I have three extremely active boys. My oldest lives, breathes, and sleeps soccer, while the middle one chooses solitary sports like bike riding and rock climbing. I am not sure what the littlest likes yet, but he is the strongest and fastest person in our house, so I know he is likely going to be an active one, too. In creating this guide sharing gifts for kids who love sports, I looked for items that would keep active kids active. Tucker Toys, Wubble, and Goliath toys all sent over some toys for us to try before the holidays so that we could help you make informed shopping decisions this holiday. Hopefully you find some ideas that you think your kids will love!
ZB Freestyle Board
One of my favorite, recently discovered, companies is Tucker Toys. I really think they have active kids in mind when they design their toys. I was really interested in trying out the ZB Freestyle because we live in a skater town and the likelihood of my kids becoming boarders at some point in their lives is pretty high.
The ZB Freestyle was a lot of fun to use. You balance yourself on the board, allowing your feet to clamp the ball – then jump! My husband MAY have stolen the board from the kids at one point to show off some moves!
Here’s a short video that shows the ZB Freestyle in action, so you can see if it would be appropriate for your child. I really like that it offers an alternative to a wheeled skateboard, allowing students to practice skills and build the strength needed to do tricks.
E-Z Grip Ball
The E-Z Grip Ball, also by Tucker Toys, is designed so that anyone – and I mean ANYONE can catch this ball. With strategically placed grips all over the body of the ball, it makes it easy to catch. My two youngest boys are particularly loving this ball, because normally we “play catch” without them catching a single ball. The E-Z Grip Ball makes catching a ball a reality for the boys.
The ball bounces super high and can be used on any surface – including grass, sand, and water. My oldest likes to kick it, and it gets good air that way.
As an added bonus the E-Z Grip Ball has received awards for its appropriateness for children with special needs. I love that this toy can be used with all members of the family!
Phlat Ball
As mentioned previously, we play catch A LOT. The Phlat Ball was an absolute must on our wish list this year because it combines disc throwing with ball catching, as the Phlat ball starts out flat and then pops out to a ball mid air!
I was trying to slow mo video the pop out because it is really pretty sweet, but I am not coordinated enough to film and throw at the same time. So here’s the ball popped out! The ball is sturdy and made of durable plastic, but it did not pitch our fingers when opening and closing.
The littlest Diapered Knight took off through the yard with the ball. This turned into a football game as his brothers tried to catch him! They also make a Phlat Ball Jr. perfect for smaller hands.
Nerf Basketball Hoop
The Nerf over-the-door hoop was a must buy for my oldest son this year. He watches the boys across the street play basketball and is totally memorized by the game. We don’t have a net at the house (yet), so this over the door option should keep him occupied until that happens!
Glo Wubble Ball
The folks at Wubble sent over the Glo Wubble for us to try. This is a hot toy for this year’s holiday season. The Glo Wubble was a huge hit in our house for the entire month of October, where the boys would race downstairs after school to kick around the larger-than-them “bubble-like” ball. In our dark basement, the ball glowed a magnificent green, delighting the boys even further.
The Glo Wubble was easy to pump up and came with a fan-like air pump.
It grew to about 3 feet diameter and was nearly see through like a bubble.
It wobbles in the air, creating for unpredictable and wildly fun play.
Our Glo Wubble popped after about a month, but Wubble Balls can be replaced by mail (though you are responsible for the shipping costs).
Zip Line
One of our most crowd-pleasing toys is our backyard zip line. We have it hooked up in the backyard, and when we have people over, the kids all find their way over to this toy. Speed can be adjusted based on the incline you choose, as can height.
I am really tempted to try out this brand’s slack lines, too.
Disclosure: Tucker Toys, Goliath, and Wubble provided products and/or compensation for the purpose of this guide. All opinions expressed within are my own and have not been influenced in any way. #GloWubble
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