The Best Outdoor Toys

Let’s play outside! The weather here is beautiful, and the kids and I are itching to be in the sunshine. Here is a straight-to-the-point review of the best outdoor toys – the ones that we have and love! And watch for a demo video at the end that gives you a tour of our backyard and the toys in this review!

I do have affiliate links in this article. No cost to you, a help to my family and I. So thank you!

My family loves to be outside! There’s always something new to discover, and there’s an endless list of fun things that we can do. We enjoy everything from planting a garden, to kicking a ball around, to swinging!

As the weather gets warmer (especially after this ridiculous winter, amirite?) I wanted to show you the toys and equipment that we actually use on a regular basis. While a lot of our stuff has been given to us and is very used, we love our yard setup and it works well for us! Look no further for the best outdoor toys, complete with photos and a video tour at the end.

Step 2 Sandbox

A sandbox or a sand table are great for cooler spring days, when you need to keep your kids a bit quiet, or when you just want them to get some fun texture play! I actually thought that our Step 2 Sandbox would be more expensive than it was, and it’s been quite durable. The lid is watertight and I love that the four corners double as little seats. We can have at least three kids playing in this sandbox simultaneously (or two kids plus chickens), and there’s lots of space to throw the sand toys inside before closing it up for the day. A sandbox is really one of the best outdoor toys and I know we will always have one!

Be sure that you use sandbox-quality sand for your sandbox, and not the rougher construction stuff.

A note about sandboxes: While a sandbox is one of the best outdoor toys, you want to make sure that whatever box you get, has a lid. Not only do you want water getting in the sand, but feral animals like cats and raccoons like to poop in that kind of material. That can have serious health repercussions for your kids! Never let your children play in a sandbox that isn’t kept covered. (For the record, our chickens may “perch” along the edge but no feet and no butts are allowed!)

CAT Mini Machines

Boys and girls all love construction trucks. They’re fascinating! This set of four minis is perfect for playing in the dirt or the sandbox. They’re a durable lightweight plastic so just dump them in a bucket of soapy water when you need to clean them.

Sportspower Swingset

Our beloved Sportspower swingset was a house-warming gift from Grandma and Grandpa, and we’ve put it to such good use! I love the design because there is a ton of room for lots of things and as you can see, we’ve customized it a bit. I really appreciate the plastic wrapping around the chains so that little fingers can’t get caught, and I think that the unique glider (“pony”) swing and the “flying saucer” are creative ideas! Seven kids can be playing at once here without a problem.

I’ll admit that the steep vertical angle of the slide’s stairs made me nervous when my son was younger.

And of course, make sure that you use safety stakes to keep those posts on the ground!

Little Tikes 2-in-1 Toddler Swing

As you can tell, we removed one of the standard swings from our swingset and put a toddler swing up for my daughter. This swing is so old and yet it keeps on kicking! I feel confident that my child is buckled in securely.

This swing is called the “2-in-1” because the red bracing piece can be folded under the seat, allowing your child to sit freely in the swing once they’re older. I haven’t tried this yet with my daughter but I’m sure she’ll be thrilled when she’s not in a “baby swing” anymore!

Do be watchful of the ropes, as they will turn brittle after years of being outdoors. This swing also comes in a pink color scheme.

Little Tikes EasyScore Basketball Goal

This height-adjustable basketball goal from Little Tikes is a really smart buy. It’s quite affordable and comes with three soft basketballs. We filled the base with water to keep it more stable as our son learns how to run and dunk! Simply lift and lock into place to change the height, six possibilities between two and four feet tall. The rim is also larger than the circumference of the balls to give the players a bit of an advantage (wink).

This basketball goal could definitely also be used indoors, but it will do better if it’s on a flat surface.

Step 2 Wagon for 2

Everyone’s gotta have a wagon! We actually found this dilapidated one being thrown out by a neighbor (oh pleeease don’t judge us) but other than looking a bit sad, it worked fine! Score!

This wagon has two facing seats and the wheels are sturdy, able to go over uneven terrain. These are not only great for playing in the yard, but they’re one of the best outdoor toys because you can easily throw it in the back of your car for a trip to the zoo, botanical gardens, or Disney. The door latch is also a nice touch.

The affiliate link here is for the blue wagon by Step 2 which is suspiciously cheaper than the other colors. But know that you can get different wagons – and different canopies – in various colors and prices. There’s even one with cupholders and a little caboose!

Banzai Wiggling Water Sprinkler

Ok this thing is hilarious. We found this Banzai at Target and got it for our son’s outdoor birthday party (it’s June in south Texas so of course anything water is good!) It is so fun to watch! The different tubes will dance around with the water pressure and you can move the blue length of the whole thing however you want. Just be careful to store it better than we did so it doesn’t get gnawed on by squirrels!

Little Tikes Junior Slide

We love our little slide! This one is perfectly safe for any toddler or child, not only because it’s lower to the ground but because there is a much wider angle of steps (aka it’s not steep at all). It’s lightweight and was actually used indoors by a friend before she gave it to us. I’m not ashamed to admit that one of the best outdoor toys is a slide – and we have three!

