Outdoor Toys for Kids

Flying Helicopter Discs

The 2023 best find (and absolutely still top marks in 2024), these have swept our neighborhood and taken everyone by surprise: we didn’t expect what a hit this would be and bought two more sets. So much fun for preschool age to big kids.

Giant Bubble Wand

Making giant bubbles is a HUGE hit for our street (I think the street owns 5 sets now). Ages 2+ love this toy and it makes the most incredible bubbles (we use the big jug of bubbles from Target for this).

Flying Foam Planes

The 2022 toy hit for our street is still crushing it in 2024: these planes are amazing. From ages 3 to adult, these have been a standout addition to our street play. These planes are big (18 inches), they fly far and even do loop-de-loops. 10/10.

Ribbon Wands

These have crushed it with the neighborhood. From toddlers to tweens, everyone is loving this large set of ribbons to dance with, play with, chase and imagine with. It’s a winner and a great value.

Reusable Water Balloons

We’ve had these reusable water balloons for almost three years now and they’ve revolutionized play. There’s no mess. There’s no parent help needed. There’s no more tears. There’s endless hours of fun and options for play.

Please note: This a great brand to buy and has covered magnets. Other brands have exposed magnets that will fall out. These do not.

Dance Scarves

I get your confusion: dance scarves? It’s an outdoor toys list. Go with me: this multi pack becomes capture the flag scarves, super hero scarves, outdoor dramatic play scarves, fairy garden scarves. Please trust me. I know what I’m talking about and these are magic.

Stomp Rocket

An absolute crowd favorite from tabies to big kids (and something I give out as a summer birthday gift all the time). This shoots a rocket 200ft high and it does not disappoint.

3-in-1 Yard Game Set

Need a great “catch all” toy? Try this genius set with cones, bean bags, and small rings. I have been blown away how many games and ideas for play I’ve seen kids find for this simple set. It’s a solid win.

Critter Cage

We’ve had this one for years – just one to share with all the kids and it’s been perfect for catching and releasing bugs safely. This single toy sparks a lot of play and adventure.

Mini Foldable Frisbees

The size of these mini silicone frisbees is just 15 cm in diameter which means they’re awesome for little hands. They come as a two pack.

Water Blasters

Hands down, these have been the best and most inclusive water blasters for all ages to use successfully. We’ve had a lot of water shooters over the years but these are the only ones that work for all kids from toddler to big.

“Finger” Kites

These have been really fun: they’re a cross between a kite and a paper airplane. These shoot off from a rubber band and they’re really addicting to play with. They’ve been most fun and successful with the 5+ age group. It comes as a 6-pack.

Small Sensory Table

This baby tiny sensory table is just the right size for tabies and toddlers. You can use it with sand, dirt, water, or even Duplos (the blue cover is Duplo compatible). It’s excellent for small patios and apartment balconies.

Buckets

Buckets are like the blocks of outside – they can do anything, be used for anything, and you need to buy them in bulk. One is never enough.

Kid-sized Gardening Tools

Easily one of the most used items in my backyard – these small tools are the best for little hands to use. Coming in a 5-pack is bonus: plenty for all.

Outdoor Trucks

Designate a few trucks as “outdoor trucks” and let them live outside. Having a few construction trucks handy goes a long way with imaginary play.

Watering Can

You have to have one (or three) watering cans. They are so entertaining for kids and an absolute backyard staple. I’m trying to imagine life without a watering can… I can’t.

Waboba Airlyft

These are so much fun to throw around – think flying cylinder with a tale. Multiple of these exist on our street because every family loves them. They’re great (and the price is perfect).

Traffic Cones

Think these are odd to see here? Trust me. These get so much action we have TWO sets. Kids use them to define work spaces, set game boundaries, make obstacle course… the sky’s the limit.

Caution Tape

The absolute stronghold that caution tape has had on play in our neighborhood since 2017 is unreal. The kids use this for everything. It sparks imagination and play in a way that no description on a blog will ever capture.

