Best Outdoor Toys for Kids
Want to get your kids excited about playing outside this summer? Here are our family’s tried-and-true FAVORITE outdoor toys that we think your kids will love too!
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When the weather is warm and the sun is shining, there is nowhere I’d rather be than outside. Whether I’m reading a book in the shade, going for a hike or bike ride, or digging in the garden, time outdoors makes me a happier person.
This is true for my kids, too, although sometimes they require more of a nudge to get oustide to play.
Why Outdoor Play Matters
The amount of time kids “should” spend outside daily varies depending on who you ask, but the general consensus is that more time outside it better!
Spending time outside has so many benefits for kids:
- Physical health: Outdoor play encourages physical activity, promoting stronger muscles, improved coordination, and overall fitness.
- Mental well-being: Spending time outside reduces stress levels, boosts mood, and enhances mental clarity and focus.
- Creativity and imagination: Outdoor environments stimulate creativity and imaginative play, providing endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.
- Social skills: Interacting with peers in outdoor settings fosters social skills such as cooperation, communication, and teamwork.
- Appreciation for nature: Outdoor play nurtures a love for the natural world, encouraging environmental awareness and stewardship from a young age.
I have complete confidence that you want your child to play outside (otherwise you probably wouldn’t be reading an article about outdoor toys). You probably already know all the benefits.
The tricky part sometimes is getting your child on board with the idea, too! The pull of electronics…the comfort of air conditioning…these things keep our kids inside their comfort zone. But it’s time to push them out!
What are the best outdoor toys for kids?
Now, I’ll be the first to say that you don’t need a million toys for kids. In fact, I’m a big believer that the best toys for kids are often the ones nature provides: sticks, rocks, leaves, etc. I spent much of my own childhood grinding up leaves in our outdoor play kitchen, making mud pies, and climbing trees. A stick can be SO many things!
But there is a place for traditional toys as well. Carefully chosen toys, especially open-ended ones that encourage creativity and imagination, can draw kids outside and keep them there longer.
The list below is a collection of our family’s favorite outdoor toys. These are things we’ve used year after year, that show up again and again in the pictures on my camera reel of my kids living their best lives in summer, and the ones I think your kids will love too!
You definitely don’t need ALL of these toys. We’ve been collecting them over the past decade, but if you have a kid with a summer birthday or want to get one or two new items to kick off your summer adventures, these are sure to be a hit!
Our Favorite Outdoor Toys for Kids
Sidewalk Chalk
You knew it would be on the list, so let’s just put it first, shall we? Sidewalk chalk is a classic for good reason! There are SOOO many ways to play with it! Want some ideas? Read this post!
Playground Ball
This ball is just like the ones you played with at recess in elementary school. It’s tough, super bouncy, and perfect for games for four-square (my kids’ fave) and kickball. Note: It comes deflated, so you’ll need to have a ball pump to inflate it.
Moon Ball
Moon balls are advertized as being the “highest bouncy balls on earth.” I don’t know if that’s true, but they do bounce crazy high, and my kids love them! They’re smallish, about the size of a tennis ball, so they’re perfect for taking on the go.
Aerobie
Did you have one of these as a kid? I have fond memories of ours! If you’re not familiar, they are like a frisbee, but much easier to throw, and softer on the hands because the edges are rubber instead of hard plastic. I just bought one for my kids to use this summer! Note: The only complaint I’ve read is that they go SO far that they’re easy to get stuck in trees, so make sure you have a big open space for throwing!
Stomp Rockets
We received this as a gift, and it’s such a fun one to pull out when the kids have friends over, or to take to the park with you. The rockets do go high (the box says up to 200 ft), so make sure you have lots of space or they might end up in your neighbor’s yard.
The BEST Sandbox Shovel
If you have a sandbox, or if you ever plan to visit a sandy lake or beach, you need this shovel. I don’t say that lightly. Most sandbox shovels are flimsy, but the SANDIG shovels from IKEA are so, so good. It’s the shovel all the kids fight over at my house, and the one we have has lasted for over 5 years! I just went this week and bought FIVE more (they’re cheap, so it was a no-brainer), so now we have enough for everyone! Don’t have an IKEA nearby? These Hape shovels cost a little more, but look identical to the IKEA ones.
Binoculars
These kid-friendly binoculars are so fun for hiking with little ones. They’re light-weight and easy to use, and kids feel so “official” with their own binoculars. Use them to look for real wildlife or just use your imagination and play “safari.”
Ride-on Toys
Plasma Car
This is by far the most coveted ride-on toy at our house whenver kids come over to play. Everyone loves the “wiggle car” (as we call it), from toddlers to tweens. It’s low to the ground, sturdy, easy to move, and so much fun! If I were to buy ONE ride-on toy, this would be it.
Razor Scooter
These light-weight, foldable scooters are perfect for taking a
walk (or ride) around the block, and my boys like riding around our backyard and taking them to the skate park, too. They’re sturdy metal, and ours have been going strong for years. If you have older kiddos, this bigger scooter is great for kids ages 8+.
Water Toys
Water Table
We bought a water table for my oldest son’s second birthday (almost ten years ago!) and it’s still going strong! We have used it for all kinds of outdoor play over the years, and it has been one of our most beloved toys. The one we have isn’t for sale any more (after a decade, go figure!), but this is the one I would buy today if I were replacing it.
Splash Pad
If you have little kids, and you don’t want to have to worry about having a pool in the backyard, try a splash pad like this! We bought one when my youngest was almost two, and all the kids ended up loving it! You can control the water height
Kiddie Pool
We bought this dino pool for my son’s birthday several years ago, and they used it SO much for the next two years. Eventually it got holes in it (such is the way with inflatables), but it was perfect for ages 2-6. The pool itself is nice and shallow, and the slide, waterfall, and ball game gave them so much to do.
Reusable Water Balloons
I jumped on the bandwagon last year, and decided to try out the trendy reusable water balloons, and do you know what? I loved them! No filling up balloons ahead of time, they worked well, and we used them in so many ways beyond the standard water balloon fight. Just make sure you leave them open to dry between play sessions.
Ultimate Slip ‘n Slide
Our friends have this slide, and it is everything you could ever hope for: super long, big bumpers on both sides, and a sprinkler to keep things wet. It’s pricey, but it would be a perfect splurge item for your backyard summer fun, especially for big kids (which are often a harder crowd to get outside).
Lawn Games
Ladder Ball
This is such a fun lawn game for all ages. It’s easy to set up, and my kids love trying to toss the “bolas” and trying to get them to hang on the rungs of the ladder. It’s just the right amount of competition, and rounds are short, so the stakes are low. You can always have a rematch!
Kubb
Also known as “Viking Chess,” players toss wooden batons to knock over the opponent’s wooden blocks, then ultimately the King block. It’s a surprisingly tricky game if you follow the official rules, but it’s easy to adapt for younger players (or for me, who has very little hand-eye coordination).
What are your family’s favorite otudoor toys? Share in the comments below!
Want more ideas for summer fun? Check out these posts:
- 5 tips to make summer fun for your family without burning yourself out
- How to beat the heat: 9 ice play activities for kids
- Our favorite summer workbooks for kids to stop the “summer slide”
- Summer Plan for Fun! (your simple guide to a fantastic summer at home)
- Summer Daily Checklist for Kids (editable!)
