kids' toys are blowin' up

When I was a kid, my inflatable outdoor toys consisted of beach balls, a swim ring shaped like a crocodile and a raft that deflated instantly upon contact with water. Fun was had, to be sure, but between chasing after toys that drifted off on ocean currents or wind gusts and chronic dizziness from blowing things up (and re-blowing them up an hour later), my memories are a bit meh.

Well, things have changed, people. We all know renting bounce houses is all the rage at kids' parties, but you can also buy your own inflatable fun. Today's toys run the gamut from cute (octopus-shaped sprinkler) to clever (large bowling ball and pins) to unbelievable (a three-slide "roaring rapids" backyard water park).

I've featured ten of my favorites below, ranked in order of cost — there's great stuff to be had at all sorts of prices.

Roaring Rapids Adventure (Banzai, $480.61 from Amazon): Three slides, including a water slide and a tunnel slide.

Crashing Waves Inflatable Water Park (Little Tikes, $349.99 from Every Stuffed Animal): Rock wall, curved water slide, splash pool, spray cannon and a tunnel.

Bouncer-Ball Pit Slide Combo ($299.95 from Leaps and Bounds): Ball pit and slide; can also be used outside as a pool and water slide.

Castle Bouncer with Slide ($199.95 from Leaps and Bounds): Bouncer with mesh safety enclosure.

Clear-View Jelly Bean Jumper ($89.96 from Leaps and Bounds: Jumper with crawl-thru tunnel.

Jumbo Inflatable Bowling Ball & Pins ($64.99 from Pottery Barn Kids): Three pins and a ball.

Jumbo Inflatable Basketball & Hoop ($44.99 from Pottery Barn Kids): Basketball hoop with net and inflatable ball.

Octopus Sprinkler ($39.99 from Pottery Barn Kids): Octopus that sprays arcs of water.

Fun Roller Outdoor Toy ($39.95 from Growing Tree Toys): Four-foot exercise wheel.

Cannonball Splash Water Slide (Banzai, $34.99 from Amazon): Diving ramp and splash pool; includes boogie board.

Hydro Blast Tower Water Toy ($34.95 from Growing Tree Toys): Five-foot sprayer with wiggling sprinkler heads.

Jumbo Hopscotch Splash Mat ($16.96 from One Step Ahead): Hopscotch mat that splashes water when you jump on it.

Comments

Very nice. loved the pics of the inflatables,especially with prices and where to get them. Thanks

I know what you mean. I wish we had all these neat things when I was a kid. Maybe I can still slide down one of the bounce's. Can you imagine that?!

I have to say, these are way more impressive than the sad little "slip 'n slide" I had as kid (it never seemed to give off enough water)

Nice toys, nice pictures, nice kids!