Magnifying Glass

This 3 pack: yes, please. Magnifying glasses breed curiosity. And kids will find a million uses for them.

Butterfly Nets

…not just for butterflies. These are carried around like backyard accessories by our kids. You can almost always find at least one child carrying a net at any given moment.

Hippity Hop

DO YOU REMEMBER THESE?! We are LOVING them in street play. This one inflates to 18 inches for “4-8 year olds.” I’m linking below a few more sizes (we’ve tried 3 and the street kids are all in love).

• 15 inches for 3-5 year olds
• 20 inches for 7-9 year olds

Jump Ropes

Don’t forget about jump ropes… These are often overlooked now-a-days but they are still magical. They’re not for littles though – think ages 6+ for the coordination to jump rope.

Flying Disc Launcher

A great solo player game or grab two and it’s a wild game of catch. This is a great birthday party gift too – it’s playing well with the elementary-aged crowd here.

Goodminton

Have a kiddo who wants to learn some paddle sports? Goodminton is the best way to start – no net needed! This is a great summer birthday gift for ages 6+.

Parachute Toy

Guess what toy gets used so much, I had to buy a second set? This one. Kids love dropping these from anything they can climb on. From inside play off the staircase to outside from a tree, these are a solid inexpensive win.

Foam Pogo Jumper

Yes, it squeaks. Normally that would cross a toy right off my list, but the squeaks make it really satisfying for kids when they get their jumps right. It’s an amazing little toy for 4+.

Helmet

Don’t forget a good helmet for kids – this was a fan favorite for my daughter.

Balance Beam

The winner of Best New (to us) Toy for 2025 is this balance beam. There are 5 sensory pads, 8 balance beam pieces, and endless possibilities. This is a 10000 out of 10. If you have kids who like playing floor is lava, obstacle courses, or creating boundaries, do not sleep on this. This works here for ages 2-12.

Splash Pad

Kiddie pools are great but I love a splash pad more. It’s a quick and easy way to do water play without the commitment of filling up a whole pool. This one is the best I’ve ever had.

Water Table

I don’t know where we’d be without a water table in our backyard. They’re just so perfect and they span YEARS of entertainment. I like this one in particular because of the lower price point compared to most other water tables.

Excavator

My son got this in 2015 – and we still have it. He’s 10 now and doesn’t quite fit it anymore, but other neighborhood toddlers and preschoolers are all over it these days. It’s the coolest.

Teeter Totter

We ended up with a plastic teeter totter as a hand-me-down and I wasn’t sure how it would go. Turns out, it’s a massive hit and has been for years now… and not just with toddlers and preschoolers. Every age is all over this.

Walkie Talkies

A childhood classic that our neighborhood couldn’t exist without – we love these, they work great, and the range is well over a mile (that’s as far as we’ve tested it). Kids love walkie talkies. This is the right set to get.

Bow and Arrow Set

Got this for my 10 year old’s birthday and it’s been the talk of the neighborhood for almost 2 years. It’s so easy to use, shoots unbelievably far, and doesn’t hurt if you get nailed (I can say from experience).

Pop Up Nets

Street soccer and street hockey have taken over here, and these pop up nets were a must. They fold up flat but are easy enough for kids to work with. They’ve been exactly right for our crew to play with.

Tree Swing

We bought this swing in 2020 and I can’t believe we ever existed without it. Rain or shine, sleet or snow, there is never a day when someone isn’t on this swing.

Scoot-about Sport

One-year-olds need wheels. This scoot-about sport is the best one I’ve seen. We have two in our neighborhood that have lasted a decade, being passed from child to child, family to family. It’s an absolute must, peddling is hard, so this is the one I always recommend for any child between 12-36 months.

Giant Soft Frisbee

One of the neighbor Dad’s brought this home five years ago and we all (kind of) laughed at him. A giant Frisbee that’s basically the size of a toddler? Jokes on us: this is pulled out daily. You can always find a kid tossing this around.

Bubble Blower

After 5+ years of buying junky bubble blowers on repeat (because they kept breaking), I bit the bullet and finally bought a larger “fancier” one. These larger style bubble blowers really do make a big difference.

