Plug kids into ‘good old’ toys

Dear Mr. Dad: My 7-year-old’s birthday is coming up and he’s been asking for all the latest tech gadgets. Can’t kids these days have fun without electricity? Got any suggestions?

A: I have to confess that I’m something of a gadget-loving techie.

But I’m also tired of fancy electronic toys and games that get used once and tossed – and I think kids are too. Feeling nostalgic for “the good old days,” I put out the word that I was looking for low- and no-tech games and activities.

I wasn’t expecting many suggestions, but the response was incredible. So here are a number of simple, wholesome, no-batteries-required, and sometimes-free ways you and your kids can have a ton of fun this summer and beyond.

•Get out and make a mess. There’s something about scooping sand and dirt and splashing in the water that kids love. Pick up a copy of Richard Louv’s book, “Last Child in the Woods.” It’s an eloquent discussion of why kids need to spend more time outside – and the dangers of not doing so.

•Into the kitchen. You can get great tips and recipes from Playful Chef (playfulinc.com), Antonio Frontera’s “Chicken Soup for the Soul Kids in the Kitchen,” or ilovepeanutbutter.com. For desert lovers, try the Baker’s Edge Brownie Pan (bakersedge.com) or make some ice cream with the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker (icecreamrevolution.com)

•1 bucket of chalk + one sidewalk = an afternoon of fun. Kids can practice their letters and numbers, draw pictures, or play hopscotch. There’s also sidewalk paint and animal-footprint stamps so you can make a trail and let your kids find little treasures you’ve hidden along the way.

•Bug hunt. The old mayonnaise jar with holes poked in the lid still works. Or you can get special kits (sometimes with favorite themes like Shrek) complete with net, tweezers, and magnifying glass. If you find a caterpillar’s cocoon, bring it home and wait for the butterfly to emerge.

•Old favorites. Remember Wham-O’s Hula-Hoop, Slip ’n Slide, Super Ball and Frisbee? They’re just as much fun today as they were when you were a kid. Also check out Hoopnotica (hoopnotica.com).

•Balls and rackets. Get out the baseball glove and play some catch. If your kid isn’t quite old enough for baseball, pick up a Velcro paddles-and-ball set. It’s easier to catch for smaller kids and still helps develop hand-eye coordination. Kick a soccer ball around, play tennis, shoot baskets, or teach the kids four-square. For a super-fun, fast-paced game, try Speedminton (speedmintonusa.com).

•Hide and seek and tag are always big hits. Or take it up a notch and play flag football. You can get a nice kit at sklz.com.

•Learn to walk on stilts (for equipment, visit stiltwalker.com).

•Arts and crafts. Collages, finger painting, and making hats out of newspaper are great for the little ones. For the older set, sock and stick puppets (tigercandyarts.com) are excellent choices, along with T-shirt decorating, bead bracelets, origami, and science projects. For more paper projects, visit thetoymaker.com.

•Talk. You should be able to do this one on your own, but if you need extra help getting the kids past “fine” and “nothing,” try The Art of Conversation (taocusa.com) or GiftTRAP (gifttrap.com) games.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of low-tech fun. You can find even more great ideas on my blog, at www.mrdad.com/ask. And if you have any suggestions, please send us an e-mail.