle molds, rake, roller, sand spinner, sifter and shovels in a variety of sizes.
  • Available in three styles: Flamingo (pink), Whale (purple), and Shark (teal).
  • Ages: 2+
  • MSRP: $14.99
  • Available: Sam’s Club

CORAL CLOUD MERMAID TAIL + MONOFIN (FIN FUN)

  • Embrace the mermaid life like never before as you swim through the water in Fin Fun’s Coral Cloud mermaid tail!
  • You’ll fall head over fin for this Limited Edition design featuring cherubic shades of red, coral, pink, and fuchsia—available in sizes for kids and adults!
  • Reinforced Tail Tip Technology.
  • 60-Day Tail Tip warranty.
  • Sparkly finish.
  • Machine washable.
  • 100 percent swimmable.
  • The Fin Fun Blue Tip Monofin is designed exclusively to fit Fin Fun Mermaid Tails and offers exciting blue accents, our signature Fin Fun wave pattern, plus reinforced tips and heel for extra durability!
  • Our monofin is easy to kick off and swim out if needed.
  • Our monofin comes in two sizes to fit all sizes of feet. No straps or ankle bulge!
  • Ages: youth size 6 and up
  • MSRP: $54.95-64.95 for tail / $34.95-39.95 for monofin
  • Available: finfunmermaid.com

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Business Operations Manager at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

archivearrow-chevron-downarrow-chevron-left-greyarrow-chevron-leftarrow-chevron-rightarrow-fatarrow-left-blackarrow-left-whitearrow-right-blackarrow-rightarrow-roundedbookscalendarcaret-downclose-whiteclosedocumenteditorial-archiveeyefacebook-squarefacebookfilesgifthamburgerheadinghearthomeinstagram-squareinstagramlatestlinkedin-squarelinkedinmailmedia-inquiresmessagenewsopen-boxpagination-leftpagination-rightpauseplayprintproduct-archiverecent-productssearchsharesort-filterspotifysunteamtiktoktime_purpletimetrendingtvtwitter-squaretwitteryoutube