After reading There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather, I was motivated to raise an outdoor kid! Having friends, dirt, and fun toys and activities make it a whole lot more fun to be outside. When competing with screens, I figure it’s worth it to spend a little bit of money to make going outside as appealing as possible.
This outdoor toys gift guide includes items that I have personally purchased and have in my home. I ordered this list starting with stuff for littles at the top and items for older kids towards the bottom.
Sand Box
Every little kid enjoys a sandbox. When my kiddo was a toddler, he spent ample time playing in his sandbox. We got a lot of use out of this thing from ages 2-7! This one has been particularly wonderful because the lid stays on no matter how hard the wind blows. The lid has never blown off, not even once, despite intense winds.
Water Table
This water table has held up wonderfully over the years, and it has a little spiral to throw the balls on top and then for the balls to go down. It’s awesome for those hot summer days, and the little balls that come with it act like little water shooters. A lot of people use this as a sensory table as well, and besides water they can be filled up with beans, rice, water beads, or snow.
Wagon
My kiddo probably played with this the most, loading it up, hauling stuff around, and getting rides in it. Hours and hours of entertainment. It’s also been handy for mom’s gardening projects.
Tonka Truck
This Tonka truck has withstood the test of time, going on 10 years in harsh outside conditions it still looks and works great.
Balance Bike
A balance bike is great for littles, and I believe having experience with a balance bike makes it easier to learn how to ride a regular pedal bike later on. These are easy to find used on FB marketplace.
Sidewalk Chalk, Bubbles
Simple stuff is best and nothing beats the classics. Great for aspiring artists in the family!
Soccer Ball and Goals
A simple ball is always a basic necessity and these goals have worked great for us. Some people might prefer larger goals but these are easy for transport.
Bike
Guardian bikes are hands-down the best bikes for kids to learn on. I wanted a bike with normal hand brakes, not the ones where you pedal backward, to me it seemed safer. My kiddo was riding a two-wheeled bike within 5 minutes, and I think it’s because he had a quality bike to learn on. They are light in weight, have handbrakes, and retain their value. This bike is not cheap but once your kiddo grows out of it, they are quick to resell on FB marketplace.
Scooter
The micro-mini is one of the best scooters out there. This scooter is easy to maneuver, and the brakes work great. We put serious miles on ours and never had any issues with it whatsoever. We used this one from ages 3-7.
Binoculars, Compass, Pocket Knife
Stuff all outdoor explorers need in their pack! Binoculars, a compass, and a pocket knife for whittling sticks into spears.
Spider Web Swing/Straps
This spider swing is awesome! My son and I put it together, and it’s great for all ages. I sit on this swing and enjoy it myself. These are the straps and carabiner we used to hang it up. And we added tree wraps to further protect the trees.
So far, three years in without any problems whatsoever.
Under the Deck Swing
I had this swing up and running in two minutes. If you have a tall, sturdy deck or sturdy horizontal tree branch this is the swing to get. Easy to set up, and very strong. If you don’t want to have a full swing set (and want to avoid a big build project), this is an inexpensive alternative.
Dome Climber
The dome climber was a bit of work to put together, but it was worth it. Having kids climb helps their hand and arm strength and is just fun! Some people add accessories like slides or little swings, or turn them into igloos for the winter! We used this dome climber from ages 4-9. At 10 years, we are starting to grow out of it but there are bigger ones available that could work for older kids as well.
Camelbaks
CamelBaks kids’ hydration backpacks are great to stay hydrated if you are a hiking or biking family! The pockets are the perfect size for holding snacks, nature treasures, and small tools.
Barefoot Shoes
These shoes are great for the healthy development of kids’ feet. Barefoot shoes have a wide toe box and a zero drop heel. Once your kiddo starts wearing comfortable barefoot shoes, they may boycott their other, less comfortable, shoes. There are different brands of barefoot shoes, but we like the Saguaro brand best. Saguaros are a lot more affordable than other barefoot brands. My son and my husband say these are the most comfortable shoes they have ever owned.
Velcro Catch
Velcro Catch is easy to transport and great for picnics, for taking to the beach, or for just playing in the backyard.
Stomp Rocket
These stomp rockets can travel pretty far, and can be used indoor or outdoor. The kids love playing with these!
Bow and Arrow
I did a lot of research before deciding on this bow. This is a quality, introductory bow that shoots straight. Though, I bought this other set of arrows that had better reviews than the arrows that originally came with it.
Bounce House
I’m lucky enough that this Bounce House fits in our basement, but I originally bought it for a birthday party and we set it up outside. I figured it cost at least as much as renting one, but we’d get to keep it. It works great outside, easy to plug and play. And it’s easy to fold up when you’re done with it. I just wouldn’t leave it outside long-term. This is so great to get energy out during the winter months. We’ve had ours for going on 4 years with no issues.
Snow Shovel, Sleds, Snow Tube
If you’re in a winter climate there is no shortage of entertainment with just the simple stuff, like a shovel. Dig, build, and create with one tool. Sleds and snow tubes are a must if you have some snowy hills.
Trampoline
An obvious one, but I’m happy with the safety and parents’ rating for the Jumpzilla brand for our trampoline. We used these hurricane rated anchors to stake it down and it hasn’t gone anywhere despite regular 40+ MPH winds we’ve had this year.
I hope your family enjoys being outside as much as we do. Hopefully this outdoor toys gift guide will encourage some more fun in the sun! Join the 1,000 hours outside challenge if you want to challenge your family to spend more time out of doors.