Step 2 Water Table with Cover and Umbrella

A water table is another fantastic idea. What I love is that there’s a cover so we can store toys when we’re done; there’s a plug in the bottom so you can drain the water without tipping the whole table over; and the umbrella is a great addition, too! Our kids love playing with cheap little boats, plastic cars, pool diving sticks, and even just shovels and buckets! (Our water table is quite old so I’ve found you a link for the closest current model.)

Technically any sand table can be for water, and visa versa. Or if you’re really into torture, you can do half and half. (I couldn’t stand the inevitable mess so that’s a no for me.)

Bug Watch

It’s Bug O Clock! With the Watch A Bug, your child can pick a favorite specimen to wear on their wrist. I know it’s a bit weird but it’s hilarious and my kids love it. Let them explore and play in the dirt! Just make sure to release your little captive when you’re done.

Toysmith Field Microscope Kit

This is an amazing toy for outside. It’s a magnifier and microscope but it’s perfect at the park or in the backyard! It’s a flat plate set that has various discs in it, like little holding places for things like leaves and bugs. Rotate the microscope around and check out all of your finds! I adore discovery and educational things like this, so it’s for sure on my list for best outdoor toys. (You can see this and most of the other items of this review on a video I tour I made for y’all at the end of this article.)

 

Chalk

Ah, chalk. It’s in my backyard, it’s in my front yard, it’s in my car and in my purse. We don’t mind the cheap stuff, but I like the shape of these egg ones for little hands, and a thicker piece like these so we don’t end up with tiny broken shards everywhere. We store ours in the storage bin I mention below, but you could also use an old pencil box or a baggie. Just don’t leave them out in the sprinklers or in the rain!

Got an old wooden table? Buy some chalkboard surface paint, apply a few coats, and you have a new surface to chalk on! (Get the smallest container you can find as a little will go a long way!)

Bubbles Bubbles Everywhere!

Okay, don’t judge… it’s pretty obvious that my kids adore bubbles. We have a manual no-spill bucket that’s really genius, and two machines. This machine is your basic rotating blowing bubbler, and this tornado monster is pretty fascinating if I do say so myself. Just be sure to keep all of these out of the rain and snow, as they can get ruined (and the manual bucket will just get disgusting inside).

You can always buy bubble solution as it isn’t expensive, or you can make your own with some Dawn dish soap and water!

Seeds and Pots

I can’t deny that we love playing in the dirt! Our family can’t wait for spring because it means plants and soil and seeds and new life! Aaaah it makes me so happy. We’re really going crazy this year, too.

At our friend’s kid’s birthday party (full of science experiments and other cool stuff that I’m not ashamed to say I was super jealous of), each child got to use one of these little pots with some potting soil and a sunflower seed. While seeds can literally be found at the dollar store or just in your pantry, I really like these little pots – called peat pots or peat planters – because they’re biodegradable and can even be planted with the dirt and the seed into a bigger pot later on!

Our Special Fairy Lights

Ok, so they’re not really fairies, but my kids love our “magical” solar garden lights. I had to put them on here because we have a little spot under our live oak tree where our fairies have dance parties at night (at least according to my toddler). These durable lights charge with sunlight during the day and shine with colors once it gets dark. We have to look at them every night before bed! The firefly style is sold individually, but I also love the three-pack of the bug stakes. (In our photos we also have another brand that’s a three-pack of flowers but they’re not good quality so pretend they’re not there.) Both styles are waterproof and work right out of the box.

A Few Other Suggestions

We have our kids wear special shoes that are just for the yard – they remain outside at all times and are just plastic, so they’re easy to wash if you have animal poop or other stuff in your yard.

Keep bug spray handy – in my friends’ experience, the mosquito mist treatments don’t really work, at least here in south Texas. We like the more natural bug sprays – look for DEET free – and we actually have had success with using lemongrass essential oil on the back of their neck, and inside their elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles. (Always check the safety and quality of essential oils around your children!)

The same goes for sunscreen. Even when it’s cloudy or your out on the water, the sun can quickly burn your kids. I find the best remedy is to use a cream and a spray, though it may seem inconvenient. Set alarms on your phone so that you don’t forget to reapply it! (You can do a Google search for the sunscreen ratings too, so don’t just take my recommendations – do your own research to be sure!)

Playing in dirt a lot? I hope so! Get your kids cheap garden gloves to protect them against rose thorns or other unseen nuisances.

And because I’m lame, I’m going to quickly suggest that you get a bin with a lid like this basic Rubbermaid one that’s just for kid stuff. We put our best outdoor toys in there to keep them safe from everything: from nibbling squirrels and nosy chickens, to pollen and rain and dust, and accidentally getting run over by Daddy’s mower!

Do not store things like bug spray or trap bait with your kids’ toys. Put those unsafe things in a different place.

Overall, look for toys that are safe, well-made, and appropriate for your child’s age level. Let them learn to love the sunshine, the fresh air, even the bugs and the dirt! You won’t regret it, I promise!

If you’d like to see more about a balance bike and how to use one outside, you can see my article (with demo video!) here.

If you’d like to see our two favorite Radio Flyer products – the scooter and the tricycle – you can see that article and demo video here.

And finally, here is our video tour with some of the toys mentioned above! Thanks for sharing!