The 15 best toys to keep children entertained in summer, chosen by experts

As the cycle of hot weather peaks and troughs, so does the attention span of schoolchildren in the middle of their summer holidays – and parents are faced with the question: how can we keep the kids entertained until the September term starts? The answer does not have to be to plop a child in front of the television, or hand them a smartphone. There are several toys designed to distract them for hours on end – without a screen in sight. “The aim is to choose toys that can grow with your child and keep them engaged,” says Dr Shruti Nathwani, an NHS GP with paediatric training, and mother-of-two. When chosen well, Shruti says, children will return to these toys time and again, no matter their age. Five parenting experts share their favourite and affordable children’s games – from the cheapest card game at £6, to a camera at just £29. All the experts are united on one thing: the best toys are those that allow and encourage imagination and, if possible, movement. Shorts For the under-5s Modelling dough & tools Play-Doh super colour kit with 18 tubs & 15 accessories, Argos, £10 “When my son was little, he went through a phase of wanting to ‘fix’ absolutely everything,” says Dr Ahmar Ferguson, a child and educational psychologist and father to an 11-year-old boy. “We’d use modelling dough alongside a small toy hammer and other child-safe tools, and he’d spend ages pretending to repair things around the house. The freedom to create his own ideas and stories kept him so engaged,” he reflects. “The squeezing and shaping helps children to develop strength and coordination.” Rocket launcher Flying Rocket Toy, £16.50, Jaques London “A rocket launcher keeps my three-year-old twins entertained for hours,” says Ciara McClarey, a clinical specialist paediatric physiotherapist. “They’re having fun but also practising single-leg balance as they stand on one leg then stomp the other foot to launch the rocket.” Nichola Ludlam-Raine, dietitian, author and mother to a seven-year-old boy and four-year-old girl, agrees. “It helps burn off some energy while introducing ideas such as force and distance without it feeling educational.” Farmyard animal set KidFarm Montessori Inspired Farm Animal Learning Toys, £18.90, Jackie’s Kids McClarey also sings the praises of a simple farm animal and barn toy set: “The adorable farm animals can be used as finger puppets and for imaginative play, and help with learning numbers and colours. I even use them in clinic. I’ll place them on a sofa to encourage pulling to a stand and learning to walk, as the toddlers are so motivated to play with them.” Ice cream shop Melissa & Doug Scoop & Ice Cream Cone Playset, £19.99, Boots “Pretend play toys like an ice cream shop are brilliant for keeping younger children engaged: one minute they’re running a shop, then they’re the customer, the next they’re serving family members and making up stories,” says Shruti. “I love toys that spark imagination while naturally encouraging language and social skills.” Stepping stones Play Factory Stepping Stones, £19.99, Smyths Toys “If you’re trying to burn off some summer holiday energy, a set of stepping stones is fantastic,” says Shruti. “They encourage active play indoors or outdoors, and children love creating their own obstacle courses, which keeps them entertained while building confidence and coordination.” Former deputy headteacher, early years advisor, and mum-of-three, Alana Revell-Rohr says, “However your child likes to play, they will be able to play with them. They can be seats at a low table, or even bowls – we use them for collecting leaves out in the garden and for filling with water. It’s a toy that my children keep on coming back to.” Play Factory Stepping Stones, £19.99, Smyths Toys; Flying Rocket Toy, £16.50, Jaques London and KidFarm Montessori Inspired Farm Animal Learning Toys, £18.90, Jackie’s Kids For five to eight-year-olds Lego or blocks LEGO 10713 Classic Creative Suitcase, £12.65, Amazon You can now make Lionel Messi, a replica road bike or scenes from Lord of the Rings using specialist LEGO sets. “But actually, if we want children to play for longer, we should give them creative sets with no specific instructions so that they can make up their own creations,” says Revell-Rohr. “Construction toys have lasting value because children are not limited to making one particular thing,” agrees Ahmar. “Open-ended play also allows children to adapt their idea without an adult stepping in. These toys offer the right balance of challenge, creativity and problem-solving, whatever a child’s age.’ Garden games Bag of Garden Games, £8, Asda “You can’t go wrong with a selection of garden games and this set includes everything from a hula hoop and skipping rope, to a bat and ball,” says McClarey. “These games also help teach and develop fundamental movement skills for this age group such as skipping, throwing, catching, and hand-eye co-ordination.” Origami Infinity Cube Origami Infinity Cube, £19.99, Science Gifts “Simple fidget toys like this can be great for long journeys or quieter moments during the holidays,” says Shruti. “They keep hands busy, and when we gifted these to our son’s seven-year-old friends, we found the boys went mad for them; they loved creating different shapes and loved the patterns on them – and I think girls would too.” Poo bingo board game Poo Bingo, £18.99, Waterstone’s “Children in this age group generally find anything poo-related hilarious!” says Nichola. “It’s a fun family game that can hold their attention while also helping with matching, observation and turn-taking. It’s easy to learn, so adults don’t have to spend half an hour explaining the rules before everyone can play.” Poo Bingo, £18.99, Waterstone’s; Origami Infinity Cube, £19.99, Science Gifts and LEGO 10713 Classic Creative Suitcase, £12.65, Amazon For eight to 12-year-olds Card games UNO, £11.99, John Lewis; Monopoly deal, £6, Argos; Dobble, £12, Argos “Card games are one of my favourite recommendations because they bring the whole family together. They keep children entertained for long periods while also encouraging strategic thinking and learning how to win and lose graciously,” says Shruti. “Games with short rounds work well because children can learn them quickly but still want to play repeatedly,” adds Ahmar. “My 11-year-old still enjoys quick games, especially Dobble! They often become part of our evenings or something we take away with us.” Instant camera Kids Camera Instant Print, £29.91, Debenhams “Giving children a camera encourages them to explore, be creative and look at the world through a different lens – my son recorded an entire Indian wedding we went to on his!” says Shruti. “On our recent France road trip, he was just snapping away, and now he’s making a scrapbook to look back on.” Water pistols Water Blaster, £10, BM Stores As the heatwave continues, “a water pistol can create hours of inexpensive outdoor fun,” says Nichola. “Children can devise their own games, races and target challenges, rather than simply spraying one another. Just establish a few ground rules beforehand, particularly around faces, younger children and anyone who doesn’t want to join in.” Badminton set Decathlon Kids’ Badminton Set 130, £15, Argos “Badminton is easy to pick up without needing to be particularly sporty, and inexpensive sets can be used in the garden, park or on holiday,” says Nichola. “Children can play competitively, or work together to keep a rally going while still feeling relaxed and sociable. We love ours!” Decathlon Kids’ Badminton Set 130, £15, Argos; JONEG Cardboard Construction Tool Building Set, £21, Amazon and Gravity Maze Game, £19.99, Smyth’s Toys MakeDo kit JONEG Cardboard Construction Tool Building Set, £21, Amazon If you’ve got a garage full of flattened cardboard that needs recycling, a MakeDo kit can repurpose this rubbish to become days of fun for your children. “My eldest has been making castles with his kit, while my four-year-old absolutely loves using the screws and just screwing them into cardboard,” says Alana. “The screws are really good quality, the tools work very well and there are lots of ideas on the MakeDo website to encourage a really meaningful summer project for eight- to 12-year-olds.” Gravity maze Gravity Maze Game, £19.99, Smyth’s Toys “Logic games like this strike a great balance between entertainment and learning,” says Shruti of this marble maze toy. “Children are so focused on solving the challenge that they don’t realise they’re practising planning, flexible thinking and resilience every time something doesn’t quite work the first time.”