Kid-Sized Wheelbarrow

Absolutely cannot sing the praises of a kid-sized wheelbarrow enough. While adults may only see a limited number of things to do with this, kids see infinite. I bought ours in 2017 and it’s still going strong.

Fox Tails

I love a fox tail for kids. This is such a fun way to learn to throw and catch, and it works for so much other imaginary play beyond that. We’ve found that kids like to play with these in groups so this set of 6 is ideal for us.

Outdoor Bowling Set

A very unexpected hit in our 2025 toy testing has been this outdoor bowling set. The kids love it. They love it inside and outside. They love it for bowling or for games with the little animals. It says something like ages 2-5 on the box (solid eye roll) because I can show you several 10 year olds who can speak for this toy.

Parachute

If you have a large group of kids to play with (think 4 or more kids), you need to relive your PE class days and get a parachute. It is just as much fun as you remember and kids still love them like we did. It’s a nostalgic winner.

Foldable Badminton Set

If you have big kids, this is a fantastic choice for the summer: It’s a foldable and portable badminton set. It comes with a case and the case becomes the base. This is so well thought out and it’s been a big hit.

Simple Wagon

Not ready for a wheelbarrow? This wagon is the best for pulling around anything and everything kids need. Even my big kids (6+) still love it.

Bat, Tee, and Balls

We love the one our neighbor has and thank goodness for it. The tee is amazing for the littles, the bat and ball still work for the big kids.

Outdoor Games Set

I bought this for a neighbor’s 9th birthday and we used it all summer around the neighborhood and at park play dates. The sack races and three-legged races were the kids’ favorites (forgotten games from the past that this generation of kids needs to know about!).

Giant Box of Chalk

At some point, I stopped buying the small chalk boxes and just went with the giant 120 piece set to last the whole summer. It was a great plan – and this chalk is super vibrant so the kids love it too. Check out my post on kid-made chalk paint for exactly what our street of kids uses this big box for.

Basketball Hoop

We love this hoop – got it for our son’s second birthday and the kids still pull it out for play. Yes, even the big kids. And the adult big kids.

Stepping Stones

Go with me here: my kids fell in love with stepping stones at a museum play area, so I surprised my daughter with some for her birthday. They’re a hit. Turns out, another neighbor had a set too. The set above is smaller and great for her kids (1, 3, 5). Here is the set I have which is taller, bigger, and thus, more expensive (perfect for ages 3+).

Water Rocket

What a great backyard science experiment! You pump air into a two liter bottle and send it sky high – another great birthday gift idea.

Real Kid Tools

Our kids build outside and they need real tools for it (under our supervision). We keep a bin of spare wood to let the kids build freely. This is the best set of tools we own.

Croquet

The big kids on our street have found a love for croquet. I don’t blame them. I loved it when I was 8+. It’s been fun to see them use this set and play such a simple, old school game.

Kid-Sized Garden Tools

Our absolute favorite set for all the many projects my kids start in the backyard. This is the best size for kids and we’ve them for years. They’ve held up well.

Rubber Race Track

This can be an indoor or outdoor toy: we love it outside. If you have a car-kid, having a rubber track in the outside space is really fun. It’s also fun to see what other uses kids come up with for 15-feet of rubber…

Safety Sign

Okay, so not a toy… except these little safety signs are definitely “one of the kids.” We call them all “Bob” and Bob has become a big part of street play. Fun story: “Bob” was one of the first words for one of the neighbor kids because this little sign is so important.

AquaPlay MegaBridge

I have wanted this toy since 2016 and finally got my hands on it. It is everything and more. I don’t care that the box says ages 3-7. I can show you eight kids from 7-12 crowded around this. It’s a waterway toy with locks, lifts, and a current. It’s unreal amounts of fun.

AquaPlay Lockbox

No, it’s not the same as the one above. Okay, it is slightly: this version closes with a latch, can be carried to a park or beach, and would fit perfectly on a balcony or small patio. It’s a fantastic water toy for everyone, but especially those with limited or no backyard space.

