SPORT & LEISURE
Pool toys and beach games are the cheapest way to turn a hot afternoon into something the kids remember. Off Grid Superstore stocks 205 inflatables and beach games, with a minimum age printed on every listing so you can match the toy to the child.
What's in the range
The large ride-on inflatables are the popular end: the Large Inflatable Crocodile with Handles is 143 x 48cm for ages 6 and up, and the Large Inflatable Whale with Handles is 150 x 35cm. The Jumbo Clown Fish is the biggest of the three at 147 x 87 x 56cm and drops to age 3 and up.
For younger swimmers there's the Ride-on Aqua Pony with Stabiliser, 88 x 56 x 28cm for ages 3 and up, and the Kids Inflatable Swim Ring with Seat at 56cm. Games run from the Extra Large Swim Through Hoops, a three-piece 64cm set for ages 8 and up, to the Neoprene Beach Paddle Set, three pieces in a mesh bag.
How do you choose a pool toy by age?
Go by the age rating and the child's swimming ability rather than size alone. Items marked ages 3 and up, like the Aqua Pony with its stabiliser and the swim ring with a seat, keep a young child upright and are designed for supervised shallow water. Ride-ons marked ages 6 and up assume the child can already swim and can climb back on unaided in deeper water. Handles matter more than they look: they are what let a child right themselves after a roll.
If you're packing for a trip rather than a backyard pool, the Camp Essentials and Footwear ranges cover the rest of the day.