Play equipment that delights children. Toys and play tools that can be enjoyed from early childhood.
We’ve put together a collection of play items that kids will love!
We’ll introduce lots of toys and play gear that both boys and girls can enjoy, so use this guide to make trips to the park more fun, fill downtime on camping trips, or keep kids entertained indoors on bad-weather days.
In addition to gift-worthy items, there are plenty of affordable playthings that are easy to find at 100-yen shops and similar stores.
Even though they’re from 100-yen shops, the quality is surprisingly high, making them perfect when you want to try something a little new!
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Playthings Kids Love: Toys and Play Equipment Enjoyable from Toddler Age (1–10)
katana
Among the squadron heroes and anime characters that little kids love, many of them fight with swords.
That’s why children adore pretend sword-fighting.
In fact, it seems that 100-yen shops sell not only toy swords made of soft, sponge-like materials that don’t hurt when they bump into you, but also swords that light up and make sounds when you swing them.
Swords made from hard materials are fine for light swinging play, and with soft swords, parents and kids can enjoy mock sword-fighting together!
water balloon
They’re also called mizutama balloons in some regions.
They even made a splash on TV: there’s a special product that lets you make about 50 water balloons at once just by attaching the balloons to a faucet and filling them.
The balloons pop out one after another like eggs being laid—wow, the developer’s passion really shows! On hot summer days, it’s fine if the balloons burst and everything gets soaked, so it’d be great to have a water balloon fight in the yard.
It’s also fun to compete to see how much water you can fit into a big balloon.
In colder seasons, you can even enjoy water balloons while taking a bath!
Assembly glider
How about trying a build-it-yourself glider made of Styrofoam? You assemble the glider yourself and have fun flying it.
The assembly is very simple—you just pop out the pieces and slot them together—so even small children can do it.
You can find them not only in toy stores but also at 100-yen shops, so it’s easy to get started.
Unlike paper airplanes, they fly really well, making them perfect for playing in wide-open spaces! And since they’re made of soft material that won’t break if it bumps into something, you can even play with them indoors.
Play equipment that delights children. Play tools and toys enjoyable from toddler age (11–20)
pokkuri
Tin can stilts—what a nostalgic ring that has.
Nostalgic as they are, they’re still loved today just as much as in the past.
It’s a game where you prepare two empty cans of the same size, make holes, thread strings through them, then stand on the cans and walk along—clop, clop—while holding the strings.
You can make them yourself with empty cans, and these days there are also cute ready-made plastic versions.
If you make your own, painting them or drawing pictures on them can make you feel more attached to them.
It’s also a play activity that helps children develop their sense of balance.
Trump
Playing cards have long been a staple of indoor fun across many situations—playing at home, passing the time, performing tricks, or enjoying games with a big group.
Since you can also play alone, many adults probably find themselves picking up a deck when they’re bored.
With so many different games, kids are sure to stay entertained without getting tired of it.
Another great point is that you can choose games that fit the number of players.
And if you start to get bored with card games, you can try building a card tower, doing a fortune-telling spread, and other alternative ways to play.
Badminton
If you’re going to play outdoors, how about everyone trying badminton together? Even people who aren’t good at ball sports can enjoy badminton, and younger children will surely have fun too.
You don’t need a large space, so you can play in front of your house or in a small open area.
Kids can play with each other, and adults can join in too—maybe holding back a little.
It really heats up when you get a rally going, and kids will get excited right along with you.
Once everyone gets the hang of it, it’s a game that’s fun to watch as well.
Hip Slider
A hip slider is a playground toy used for sliding down slopes: you place it under your bottom, hold the handle firmly, and slide.
Didn’t you ever ride on cardboard and slide down grassy embankments or slopes when you were a kid? This hip slider is a substitute for that cardboard.
Unlike cardboard, it won’t tear, it’s durable, and it glides better over grass.
What’s more, it’s surprisingly sold at 100-yen shops.
Makes you think it wouldn’t hurt to have one, right? Kids love this kind of play—they’ll keep at it so long you’ll want to ask, “Don’t you ever get bored?” (lol).