We just got into spring, but here in Louisiana where I live, it is already starting to feel like summer. Whew! If it feels like this now, I can only imagine what the summer temperatures hold!
Regardless of how warm it gets, though, my family and I always try to find some fun activities - even if we have to play in the morning or evening hours. So I found a few toys that are a hot trend this year that my family has been enjoying - and I think your family will enjoy them too! Best of all, I find these are great for playing both indoors and outdoors!

Go short! Go Long! No matter where you go, it’s always the perfect throw! Introducing the All-Pro Passer Robotic Quarterback – the most accurate quarterback on earth! Programmed with the skill, timing and accuracy of a pro quarterback, the All-Pro Passer launches the ball over 25 yards! With nine different passing zones, it lets you practice hundreds of plays. Just select your play, then press hike, slant, post, short or long. The All-Pro Passer throws a perfect spiral every time! Play one-on-one, three-on-three or with as many players as you want. You can even practice catching on your own! Perfect for the park or backyard. Football included. Requires 4 “C” (1.5V) batteries (not included). Ages 8+
My 8-year-old son and my husband were beyond thrilled to discover this! This toy is lightweight and the setup was a breeze. Put the batteries in, put your foam football in place, adjust your settings, and get ready to have some fun! Quite honestly, I did not expect this one to be very good. I mean, I figured my son would have fun, but as an adult, I did not expect to be impressed. I was wrong. I was VERY impressed as was my husband. When my husband and the kids went out to play, they really didn't expect this to toss the ball as far as it did, but to our surprise, it shot the ball well passed my next-door neighbor's house based on the first setting they tried! Don't worry, you can adjust how far and the direction the football gets tossed. Everyone had a turn to set the ball and catch it. It throws the football in a perfect spiral every time! So while this looked like a simple little kids' toy, it was actually very fun for the whole family!

Laser X is the #1 home laser tag system on the planet. It’s like having a laser tag arena in your own backyard! Laser X Ultra Long-Range Blasters have the longest blasting distance of ANY Laser X blasters – over 500 feet! Laser X works inside or out, in darkness or bright sunlight. Choose from more than 20 team colors to light up your blaster! Blaster beams go through windows and strategically bounce off walls and mirrors to hit opponents, while rapid-fire and quick-slide reload keep the action going. Advanced sensors allow an interactive voice “coach” to offer tips and tricks throughout the game. All Laser X gear works together. Games can include unlimited players. Ages 6+. Requires 6 “AAA” batteries (not included).
I was first introduced to the Laser X brand thanks to my next-door neighbors. They had gotten some smaller laser guns for their family to play with. One evening my family had joined in. So we went and got our own set and first discovered these larger blaster laser guns. Of course, we kept fighting between the kids and adults because we adults took the nice big laser guns and left the smaller handheld laser guns for the kids. So we added a couple more blasters to our pile. You see, with the smaller laser guns you needed to be a bit closer to hit your target and you also had to "reload" more frequently. With these particular blasters, you can hit your target, including other Laser X blasters, from a further distance. Additionally, you can continually shoot at your target without almost constantly needing to reload. These are definitely a nice advantage over the other Laser X blasters for sure!
They are lightweight, easy to use, and tons of fun! You can have players play on teams based on color (guns matching the same color are on the same team) or you can play free for all where it is every man for himself. Either option is a lot of fun! Especially for us playing around the neighborhood at night!
Roboear is the ultimate audio-surveillance robot. Just detach his backpack speaker and insert the included earbud. Then station your robot anywhere, and he’ll transmit back to you whatever he hears. Listen to what’s going on downstairs when you’re upstairs – or outside, while you’re inside. Strategically station Roboear, so no one can sneak up on you, because you can hear them coming! Roboear can transmit from up to 100 feet away! Roboear is one of four Spybots Cybernetic Security Robots. Collect them all! Includes 3 replaceable LR44 button cell batteries. Requires 3 AAA batteries (not included). Ages 6+
Now, I must admit, I had not heard of this toy until now. However, my 8-year-old son knew exactly what this was the minute he saw it and absolutely could not wait to try it out! It's a very simple, lightweight spy toy for younger kids. I found when ours arrived we needed to replace the batteries. So the included batteries did not work. I'm assuming because it got switched on in the process of shipping. Once the batteries were replaced, however, we simply switched the robot on and it was ready to use! One end is the receiver and the other part is for listening. Of course, you are not going to be able to hear across the house or very far because the receiver needs to be close to the transmitter. Remember, this is a toy after all and not top-notch spy gear. If you were looking for cheap spy equipment, this is not it. This is a toy for kids. With that being said, my son absolutely LOVES this thing! He likes to sit outside his sister door to "spy" on her. Plus, it is very simple to use. Even she, as a 14-year-old, got a little kick out of it!
There are a ton of great toys available for the summer, but these are my 3 top picks for this year that have absolutely thrilled my kids and family. Even the other neighborhood kids have been getting joy from them and looking into getting their own. If you want something fun, consider these!
What are your favorite summer toys this year?
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