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What to Consider When Picking Outdoor Toys
Age Appropriate: The most important aspect when choosing toys for your kiddos is to ensure it’s age-appropriate. If a child is too young or old for a toy, it will only lead to frustration or boredom. You’ll also want to check the manufacturer’s recommended age for safety purposes. Benefits: It’s completely fine if a toy is just for fun. But often, toys have benefits we’re unaware of, whether it’s teaching kids spatial awareness, balance, or fine motor skills. Material: For outdoor toys, you’ll want to make sure they will stand up to the sun, wind, and rain. You also don’t want a toy with electrical components that could become unsafe when wet.
How We Choose Our Favorites
Outdoor Toys for Toddlers
Water toys are an ideal way to cool down in the warm summer months and provide outdoor fun. With a waterfall tray, scoop bucket, and maze-like spinners, this water table will have your kids occupied for hours. Not only is this ride-on toy a fun outdoor play activity for toddlers, but it’s also packed with over 17 sensory activities, including interlocking gears, a working horn, and sliding beads. Plus, little ones can also use it as a push walker.
Toys for Preschoolers
Not many other outdoor games excite children as much as bubbles, and this lawn mower bubble blower machine will provide hours of fun. In addition, it encourages walking and features realistic sounds. Your child can model Mom and Dad’s skills as a gourmet griller with this Little Tikes grill for kids. Just like a real-life fancy outdoor kitchen, the set includes a sink, fridge, and pizza oven, plus play food and grill tools. It is recommended for ages 1-4. With just a garden hose, this inflatable sprinkler splash pad is ready to go. With shallow water, it also doubles as a small inflatable pool for small children. Platform swings are all the rage and an exciting outdoor activity! This one can hold multiple riders (up to 660 pounds total) for hours of group swinging. Hang it from a tree or your playground set, and let the “hang out” begin! Recommended for ages 4 and up. This t-ball set includes a collapsible bat, three baseballs, and a 3-in-1 t-ball base. Younger kids can start using the tee until they gain confidence. Then, switch the base to a popping pitching machine.
Toys for Elementary Kids
With a lid that doubles as a truck ramp, kids can have fun in or out of the sand. Plus, you can use the real excavator to dig around or fill up the dump truck. In addition to the sandbox, this set includes two characters, a dump truck, sand sifter, sand cup, rake, and shovel. The easy-adjust handlebars allow this scooter to be suitable for kids of all ages, and it teaches balance and coordination. Plus, this scooter folds up, making it easy to carry, transport or store. This geometric jungle gym allows kids to use their imagination when choosing the best route to get to the top or climb around the sides. Plus, the interlocking plastic tubes and connectors are easy to assemble and durable. For even more summer fun ideas, check out our list of The Best Water Games for Kids This Summer If you have trees in your own backyard, these climbing holds will get children outside for hours. The weather-resistant handles are made of high-quality plastic resin that won’t crack or fade in the outdoor elements. The only thing better than bubbles is bigger bubbles! With this giant bubble-making kit, kids can create bubbles that are 10 or 20 feet long. Plus, they’re even more fun to pop!
