50+ Outdoor Toys for Kids (that you'll own for years) - Busy Toddler (2024)

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 new toy hit for our street: 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.

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.

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.

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.

Flying Helicopter Discs

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.

Rocket Bubble Blower

Omg this is so much fun and blows out tons of tiny bubbles. It’s been a major hit with all ages and just brings joy. Great price for something that brings a smile.

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.

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.

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

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+.

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.

Giant Soft Frisbee

One of the neighbor Dad’s brought this home 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.

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+.

Magnifying Glass

This 3 pack: yes, please. Magnifying glasses breed curiosity.

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.

Helmet

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

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.

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.

Reusable Water Balloons

Oh, wow. We’ve had these for a year now and they’ve revolutionized water balloon play here. There’s no mess. There’s no parent help filling balloons. There’s endless hours of fun and options. I can’t recommend them enough (and I’m excited they’ve lasted so well!).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Ok 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.

Waterfall Discovery Wall

The newest “big ticket” hit for us: 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.

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 40 year old husband. Now that’s a development span…. (all kidding aside, these have been a massive hit for our entire neighborhood).

Scooter

The best scooter for kids to learn on (and keep going with). It has many years of use/life in it, and makes a great hand-me-down. We’ve been really happy with this one and the “street” owns several. I’ve linked to the smaller size that’s great for 2 – 5 year olds. Here is the link to the next scooter size up.

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.

Scoot About Bike

This became a hot hit on our street with two tabies racing up and down on them. I’m so impressed with these and so jealous I didn’t have one for my kids.

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.

Bike Ramp/Jump

This is so fun for kids – a ramp or jump that they can position however they want. We bought this for my 8 year old, but the first person to master it was the 3 year old neighbor… it’s a really fun “extra.”

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.

Razor Trike

Treasure 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.

Tree House with Slide

In 2014, I asked my MIL to buy this for my son’s first birthday. My son is 10 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.

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.

Outdoor Wagon

Ok so this technically isn’t a toy for kids, but I couldn’t make it through a summer without my wagon, both in the neighborhood and out. We use this to load up all these toys and haul them around.

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 at the beginning of “Stay at Home” orders and absolutely love this. 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). Not an affiliate link.

Susie Allison, M. Ed

Owner, Creator

Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.