Summer is coming and the name of the game is getting your kids outside to play. Summer toys can help. Here are some of the latest and greatest to get your kids out and moving.
When it comes time to test summer toys, Consumer Reports bring in young experts - ages six to 13.
They tested a half dozen in all. Prices ranged from $10 for a Flip N Flyer Gyroscopic flying disc to a pricey $130 Razor RipRider Trike.
The Crayola Sidewalk Paint Airbrush, for $13, looked fun at first but didn't draw any fans.
"It's not very good, because you run out of paint really fast, and half the time the air brush pen doesn't work," complained kid tester Bella.
The Smart Lab Blast-Off Rocket Racer for ages seven and up makes it look like building a rocket would be fun, but it was complicated for the kids to get it to work properly.
"This is hard," concluded kid tester Sara.
And even the adults had a tough time.
The riding toys got lots of play time. But the PlaSmart PlasmaCar couldn't keep up. And it wasn' t the fault of the testers because the toys age range is three to 103.
"If you want to put your feet up, the wheels, they just go crazy," warns toy tester Steve.
So what had the highest fun factor?
The $130 Razor RipRider 360 Caster Trike was the biggest hit of the bunch. Its caster wheels allow it to spin, and it was a favorite for most of the kids. So far, it is only available on-line in Canada, but watch for it in stores.
But for much less, the Nerf Big Bad Bow for $20 also got a lot of play. It comes with three soft foam arrows and it was a real hit.
Another inexpensive option that the kids enjoyed was a new take on the flying disk called the Aerobie.
One thing to keep in mind is they fly really far and if you are at the beach remember they don't float either.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
