A Parent’s Guide to Toy Blasters

Toy blasters are perfect for making playtime exciting. Blasting friends and working as a team with fun games and contests will keep your child entertained for hours. But there are some important aspects to consider before choosing a toy blaster. This guide will uncover all you need to know about toy blaster types, age appropriateness and safety.

What types of toy blasters are there?

Toy blasters are available in various types, each offering an exciting blasting experience. Dart blasters and gel blasters are two popular options among children. It is important to understand the differences between these types of blasters, as they have different types of projectiles and usage warnings. However, both types of blasters are designed with safety in mind and are completely harmless when used properly.

Dart Blasters

These blasters come with projectiles of different shapes and sizes, including darts, discs, and arrows. They are completely safe due to the soft foam material, which makes them an excellent choice for younger children. Dart blasters can vary, with different internal mechanisms depending on the type of projectile you want to use.

Air-powered mechanisms are known for their high rate of fire and long firing range, while flywheel mechanisms have an electric motor and can be used as semi-automatic or automatic blasters. Torsion spring-powered and string-powered blasters are typically used for disc and arrows.

Take a look at our dart blaster range for even more choice.

Gel Blasters

Gel blasters are a great option for those looking for high-velocity and advanced blaster play. These blasters use soft, spherical water-absorbent polymer pellets, which are very small and do not cause any harm at the point of contact as they are mostly made of water. Moreover, these pellets are non-toxic, eco-friendly, and do not leave any stains.

Before use, the pellets need to be placed in water to absorb it. However, some gel blasters come with pre-hydrated projectiles. Gel blasters are recommended for older children and teens but are considered safe for recreational use due to their low blasting velocity.

Take a look at our gel blasters page for more options.

What ages are toy blasters suitable for?

The right age to gift a child with a toy blaster depends on several factors, such as their level of maturity, coordination skills, and ability to follow instructions to use the blaster safely. Each toy blaster manufacturer provides an age recommendation; for example, Nerf recommends a suitable age based on the power of the blaster and its complexity. Check out our Nerf blaster safety guide for more information.

Toy blasters are generally suitable for children aged 5 and above. The projectiles are larger and softer for younger children, and the blaster is smaller to make it comfortable for them to use. If you’re considering larger blasters with projectiles that can blast further and faster, they are suitable for children aged 8 and above. However, gel blasters are only suitable for children aged 14 and above. This is because of the smaller gel pellets, so they must be used with more care.

Are toy blasters safe for children?

It is important to educate your child about properly handling toy blasters before allowing them to use one. Potential accidents can occur from the use of toy blasters. Here are some reminders to keep in mind:

• Never aim a toy blaster at someone’s face.
• Play with toy blasters in big and open spaces.
• Keep the projectiles away from the mouth to prevent choking.

It is recommended to give your child eye protection while they play with a toy blaster, even with dart blasters. Even though the foam projectiles are soft and lightweight, they can still cause harm if a child misaims their shot. It is however, essential to wear eye protection when playing with gel blasters. Many gel blaster manufacturers, such as Nerf and X-shot, provide eyewear with their gel blasters. The gel projectiles may be small and water-absorbent, but they can cause a minor sting if blasted at close range. This will fade away in a matter of moments.

See our full range of X Shot Blasters, including gel and dart blasters for ages 8 and up.

Where should your child play with toy blasters?

Playing with toy blasters is best done outside, as it reduces the risk of breaking ornaments and allows children to shoot from a safe distance. It’s also important to clear the play area of any tripping hazards and supervise children while they play. Keep in mind that some toy blasters can fire up to 100 feet, so make sure you have enough open space.

Additionally, some toy blasters can be louder than others due to factors such as heavier springs, internal mechanisms, and the type of darts used. These larger toy blasters can disturb young children, pets, and neighbours, so it’s important to be aware of your surroundings. However, there are ways to make a toy blaster quieter. Smart Nerf have a guide that explains how to reduce the sound of larger Nerf blasters.

See our full range of Nerf blasters, including dart blasters that can shoot over 100 feet!

What games can you play with toy blasters?

There are plenty of thrillingly fun games your child can use their toy blaster for, with both their friends or on their own. Here are some of our favourites.

Capture the flag

Split into two teams, each with a flag on their side. The objective of the game is to capture the opposing team’s flag, but be careful not to get eliminated, as it will give the opposition a better chance to capture your flag. This is a great game for building teamwork skills, encouraging social interaction and cooperation.

The President

Each team must select a President who they must protect throughout the game. The opposing teams aim is to eliminate your President by blasting them. The game ends if your team’s president has been hit. Team members must work together to protect the President, and develop a strategy to eliminate their oppositions President. A great game for building camaraderie and thinking skills.

Role play

You don’t need to have a big group of people to play with a toy blaster. Encouraging your child to re-create movie scenes, acting as their favourite characters to serve and protect. This is a great way to encourage imaginative play.

Target practice

By honing their toy blasting skills, your child can gain a competitive edge in duels with their friends. Creating target boards and an obstacle course for them to practice can help them develop their coordination and become more adept at safely using a toy blaster.

See our range of Nerf target boards for blaster practice.

Toy blasters are great for encouraging your children outside and getting them to run around whilst having fun in the sun. At the Entertainer, we have a large range of toy blasters to choose from, suitable for ages 5 and above. For more summertime toys, see our complete range of outdoor toys.

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