KID STUFF : Toying Around With the Basics

Summer is the season when daily routines give way to outdoor play. And when it comes to choosing gear for active play, toy specialist Joanne Oppenheim says less is more.

The basics--a ball, a bike, a sandbox and a pair of skates--are all that a child really needs to enjoy the fresh air, says Oppenheim, creator of the Toy Portfolio, a quarterly toy, game, book and video review.

“A ball is a very social toy whether you’re 6 months, 6 years or 16 years old,” she says. “It also helps hand-eye coordination.”

For very young children, Oppenheim recommends a ball made of a soft fabric or vinyl, but never foam, which can be swallowed.

A preschooler is ready for a soccer ball or basketball that looks more like the real thing but is soft. Elementary schoolchildren are learning sports and are ready for a soft version of a baseball.

Parents should look for quality equipment adapted for kids, Oppenheim says, such as a baseball mitt lined with Velcro.

As for bicycles, parents should pick something that won’t frustrate a child. Toddlers should have “four on the floor” for stability. For slightly older children, Oppenheim suggests a generic red tricycle or bike that can be passed down to younger brothers and sisters. “Young school-age kids don’t need gears or hand brakes.”

Classic skates get Oppenheim’s vote. She is against adaptations of roller blades for children under 8.

Finally, for toddlers, Oppenheim says there’s no better outdoor equipment than a sandbox.