By Lori Soard on June 15, 2012 in
Instead of pulling out those tired beach balls from summer's old, why not invest in some of the latest summer gadgets on the market? Whether you plan to spend the day at the pool, drive down to the beach, or just splash around in the backyard, these new toys are sure to get everyone involved in the fun. We dove for information on the newest and coolest toys on the market that get rave user reviews on the toy manufacturer websites and on sites like Amazon.com. You might find a revamped favorite or two as well.
Swimways Light-Up Beach Ball
A beach ball is an old pool/beach standby toy, but when you add some lighting to the inside of the ball, it gives it a new flare. The lights are varied colors, from red to blue to green; it comes with batteries and is obviously water resistant. It also has a red, white and blue star pattern on the outside of the ball. The Swimways Light-Up Beach Ball (*Est. $15.95) got mixed reviews, but all reviewers agreed that it was a cool new gadget and gave it at least three stars out of five.
Little Tikes Sandy Lagoon Water Park
Instead of fighting the crowds at the local water park, bring a mini water park to your own backyard. The Sandy Lagoon Water Park (*Est. $49.99) features dual water slides that children can slide characters down, little inter tubes that the figurines can float in and a small sand box. Parents gave this toy top reviews for durability and how easy it is to clean. For ages two and up.
Tea Cup Spinner
Those who love the classic tea cup ride will truly enjoy this inflatable tea cup made especially for the swimming pool or beach. Swimline’s Tea Cup Spinner (*Est. $37.77) is a giant pink circular inflatable with a small cup that the little rider sits inside of. One consumer indicated that the cup was fun, but hard to spin.
Light Show Water Launcher
This toy sucks in water and then launches it, lighting it up with a different color each time you launch. Buy several to create a water light show for your child’s next pool party. The Light Show Water Launcher (*Est. $14.99) will create a show in the daytime, but works best at night. It is not recommended for children under three years. There were no reviews available yet for this toy, feel free to add a review in the comments area below.
Log Flume Jousting Set
Although this isn’t a new concept, it has been revamped over the years and now offers comfortable seating. The great thing about the Log Flume Jousting Set (*Est. $25.93) is that it can be used by children and adults. The entire set is inflatable and includes two logs that the jousters sit upon as well as two inflatable “boppers.” Amazon.com reviews on this set offer some important considerations. While nearly everyone described the toy as fun, users cautioned that the logs deflate quicker than they’d like. Children should also be supervised closely on the toy and not go in water that is over their heads.
Swimways Submergibles
Swimways Submergibles (*Est. $11.99) add fun to either bath time or pool time. The toy can be adjusted so that it floats under the water or just on top of the water. You can also set it to sink to the bottom to create a fun pool game. Submergibles come in bright colors with little knobs that make them easy for younger kids to grab. They received 3.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com. This is an inexpensive toy that can go from bathroom to backyard pool easily.
Melissa and Doug Grub Sprouts Sprinkler
Who says you need a pool to take advantage of summer? This sprinkler provides hours of fun. It is a simple hookup; just attach the toy to the garden hose. Little grubs stick up from the center and wiggle around, sending streams of water shooting everywhere. The Grub Sprouts Sprinkler (*Est. $19.99) gets four out of five stars from parents at the Melissa and Doug website and three and a half stars on Amazon.com. Parents of toddlers seem more enthused about the toy than parents of older children.
