To say transportation toys play outside isn’t really accurate; it’s kids that play outside with these toys. The play is in the child, not the toy.
Kids of both genders and various ages and stages of development play with cars and trucks outside. Taking these toys outside not only gives kids more space, it also gives them opportunities for different kinds of play.
Inside or out, play with transportation toys is exploratory. Kids are figuring out ways to make these toys move and how to make them do the things they want. But being outside changes the dynamics. Cars might not zoom as fast and they likely won’t go as straight either. There are lots of new discoveries to make as kids explore from the ground up. Interacting with and connecting to nature may be one of the possibilities.
Being outside, adds a new dimension to sensory play. As kids play in dirt, rocks, or sand, they are stimulating their sense of touch. Pushing a toy over dirt or sand or gravel does not feel the same as pushing it over smooth floor. Not only is play hands-on, it is also hands-in as kids get up close and personal with these materials.
In a sand box, kids can build roads and hills adding an extra challenge to their manipulative and physical play. With small rocks, they can dig, fill, and dump. A dump truck filled with rocks is a great deal heavier than when it’s empty. Not only do toys move in different ways outside, so do bodies. Instead of just going back and forth or round and round, kids can carry, dig, balance, bury, pile up, scoop, and other actions.
Being outside also means kids can use much bigger toys. Inside a car can be small enough to fit inside a hand but outside the card are big enough for kids to climb right in. Play is really active now.
There is no doubt that this kind of play is very satisfying because kids will engage in these activities over and over. They will spend long periods of time with cars and trucks outside. Does your child’s day include transportation toys play outside?