Children aren’t automatically gifted at sports, they need plenty of practice, so if you’re keen for your child to be a basketball star, you should definitely consider buying them a goal to use at home. Even if you just think your child could do with more exercise, a basketball hoop is a great idea. As well as persuading kids to come outdoors away from their computer screens, they help them to stay active, healthy and happy by allowing them to play competitively with their friends or to practice alone. Honing social skills as well as motor skills and hand-eye coordination, kids of all ages are sure to enjoy using an age appropriate goop which is set to the correct height. To help you to choose the right product for your child, we have come up with some of the best on the market today.
Top Basketball Hoops For Kids In 2020
Little Tikes Easy Score
Get them started with shooting hoops as soon as they can walk with the Little Tikes Easy Score set. Created especially for children aged between 18 months and 5 years, this baby basketball hoop is a perfect way of introducing children to the idea of competitive gameplay and the rules of the game. Easily adjustable to 6 different settings from 2 to 4 feet, it can accommodate even the tiniest pre-schoolers, and with its oversized rim and small basketball, it is easy to score and achieve. The ideal way to enable children to develop better hand eye coordination, this is a fantastic choice for active youngsters.
Little Tikes TotSports
This gorgeous pink goal which is aimed at pre-schoolers is ideal for encouraging girls to play the game. Starting at 2.5 feet and increasing up to 4 feet to accommodate children up to the age of 5 years, it features an oversize rim as well as a child-sized basketball to give little ones a great sense of achievement whenever they score. There are six individual height settings to allow for easy adjustments. This toddler basketball hoop is a great way of encouraging active play, coordination skills, balance, independence and social skills.
Step2 Shootin’ Hoops
This junior basketball set is designed to grow as your child grows with a height that can be adjusted through four sizes. The rim is also adjustable, moving in 6” increments between 30” and 48”. The set comes complete with a backboard and a sturdy rim together with a woven net. There are two in-built drinks holders and the kit comes with a 6” basketball which is the perfect size for youngsters. Designed to suit children from the age of 18 months, this toddler basketball goal is an ideal product for improving coordination and playing skills.
Lifetime Youth Portable
This is an excellent investment for children who are keen to develop their skills with a goal that will grow along with them. This portable kids indoor basketball hoop incorporates cutting edge technology with a 32” backboard made from virtually unbreakable high density polyethylene, screen printed graphics with UV protection and a long lasting nylon net. The rim is supported by a solid steel ring and has double compression springs, while the pole telescopes to enable the user to adjust the rim’s height between 5.5′ to 7.5′ so players of any skill or height can be accommodated. Supported by a 3 piece round steel pole, which has been protected by a weather resistant, powder coated finish, the hoop is fixed to a 10 gallon base which makes it portable.
Step2 Shootin’ Hoops Pro
Featuring a center pole fixture which is adjustable to three different heights (48 inches, 60 inches or 72 inches), this kids basketball hoop set features a large backboard that has a break-away rim and which is equipped with a woven net. The rim is adjustable and will grow with the child. Its base is large and stable and can be weighted with water or sand, and it also features in-built cup holders for extra convenience, which can also be used to store the basketballs when they are not in play. This children’s basketball hoop set comes complete with a 6 inch child-sized basketball.
Little Tikes Adjust and Jam
Keen young basketball players will love the Adjust and Jam set which grows with them from four feet up to six feet in height. Introducing the concept of competitive play and coordination skills, this adjustable goal has 5 different height settings and features a large backboard for more rebound play. This junior basketball goal also has a breakway rim and a professional style net which is attached securely to the rim. It comes with a child-sized basketball and there is a molded groove in the base to hold the basketball when it is not in play.
Things To Consider
Safety
One of the main concerns when choosing a basketball hoop for toddlers and children is safety. Some elements to consider include its stability, whether it has breakaway rims and the materials it is made from. Metal and fiberglass can hurt your child, and therefore it’s best to start out with plastic and then move up to more dangerous materials once they have learned the basic skills. Breakaway rims are ideal for extra safety as a child is more likely to be injured by a rigid rim. Although plastic basketball hoops for kids are quite light and therefore shouldn’t cause too much damage if they topple over, buying a portable outdoor goal should be delayed until your child is old enough to not pull the hoop over when dunking or slamming. You should also ensure that you choose a product with a backboard that is virtually unbreakable, made from a composite material like polycarbonate or fiberglass.
Placement
You need to decide where you will be placing your hoop. Will it be outdoors or indoors? Outdoors is usually the best choice and you will need to choose the right space, where there is plenty of room to play without breaking anything.
Portability
Another factor to bear in mind is how easily it will be to move the goal between different locations. An in-ground hoop will be fixed firmly in place, but they can have adjustable heights. A portable hoop is mounted on top of a stand which can be wheeled or rolled between sites. This is ideal in yards or driveways where there is limited space, or where it will need to be moved to accommodate a vehicle.
Durability and Longevity
Kids grow rapidly, and you need to remember that when buying a hoop. Buying an intermediate goal may not be necessary, as children’s skills advance relatively quickly. You should definitely get a toddler hoop to encourage play at an early age, but then you may want to forget the larger plastic hoop and wait until you can mount an in-ground or wall mounted goal for them to use when they are older.
Backboard Material
It is very important to pay attention to the type of material being used for the backboard when buying a kids basketball hoop. A glass board is a poor idea for children as it could break easily, so an acrylic one is a better choice. An attractive goal that appeals to kids will encourage them to play more often, and there are other handy features such as detachable ball return scoops to make it easier to fetch the ball once a throw has been made.
Pros of having a toddler’s basketball hoop at home
Having a basketball hoop for kids at home offers a host of benefits to children:
- Opportunities to get out in the fresh air and away from screens and devices
- Opportunities for plenty of exercise to boost health and fitness
- Improvements to hand-eye coordination
- Honing of basketball skills through extra practice time
- Learning about competitive play
- Learning independence through solo hoop shooting
- Improvements to gross motor skills