It can be difficult to find toys for kids with a lot of energy. With having naturally short attention spans and high energy levels, kids need to incorporate gross motor play into their daily routine. As a mom of two little boys, my house can often feel like a battle ground, a ninja course, and a sports field, all in the same day. Many decorations have been “accidentally broken” and my couch cushions have taken a beating. If you’re also a mom of high energy kids, I’m sure you can relate. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard an adult say, “I wish I had some of their energy” about my very active children. Their energy seems to be endless, always running, crashing, shouting, tackling, jumping…you get the point. For a while I felt like I was constantly saying, “don’t climb on that,” “stop throwing balls in the house,” or “the couch is not for jumping.” I was tired of constantly losing the battle of telling them to calm down or play quietly.
If you’re a mom of kids with high energy, you probably feel like you’re saying “no” all the time. And you probably know this doesn’t work. Children need redirection, instead of only being told no. Therefore, I’ve embraced their need to be physical in everything they do. Afterall, kids need to be kids. This is why I’m always searching for ways for them to use their energy in a less destructive manner. I’ve found the best toys for kids with high energy, to allow them to be active in safe and kid friendly ways.
1. Play Couch
Our boys received a play couch for Christmas when they were 18 months and 4 years old. Over three years later, this is still one of the most used items they have. One of the things that makes it so amazing is its versatility. It can be used for an obstacle course, a monster truck ramp, a fort, a tumbling mat, or simply a couch. Having a play couch has allowed me to stop constantly telling my children to stop jumping or doing flips on the furniture. If they need a reminder, instead of saying “no jumping,” I can tell them to get out their couch. Additionally, it allows them to be active inside, when going outside is not possible due to weather.
2. Sensory Swing
Many of these types of swings are advertised for children with sensory issues, including children with autism and ADHD. While I believe these are very helpful for those children, I haven’t met a child yet who hasn’t loved our indoor sensory swing. Like a play couch, it’s very versatile, which I wasn’t expecting, but my children have really used their imagination with it. They’ve used it as a regular swing, a hammock, a reading nook, and have incorporated it into their obstacle courses. Since we didn’t have much space for it, our sensory swing is in the middle of our living room. While this is not the most aesthetically pleasing, it has been such a huge source of entertainment for all children who have come into our home. Also like the play couch, this is a good alternative to outside play equipment, when swinging outside is not an option.
3. Stepping Stones
The last two items I’ve discussed mentioned obstacle courses. Can you see a theme in our house, with two busy active boys? They definitely love a good obstacle course, and having these stepping stones has allowed them to improve their obstacle course creations. There are so many reasons stepping stones are excellent toys for kids with high energy. The kids like that these ones connect easily and can be set up in so many different ways. As a mom, I love that they have different textures, providing more sensory input. Additionally, they stack nicely, taking up less storage space. I was initially concerned about stability, but after reading many reviews I chose to go with these ones. My children are 4 and 7 and they hold their weight no problem.
4. Trampoline
This may be an obvious option, but I can’t write a post about the best toys for kids with high energy, without including it. We used to have a toddler six-foot trampoline, but our boys grew out of it. We put off upgrading to a full size one due to safety concerns and not wanting it to take up a big chunk of our backyard. However, now that we have one, I don’t regret it for a second. My four-year-old is very physical, always wanting to climb or jump. Having a trampoline has given him a safe space to jump until his heart’s content. We’ve had it for about three months now and our children have been on it almost every day.
If you have busy, active children, consider getting some of these toys for kids with high energy. They are sure to help them get energy out and save you some sanity. Stop being the mom constantly saying “no” to their children’s need to be active. Instead, be the mom who gets to say, “yes, you can jump on your couch” or “yes, you can swing in the house.”