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It’s All Fun and Games
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BY CYNTHIA BAUDENDISTEL
When you’re a kid, spring and summer are about long, lazy days spent playing, exploring, and having fun. We talked with Marie Foley, owner of The Concord Toy Box, to discover this year’s most popular summer toys and games. “During the pandemic we saw an increase in interest for wanting to play outside,” Marie said. “Customers were interested in dress up, bubbles, games, and items for exploring, along with adapting many traditional games to be used outdoors. Fun is certainly the objective for summer 2022!”
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES A summer adventure can become a lifelong passion. Grab a compass, bug-catching net, magnifying glass, and Bear Grylls’ Beastly Bugs Activity Book and spend a day discovering the wonders that can be found in a simple meadow. Summer nights are perfect for stargazing, and a telescope can reveal the mysteries of the universe. You can even borrow a microscope or telescope from the Concord Free Public Library!
SPIN COPTERS Spin copters are one of the latest crazes for summer toys. These LED copters light up against the night sky as they’re launched with a simple slingshot base. The copters float gently back to the ground, allowing kids to shoot them again and again. A great alternative to fireworks!
BUBBLES A summer day spent blowing bubbles in the sunlight is a day well spent, indeed, and the technology hasn’t changed much – until now. Bubble Tree products come in refillable aluminum bottles designed to fit in a child’s hand, and their bubble solution is eco-friendly and
POGO JUMPERS Pogo sticks have gotten a makeover and are now so much easier — and safer — to use. Invented in 1920, pogo sticks have come and gone in popularity due to the skill needed to use them. Kidoozie pogo jumpers are perfect for active kids aged four and up. They’re made of foam with a wide base and can be used indoors or out. TWISTER Twister is a great game to carry along on your next picnic. Easy to pack and simple to play, just unroll the Twister mat and spinner, and off you go. Right hand red, left foot yellow! Fun fact: the world’s largest Twister mat was put together in 2010, just 75 miles from Concord in Belchertown, MA, on the Belchertown High School football field. It consisted of 1,008 Twister mats donated by Hasbro and measured 244.7 feet X 99.10. 56
Discover CONCORD
| 2022 Guide to the Great Outdoors
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