Teaching your little one how to handle their emotions can be tricky. They are just learning about the world, and while they may not know exactly what is going on, they do know that it is important to them. This is why many parents have turned to punching bags for toddlers and preschoolers as a way of teaching them how to release all of their pent up anger before getting too frustrated.
In this article, we’ll talk about the different types of punching bags available for kids and ways you can use these toys in a variety of ways with your child!
What Age(s) are Punching Bags Appropriate
It’s obvious that a small baby can’t use a punching bag (though there are suitable wobble style toys like this one I have found on Amazon), but small, toddler-made punching bags are perfect for children over two years old.
It might seem strange to recommend a punching bag for such a little one, but they are unexpectedly great in other ways as well:
- They are great exercise
- They help develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- They’re a great tool to redirect frustrations (before they turn into tantrums)
- Most importantly, they’re fun and will hold their attention for more than five minutes!
Best Punching Bags for Kids
I’ve scoured the internet, asked friends, and even tested punching bags out with my own kiddos to put together a list of the best punching bag toys for kids.
Below you’ll find my ultimate list, which I’ve broken up into different categories to help you pick the right one for your family.
Best Punching Toy for Very Little Kids: Doctor Dolphin Inflatable Punching Bags (Pig, Unicorn, or Puppy)
Doctor Dolphin Inflatable Punching Bags are a great way to relieve stress and improve your child’s self-esteem.
Kids love the cute animal designs, but parents like myself who don’t want to be replacing toys appreciate the durability of these inflatable punching bags. Unlike similar-looking punching bags, this product actually holds up to rough play from kids.
This little bag is just the right size to help little kids learn how to control their strength and develop coordination, flexibility, and balance.
The doctor dolphin punching bag is made from high-quality PVC material which makes it durable and press resistant. It’s easy Inflate and deflate with a standard hand pump and says the base can be inflated with water or sand, but I recommend going with play sand as using water seems to cause problems.
Best of all it comes in a pig, unicorn, or puppy shape.
Most Durable Punching Bag for Younger and Older Kids: Atlasonix Monster Boxing Toy / Air Bop Bag
Playing with an air bop toy is super fun and you don’t even have to worry about anyone getting hurt. But if you want a sturdier, leak-proof option that will really last for a long while, the Atlasonix Boxing Toy is your better choice.
This product can, again, be filled up with water or sand and air but because leaking is not as big of a problem, water is actually the better choice here as it takes less than five minutes. All filled, it stands at about 4 ft tall, so it will last your kiddos a long while and is sturdy enough to take a beating from older kids.
Overall, if you’re looking for an air-bop style bag, this one is the most durable I’ve found.
Best for Imaginative Play: Imagenius Toys Inflatable Punching Bag & Foam Sword Set
The Imagenius Toys Punching Bag and foam sword set is all kinds of fun for both younger kids and older kids too.
Kids can use this one as a punching bag to practice their kicks and punches, or as a sword-wielding fighter who has to slay the dragon or defeat the knight.
Like many of the other punching bags on this list, it’s easy to set up, with an inflatable bottom chamber that holds water or sand for stability (again, I recommend sand) and air in the top chamber.
My girls love this one and have rescued our dog from the clutches of the acid-breathing dragon more than once, ha ha.
Best Toddler Punching Bag with Gloves Set: QPAU Upgraded Punching Bag for Kids
The QPAU Upgraded Punching Bag is perfect for all tiny champions in training!
It’s made of nice PU leather and can be adjusted to three different heights to match your little toddler or preschooler’s height. It includes one pair of gloves and one ball as well as a pump for easy inflation.
It also has a unconditioned 2-year refund policy and a two year warranty on everything, which is not common among these types of toys, and it speaks to the quality of the set.
Best Budget Punching Bag Set
If you’re looking for a little boxing bag and glove set that won’t break the bank, the OnBash Punching Bag Set is perfect, though not as sturdy as the QPAU.
This punching bag set is easy to assemble and can be filled with either water or sand. Putting sand in the base makes the stand much stronger than filling it with water.
The height of the base adjusts easily, so your little one won’t outgrow it for years!
In Conclusion
If you have a child or multiple children that like to hit or play fight, I recommend that you get them a punching bag. It’s much safer than letting them hit each other with their little fists!
If you have a toddler or preschooler, then these products can also help them develop coordination and learn to control their strength.
I hope this article has helped!