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The weather is getting nicer so let’s get outside! Kids need to run around and play and while they can creatively come up with plenty of activities on their own, a few key outdoor toys can also help keep them entertained. Many of our favorite outdoor toys are great on their own, or used together to create an obstacle course right in our backyard!
YEARS ago I did this post about our favorite backyard toys for toddlers. It always seems to find a new audience each spring as everyone starts to go outside more. Now that my kids are almost 5 and almost 7, they are out of that younger toddler age so I needed a new age appropriate list of outdoor toys. As a reminder, like any favorite products lists on my blog, I only link to items I personally use and stand behind so know these are kid tested and mother approved, not just here for the sake of a review post!
- Razor Jr. Little Kick Scooters – Both my girls have been scooting around on these for the past few years, riding as early as 2.5. The recommended age is 3 and I think that’s pretty on par (but you know how younger siblings are). They’re lightweight, but sturdy and we’ve enjoyed them in the driveway, in the park and were easily take them on vacation to a beach house two summers! We’ve never had any problems with them. NOTE: Please make sure to get a helmet for these!
- Collapsible Soccer Goals – Those big, bulky nets are great when kids are older and into highly competitive sports, but for now, these collapsible soccer goals are great for our backyard! They fold up and fit back into the bag it came with so they can be stored in the off season and back out for spring.
- Jump Rope – It might take some time to develop the coordination needed to jump rope but once they get it, they are hooked! Plus it can really tire them out and get their energy out!
- Plastic Cones – Younger kids can use these as markers for all sorts of outdoor games or obstacle courses while older kids will find them helpful for sports training. I consider these an investment in their athletic future!
- Camping chairs – The girls are happy sitting in these chairs out on the driveway or on the soccer field at each other’s games! They fold up and include a travel bag to carry them in.
- Hula hoop – My girls love to hula hoop an count their record of rotations, but we also use them for obstacle course activities! Lay a bunch down in a row and jump to each hoop in the grass!
- Sidewalk Chalk – Is there even an age limit on sidewalk chalk? Make an obstacle course, tie tac toe, hop scotch, trace your body, draw a road, make shooting areas for basketball, practice site word spelling – the options on things to do with a simple piece of chalk are endless!
- Gardening Set – Young kids love to garden so get them prepared with their own garden tool set, kid sized garden gloves and a knee board for comfort.
- Fairy Garden Set – Creative kids will love this outdoor pretend play activity! These mini houses and accessories can be found at home improvement stores or the craft store and the rest of the items can be found in your own backyard!
- Play set – I KNOW this a much higher ticket price item than the other things on our list but I can honestly say it was worth the investment! We’ve only had ours since last summer and the novelty isn’t going away anytime soon. This particular model includes a mix of swings, monkey bars, slides, a little house and some ladder action. On the bottom there’s a little picnic table they sometimes like to eat at and an open area that we’ve put our old sandbox in. That might be their favorite spot as it’s shaded from the house above it. We got ours at Sam’s Club last year and if you follow me on Instagram, you might remember my IG stories sharing the challenges for the install company to come put them together timely and with all the parts included. Spoiler: it didn’t go as planned for the first or second time they came, but it all worked out in the end. My tip: buy early in the season and book the install company early if you don’t want to put it together yourself! This wood type does need to be sealed yearly so make note of that if you choose this type of model.
- Water balloons – Yes, this is the only outdoor toys on the list which are a disposable item, but they’re super fun to bring out for summer parties or special occasions! We love the Bunch of Balloons brands which connect to a hose and are easily filled up in seconds!
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