I'll admit it. One of my least favorite parental duties is taking my kids to the park. In an effort lessen the pain, I started looking for fun things to take along that would engage a group of kids so that I don't end up having to play hide-and-seek in the muddy water tunnel.

Twister Scram is a cool variation on the classic game: it comes with a mesh tote bag of rubberized dots that you put out all over the lawn. The caller spins the spinner and calls out the colors and the players have to dash to the dots. The instructions give a few different ways to play the game, and of course there's always the option of tossing the dots like Frisbees. Fear not...they're made of soft rubber.

What did we do before cable? We played outside in the street! Do you remember how to play bottlecaps, stickball, running bases, or potsie? I didn't either so New York City Street Games has come in handy. We park ourselves on the loading dock in front of our building or on a park bench and break out this book of games, which comes with both bottle caps and sidewalk chalk. And since my kids like to make up rules to their own advantage, I like having a manual to settle any arguments.

What's a trip to the park without ice cream? The Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker combines three activities: cooking, playing ball, and eating. You fill one side with ice cream ingredients, add ice and salt to the other side, and then roll it around for about 20 minutes. Believe it or not, it really does work. It comes in a ton of bright colors so buy a couple: one for each kid's favorite flavor. Just don't forget to bring along spoons.

My son can never have enough balls. Get your minds out of the gutter--you know what I mean. And without a garage or backyard, who has room for soccer, basketball, and good old-fashioned bouncy balls? That's why I love the new Phlat Ball. It squishes down flat and you can throw it like a disc, then it pops open into a ball as it is caught. It comes in a whole bunch of sizes and colors and is perfect for shlepping to the park or to the beach.

But the consistent winner at the park is the mesh backpack of "guys" I tote with me. A pile of Power Rangers or Superheroes (at another point in my life it was Barbies, Polly Pockets, and My Little Pony) is guaranteed to get the party started. I love these mesh bags because you can rinse off the park muck in the sprinklers right through the bag before you head home. And don't forget to toss in the wet bathing suit while you're at it.

--Enjoy! AS