Having a bored child around the house is no fun for anyone. Kids have so much to entertain them these days that boredom doesn't have to last for long, but it's wise to look closely at what kinds of entertainment children are consuming. The most popular diversion for children is electronic entertainment like video games, online gaming, social networking, television, and movies. While these tech toys are fun and can provide some intellectual stimulation, they don't address a child's need for physical exercise.

The rate of childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years, in part because of all the new games and toys that keep kids in their seats in front of a screen. Even kids who aren't overweight may be suffering ill effects from too many hours indoors. Rates of depression and anxiety are on the rise in otherwise healthy kids. Any doctor (or mother) will tell you that in addition to love, food and clothing, children need fresh air and sunlight to grow and thrive.

One way to promote a healthy lifestyle to children is to get them outdoors with backyard toys. These products are designed to get kids moving and having a great time right in their own backyard, where their parents can sit and relax, cheer them on, or better yet, join in the fun.

Backyard toys also work great for children at the other end of the spectrum: those who have a lot of excess energy. Going to the park all day isn't doable for most parents, and a nice cache of backyard toys comes in handy when the kids need to blow off some steam.

Shopping for backyard toys can be a bit tricky. Some parents have shied away from the full backyard swing/slide/teeter-totter set-up. These large, cumbersome backyard ensembles can be hard to assemble and take up a lot of space. If you have a park-like backyard, a play structure may be able to occupy a corner without much problem, but in a more modest lot, the play structure takes over. And when your kids grow tired of it, where does it go?