Summertime is the season when daily routines give way to outdoor play. And when it comes to choosing gear for active play, toy specialist Joanne Oppenheim says less is more.

The basics - a ball, a bike, a sandbox and a pair of skates - are all that a child really needs to enjoy the fresh air, she says. Oppenheim is the creator of the Toy Portfolio, a quarterly toy, game, book and video review."A ball is a very social toy whether you're 6 months, 6 years or 16 years old," she says. "It also helps hand-eye coordination."

For very young children, Oppenheim recommends a ball made out of a soft fabric or vinyl but never foam, which can be swallowed.

A preschooler is ready for a soccer or basketball that looks more like the real thing. However, a child of this age still needs a ball that is soft.

Elementary-school children, who are learning sports by this age, are ready for the softball version of a baseball.

Parents should look for quality equipment adapted for kids, Oppenheim says, like a baseball mitt lined with fabric fastener or a bat that clicks when you hit the ball in just the right spot. "This kind of equipment enables them to learn," she says.

As for bicycles, her rule of thumb is to pick something that won't frustrate a child.

Toddlers should have "four on the floor" for stability. "A riding toy for this age should be uncomplicated, without batteries," she says.

For older children, Oppenheim suggests a generic red trike or bike that can be passed down to younger brothers and sisters.

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"Kids don't need training wheels until they are 5, 6 or even 7 years old," she says. "Young school-age kids don't need gears or hand brakes."

Classic skates get Oppenheim's vote. She is against adaptations of in-line skates for children under 8 years of age. "Balancing is much more difficult than with classic skates," she says.

Finally, for toddlers, Oppenheim says there's no better outdoor equipment than a sandbox, which can provide hours of entertainment for little ones.

Kids love to improvise when it comes to gadgets for the sandbox, she says, so "don't be surprised if, by the end of the summer, you're missing your entire set of stainless steel."

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