Top Toys for Active Families

Find top toys that encourage fitness and physical activity for the whole family.

Just what is Swinxs, exactly? It's a game console, but it doesn't have a video screen or a power cord. One person can play with it, or 10 can. You can play with it inside or take it to the park or the beach (it has a long-lasting battery). You can play the games programmed into it, download new ones, or even make up your own. Pull on a wristband, switch on the Swinxs and play! The wristbands let players interact with the console in relay games, tag and more.

Definitely not your grandpa's game, this reinvention of the picnic classic lets you play faster and throw farther, indoors or out. Use the catapult to launch the foam horseshoes 10 feet or more!

If you like Dance Dance Revolution, check out this dance-based game. There is no controller and no mat to stand on. Instead, players attach wireless, motion-sensing tags directly onto their feet! As you move and groove to pop music hits, your footprints appear on the screen in real time. There's also a treadmill game for a change of pace.

Just about every backyard in my town has a pair of BlonGoals in it somewhere! This simple game (also called ladder golf, ladderball, or Top Toss) features two goals, or racks, and six BlongoBalls, which are a pair of brightly colored golf balls attached together with rope. The object of the game is to toss the BlongoBall onto the goal to earn points. Simple? Yes—but addictively fun too. Play one-on-one or in teams.

The classic contortion game comes in dozens of varieties, from branded versions (High School Musical, anyone?) to high-tech dance DVD add-ons. All will get your family moving—and laughing—together. If you don't have one in your game closet yet, now's the time to change that!

Forget those scary, hard, heavy mallets and balls and opt for kick croquet instead! In this version of the classic game, both the balls and the wickets have been super-sized for easier, more active play (the balls are 16 inches in diameter). Arrange the wickets any way you like for variety and challenge.

Kids (and adults) still clamor for the Nintendo Wii, which features interactive, motion-controlled game play. Plus try active add-ons: The Wii Fit (compare prices) is a balance board and set of 40 activities designed to give a real workout in a virtual environment. A more little-kid-friendly alternative is Bandai Namco's Active Life Outdoor Challenge, which uses a durable mat controller (compare prices).

Welcome to the newest Wii destination, Wuhu Island. Here you can try 12 new sports activities, from archery and cycling to table tennis and wakeboarding. This game comes packaged with the Wii MotionPlus accessory, which makes your Wiimote even more sensitive than before.

Play disc golf in your own backyard. This set includes nine flags (place them wherever you like for a customized course), two discs, and a goal that folds up for storage—plus a bag for stashing it all.

This bucket of fun surely belongs on your (bucket) list. Actually, the game comes with six buckets, belts and blindfolds; 24 beanbags; and 4 cones, packed together in a tote bag. Combine all these goodies to play 15 different games—5 indoor, 5 outdoor, and 5 water. This innovative, yet old-fashioned game has won several "best toy" awards for its versatility and the way it inspires creative, family-friendly, active play.