Roller Blades

The obsession with roller blades is fierce on our street – from ages 5 – 45 years old. I’m not kidding. We picked this brand because it grows with kids (buy one pair for sizes 1 – 4). They aren’t a one and done. Oh and we got this protective gear too.

Stilts

Yup. Stilts. These are height adjustable so they work for a broad age/height range. My 6 year old uses them and hands them off to my 41 year old husband. Now that’s a development span…. (all kidding aside, these have been a massive hit for our entire neighborhood).

Tree Climbers

Have some trees to climb but no lower branches? Try these! They been a huge help for our trees and a way for kids to get in (and out) of trees without calling for an adult assist. I love a toy that helps with independence.

Waterfall Discovery Wall

What a hit at our house: the box says 18 months and up. I can confirm that’s accurate AND a stand out for the 8 to 10 crowd. I love a toy with longevity and this has absolutely checked that box.

Metal Detector

Yep, it’s a metal detector and it’s awesome. If you have a budding treasure hunter, this is exactly right for them. This is a gender-neutral, multi-age hit on our street really all kids over age 5. The big kids have a little easier time holding which is why I chose this list. This is a really fun gift for a kid to receive – gets them outside and moving.

Push Walker Wagon

This walker/wagon is the BEST and one that shockingly ages with kids (this isn’t a one and done baby toy). Kids of all ages (from 1 to 10 – literally) find uses for this in our neighborhood. It’s also a fantastic first birthday gift if you need something fabulous.

Stepping Stone

This is the set of stepping stones that I bought for my family – my kids are older and these are used for everything outside. They nest together for easy storage. I linked to a smaller, less expensive set earlier on this list that’s great for the 5 and under crowd.

Sand Table

Our forever table. We’ve had this gem since 2014. It’s meant to be a sand table, but I use it for water. I love that it’s just a standing, rectangular sensory bin. Nothing fancy. This is a hidden gem.

Push Car

My neighbor owns this and it’s fantastic for walks with a little one (especially when walking a dog). The kids ALL love driving this with friends up and down the street (from ages 2 to 10). It’s hysterical.

Picnic Table

My neighbor has this one and it’s just perfect for littles. The kids love having a space to eat at – it’s also awesome for outdoor art projects.

EzyRoller

Such a cool ride!!! This is a really unique wheeled toy for kids and super versatile. It expands for different sizes so my 6’4 husband can ride this AND the 3 year old neighbor. Someone in the neighborhood is always on this – it’s one of those “always out” toys.

Tree House with Slide

In 2014, I asked my MIL to buy this for my son’s first birthday. My son is almost 11 and still uses this as “home base” or “base camp” in the backyard. This toy will forever hold a place in my heart. It’s held up, it doesn’t show it’s age (amazingly), and it’s still cherished.

Razor Trike

Treasured toy alert: this is super fun for kids ages 4 to 12. It’s hysterical to drive and also drifts really well for fearless kids. Ours is a decade old, having been passed down from kid to kid. It still has years of life left.

Classic Wagon

An absolute classic. We gave this to our youngest as an 8th birthday gift that all neighbor kids (from 4-12 years old) have adored. I wish we’d bought this sooner. They use it as a “car,” a supply cart, and an imaginary play wonderland.

Bike Trailer

What a gem this is!! Yes, it’s pricey but it will last you years (and many kids, if you need it to). This can hold 1-2 kid and makes bike riding with your little one so easy. We are so glad we owned this for our kids.

Water slide

This was a big purchase in 2021 for my MILs house. She has a big yard and can support this level of fun and awesome. My kids love visiting and playing on this. I have several friends who have this as well and all give rave reviews.

Jungle Jumparoo

We purchased this Jumparoo in March 2020 and absolutely still love it. It’s a great center to play but without the large foot print of a trampoline or swing set. Kids from 2+ enjoy it (plus they can’t double bounce on it so little kids and big kids can play together). My kids play with this more and more each year – it isn’t getting “old.” Not an affiliate link.