The 16 Best Outdoor Toys for Kids, According to Experts
Convincing kids to ditch their screens for the great outdoors is no easy task. But thanks to our list of the best outdoor toys, hand-picked by Boerue, they won’t even want to watch Paw Patrol. These toys can withstand being left in the backyard, are tons of fun for kids, and are easy for parents to set up and supervise.
But which one to choose? If you’re creative enough, you can take any kid’s favorite indoor activity and move it to the backyard. Are they artsy? Give them a sidewalk-chalk upgrade that’ll keep them drawing for hours (and keep their fingers clean, too). Into STEM? Try out a stomp rocket, and see if you can find the variables that make it fly higher and higher — or test out what makes a solar-powered car go faster or slower. What about gym? Try a glow-in-the-dark football and keep playing past dusk. And when your learning activities are done, be sure to stock up on the usual summertime staples, like bubbles, scooters, and kiddie pools, which they’ll keep returning to year after year. With these, you can just slather them up in sunscreen and keep them in the backyard all day.
Stand-Up Sidewalk Chalk Holder
Invented by parents, this sidewalk chalk holder means you no longer have to bend down to draw your next game of hopscotch. Genius! Ages 3+
Nabi Compete
The Nabi Compete introduces kids to the idea of fitness trackers. They can challenge each other to walk equivalent distances of the path around famous landmarks (like the Brooklyn Bridge in New York or the National Mall in D.C.), or see how quickly they can burn off the calories in a slice of pizza. Ages 6+
NERF Fortnite HC-E Mega Dart Blaster
Take the fun of Fortnite off of screens and into the backyard with this powerful Nerf dart blaster, which is designed to look like the weapons in the game. The blaster comes with three darts. Ages 8+
Gazillion Bubbles Incredibubble Wand
This easy-to-use wand creates big bubbles that don’t pop right away. It comes with 16 ounces of solution that’ll keep kids busy for up to two hours of constant play. Ages 3+
Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket
With this game, kids “stomp” on the included pump to send rockets flying up to 20 stories high. Setup is super fast and easy, so you can start having fun right away. Ages 6+
Sunny Patch Pretty Petals Sprinkler Toy
How does your garden grow? With lots of water, of course! For families that don’t have a lot of space to set up a kiddie pool, this is a smaller (and less expensive!) way to cool off in the backyard.
GeoSafari Solar Rover
With this solar-powered car, kids can create a shadow to turn it around or stop the car completely. Then, they’ve gotta move out of the way to gain more power from the sun. Exercise! Ages 8+
Rainbow Arch Spray Pool
Cool off in the backyard with an inflatable pool that, if you hook it up to a garden hose, is also a sprinkler. The rainbow arch also provides some shade. Ages 2+ with adult supervision.
Sling Stix
Once they’re bored of catch, try Sling Stix, which challenges kids to “sling” and catch a super bouncy ball using a suction cup. Once they master it, they’ll feel really accomplished. Ages 6+
Glow in the Dark NightBall
Get the teams in a huddle for a game — at night! This football glows using LEDs, giving new meaning to “Friday Night Lights.” Ages 3+
Flickin’ Chicken
Move over, cornhole and horseshoes! The Flickin’ Chicken game is the best precision-tossing game for kids, because throwing a rubber chicken is just hilarious. Ages 6+
Wooden Indoor/Outdoor Fishing Duel Set
With two wooden rods and 25 magnetic fish, this kit has all the fun of fishing, without the mess. Everything zips up into the included travel case, so it’s easy to bring along when heading to the park. Ages 5+
Fun Zone Fountain Factory Water Table
Kids will flock to this water table once it’s set up in the backyard. They can switch around the pipes and fittings for STEM know-how, and there’s an easy draining plug so it won’t make a mess. Ages 3+
Mega Grave Digger RC
This remote-controlled monster truck won a 2019 Good Housekeeping Toy Award for its ability to roll over a variety of obstacles put in its path. But it’s also surprisingly light, which is good if one of those obstacles turns out to be a foot. Ages 4+
Micro Kickboard 3-in-1 Scooter
If you’re investing in a scooter, get one that will last for years: This one from Micro starts as a ride-on toy, then transitions to a scooter with a short handle, then becomes a full toddler scooter. Ages 1+
Gus Climb-N-Crawl Caterpillar
Get those little bodies moving! Kids can crawl through the caterpillar tunnel, climb on top of it, and peer through the different windows. You can configure the segments in different ways, and even purchase extensions. Ages 3+
