Even without the relentless Covid-19 omicron variant spreading across the country, public playgrounds are just plain gross. Listen to me carefully: an average playground contains 3,500,000 colony forming units (CFUs) per square inch. Compared, for example, to an average kitchen countertop, which has about 85 CFU per square inch, or a toilet seat, which hovers around 172 CFU per square inch, playgrounds often mimic boxes of Petri dish of diseases rather than oases of leisure.
For the defense of the public playground, they offer a multitude of advantages. Running outdoors, playing games, letting off steam and developing coordination are important for a child’s well-being. It’s a childhood right of passage to fall off monkey bars or get stuck at the top of the slide, after all.
Don’t worry: whether you’re forgoing trips to the park due to Covid or an inconsistent winter, you can easily turn your own backyard into a fun space where kids can be active themselves without installing huge equipment or ruin. Turn your backyard into a mini-golf course, soccer field, bowling alley and more with the click of an “add to cart” button.
T-Ball
Little Tikes T-Ball Set – $ 21.99
Ideal for ages 1-6, this T-ball set includes a height-adjustable “T”, an oversized plastic baseball bat, and five plastic starter balls. The set is designed to help develop a child’s motor skills and hand-eye coordination through a fun outdoor activity. After the big game is over, the lightweight set has a wall-mounted design for easy storage in a small space.
Archery
Kids Archery Set – $ 29.89
Kids archery set
Child’s play
amazon.com
$ 29.89
Indulge little Katniss Everdeen in your life with this archery set. The bow has smooth shooting power and comes with suction cup arrows that stick to the target for safe play.
Tie ball
Hathaway Tetherball Set with Fillable Base and Durable Ball – $ 99
Hathaway Tetherball Set with Fillable Base and Durable Ball
Hathaway
amazon.com
$ 99.00
Rekindle your love for this classic schoolyard activity with a set of tetherballs designed for the whole family. The durable set is designed to withstand years of action-packed competition with a fillable base, additional ground stakes, rust-resistant poles, and all-weather rope for outdoor play.
Football
Little Tikes Easy Score Soccer Set – $ 27.97
Little Tikes Easy Score Soccer Set
MGA Entertainment
amazon.com
$ 27.97
Your future Olympian will bend him like Beckham with this colorful kids’ soccer set designed for backyard use. The set includes an adjustable net, soccer ball and pump so you can kick the game right out of the box. Designed for ages two and up, this set improves coordination and teaches the basics of soccer.
Basketball
Little Tikes Adjust and Jam Pro Basketball Set – $ 83
Little Tikes Adjust and Jam Pro Basketball Set, Blue
Small Tikes
amazon.com
$ 83.00
HORSEBACK game, do you like it? This Jam Pro basketball set has a hoop with five height settings ranging from 4 to 6 feet tall. Fill the base with sand for added stability, secure the edge and divider net, and start shooting with the included junior size basketball.
Baseball
Franklin Sports MLB Electronic Baseball Pitcher – $ 29.99
Franklin Sports MLB Electronic Baseball Pitcher
Franklin sports
amazon.com
$ 29.99
Get all the fun of a batting cage from the comfort of your backyard with this kids’ baseball pitching machine. A ball is thrown every seven seconds from the height-adjustable machine and prepares the batter to swing with a red indicator light. The set comes with six aero punch balls that can be paired with this giant plastic bat for an additional $ 12.99.
Golf
Byron’s Games Kids’ Golf Set – $ 28.97
Byron’s Games Kids’ Golf Set
Byron’s games
amazon.com
$ 28.97
Start the par-tee with this golf set for ages 3 to 6. Turn your backyard into a golf course with two practice holes with flags, two tees, three right-handed plastic golf clubs and five lightweight balls. The set comes with a story book that creates an interactive golf adventure for your child and includes a stylish carry bag for easy storage and transport.
Bowling
Giggle N Go Kids Bowling Set – $ 37.99
Giggle N Go Kids Bowling Game
laugh and go
amazon.com
$ 37.99
This giant outdoor inflatable bowling set is sure to draw your child away from the screen and onto the green. The pins have sand-weighted bases to keep them in a straight line on the lawn, and the PVC construction makes them durable enough to withstand inclement weather and over-excited kids. Set includes six inflatable pins, inflatable bowling ball, hand pump and repair patch.