DISCLOSURE: This post originally published in March of 2015 but has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Have you and your kids been spending more time playing outside in this sunny, summer weather? Or are you looking to entice them to get outdoors to play more? Either way, I’ve got all the MUST-HAVES for all kids to make their outdoor play crazy-awesome!
Fun Finds – Let’s Inspire Some Fun Outdoor Play!
From classics you and I grew up with to new fun finds the kids will love.
Let’s check ’em out…
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24 Must-Have Fun Finds for Kids Outdoor Play
A Kid-Sized Lawn Mower – Toddlers and preschoolers alike will love to pretend their push mowing the lawn just like mom and dad. I love this real-looking Gas ‘n Go Lawn Mower to encourage imaginative outdoor play and walking skills for the littlest ones. Or this Fisher-Price Bubble Mower
blows bubbles for even more fun!
Swings or a Swingset – Swinging is so good for kids’ sensory systems! (I know my sensory seekers love it!) My handyman Clifford used lumber and a swingset kit like this one to build ours. But if you don’t have room or finances for that, you could also just hang a swing from a sturdy tree limb. There are lots of swing options: from a traditional toddler swing
to a disc swing
to this super cool Spinner Swing
.
Sand and Water Play Stuff – My kids wouldn’t know how to play outside without their turtle sandbox or sand and water table
. Some of their favorite toys to play with in their sand and water table include little construction machine toys
, gardening
and beach toys
, and little insect
and animal TOOB toys
.
A Kids Picnic Table – My kids use their Little Tikes Picnic Table every time they play outside, too. Not only does it offer a sit-down for a picnic lunch or snack, but it’s the perfect flat surface for imaginative play or messy sensory play, too.
A Wagon – Every kid needs a wagon for outdoor play! Pulling a wagon is great “heavy work” for any kid (but especially sensory-seeking kids like mine) to expel energy and strengthen gross motor skills. My kids give each other rides around our bumpy yard in this Radio Flyer All-Terrain Wagon.
Bikes & Trikes – Bicycle riding is awesome for kids’ motor planning and gross motor skill development, too! For the little ones, you could go with a classic Radio Flyer Tricycle or the new Grow ‘n Go Flyer
that adjusts for growth. As kids get bigger, a balance bike
like this one makes for a smooth transition to a pedal bike
.
A Trampoline – My kids use their trampoline EVERY time they play outside. It took me a while to convince their dad that the safety net and smaller size would keep them safe, but now he’s convinced it was a great investment. This Skywalker 8-Foot Trampoline is similar to ours and has good reviews on Amazon, too.
Sidewalk Chalk – We couldn’t go a spring or summer without sidewalk chalk. We buy it by the big box (which is a great deal on Amazon!). And we love all of the different sidewalk chalk accessories, too. From sidewalk chalk Mandala stencils
to this 3D sidewalk chalk paint kit
to these street art tools
.
Bubbles & Bubble Wands – Bubbles are the perfect inexpensive “toy” for outdoor fun. Buy them by the big container to refill smaller no-spill bottles
throughout the season. I think I might get this Incredibubble Multiple Bubble Wand
this year; it makes hundreds of bubbles with one wave and has great reviews!
For your convenience, I’ve added ALL of these awesome outdoor play toys to my Amazon Shop!
And make sure to sign up for this 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime
to get free shipping on any of the Fun Outdoor Play Finds featured today!
What are your kids’ favorite toys for playing outside? Do they have any of the outdoor toys above? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
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More Outdoor Play Ideas the Kids will LOVE:
- Sidewalk Chalk Art the Kids Can PLAY In – A Giant Chalk Art Town
- Outdoor Fun with The PLAY Group
- 140+ Outdoor Activities for Kids from The Weekly Kids Co-Op
- {Summer Fun} Sidewalk Chalk Roads