In today’s digital age, it’s never been more important to find ways to get our kids playing more outside, and we’re here to help with some of the best outdoor toys for kids!

We all remember the days when we spent hours upon hours running outside, going to playgrounds and playing pretend. Little did we know that by having fun outdoors, we were staying physically active and stretching the limits of our imagination.

Unfortunately, that’s not the experience of many kids today, and it may be taking a toll on our children.

Benefits of Outdoor Play

Outdoor play is very important for a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. Kids who engage in “free-range play” have shown to be happier at school and more engaged with other kids.

Physical exercise can also improve fitness, control weight, and reduce the likelihood of serious health conditions. On the other hand, inactivity can lead to increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and more.

By getting your kids to play outside, you can help them develop healthy habits for the long run! But how do you get them to go out when there’s phones, televisions, and computers are all vying for their attention?

Outdoor Toys for Kids

Kids’ outdoor toys can be super helpful for encouraging play, no matter if your children are toddlers or school-aged. Ever noticed that “Go play outside” doesn’t get the results you’d like? Believe me, it’s the same in our household! But, give them a toy or something new and interesting to use outside, and you’ll struggle to get them back inside in time for dinner! And encouraging them to play outside means that you’re helping your kids have fond childhood memories that they can look back to.

We also know what it’s like when you think to yourself “I should really find some way to get them outside more” – all of a sudden, your mind goes blank and all inspiration disappears! So, we decided to gather some of the best outdoor toys for kids that we know you and your kids would love to play with! And, yes, we will be using our own list at Christmas time, when we need some inspiration!

Razor Red A Kick Scooter

Scooters are among our favourite tried and true kids toys to get them outside. No matter their age, kids just love whizzing around with them. Scooters help kids learn better balance and coordination while being supremely fun to ride. It’s an excellent way to get them outside and active! It’s been interesting to watch our own kids with scooters and bikes. Often they prefer the former, and adventurous kids can start doing some pretty amazing tricks more easily than on bikes or skateboards!

The classic Razor Scooter has adjustable handlebars, can be folded in half and doesn’t require any assembly. Our family loves bikes, but you really need a bike carrier if you’re driving somewhere. The compactness of scooters means you can easily put them in the car for a bit of fun wherever you end up.

The Razor Scooter comes in multiple colours (although, red goes faster, of course!) and is made for children ages 5 and up. There are many other Razor Scooter models which you can also check out if you want fancier features.

Here are our personal favourites: Razor Junior T3 Scooter, Green and Razor Junior T3 Scooter, Pink – perfect for younger kids since it’s designed to help young riders turn and balance more easily. We also highly recommend safety helmets for all ages (indeed it’s the law in all states of Australia), like this cool Shark Helmet!

Crayola 64 Washable ‘Sidewalk’ Chalks

Chalk is a great, affordable kids outdoor toy. It encourages them to be outside, exercises their imagination, and get some vitamin D while at it. We might call it a footpath in Australia, but we love these Washable ‘Sidewalk’ Chalks nonetheless! The colours are super bright and bold, yet they wash away easily with no residue. Plus, 64 colours means there are boundless opportunities for creative play, and you won’t have to worry about replacing the set if (when…) a handful break or get lost.

Draw an exciting game of hopscotch or build an entire kingdom using various chalk colours! How about a chalk city for other toys to live in? The possibilities are endless (and non-permanent!).

The Good Old-Fashioned Skipping Rope

Remember these? Jump rope is one of the best outdoor toys for kids who love being active! It’s a classic activity because it makes exercise fun.

Exercise is very important for a child’s physical and mental health, and it can help set lifelong habits. Skipping rope can be a little challenging for some kids at first, but learning new skills is a great way to build confidence and self-esteem! It will also improve their hand-eye and foot-eye coordination.

This jump rope by Daju comes as a pack of two in a lovely rainbow of coloured rope. We love the classic design, down to the simple wooden handles. The rope is 2 metres (approx. 7 ft) long and adjustable, although it’s probably not suitable for kids under 3 years.

If you’re dubious that your kid will take to skipping in the age of iPads and Playstation, you could try something more high tech, like the iBostom LED Jump Rope. Kids love the lights, but they stop if the rope is motionless for a little while – what better way to keep the kids active!

Green Toys Watering Can

Gardening is a fun way to get kids engaged with the world around them and make it educational. That’s why we love this watering can from Green Toys. Start a small garden by letting them sow seeds and water the plants. It’s a great way to teach kids about taking care of nature, and you can get the whole family involved.

We recommend tough, unkillable plants, if possible. There’s a reasonable chance they will get watered three times in one day, and then neglected for several weeks! But that’s just part of the fun.

Watering cans and gardening toys are also great to take to the beach in the summer. This green set is even dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. Although why you would want to… It’s made from 100% cotton rope and 100% recycled plastic with no BPA, phthalates, PVC, or external coatings. Your kids are definitely safe with this, and you’re watching your carbon footprint!

Alternative gardening set with a more rustic feel is this EverEarth Set, which comes with a super cute carry bag. There’s even a matching kids’ wheelbarrow!

Little Tikes Cape Cottage

One of the best outdoor toys for toddlers is a cubby house in the backyard. The Little Tikes Cape Cottage is the biggest investment on this list, but it’s worth it for endless hours of imaginative play. The cottage comes ready for easy assembly and has working doors and windows. It also has a flag holder and a mail slot. It is made for toddlers (ages 2-3).

If a cubby house is out of your budget, I would consider a play tent instead like these ones from Mocka that we reviewed recently. It’s more affordable than a cubby house, but it can be just as fun. Play tents are also more easily transportable which can be a plus.

Other Kids Outdoor Toys

Needless to say, there are countless other outdoor toys like Nerf guns, sandboxes, and springfree trampolines (highly recommended!) that will help keep the kids out of the house. You may even want to look at our Ultimate Guide to STEM toys, which includes drones that are bound to keep your kids playing outside.

Based on your child’s personality and needs, the ideal toy will differ for every family. No matter what, by encouraging your kids to take part in unstructured outdoor play, you can help them build crucial lifelong skills while also taking care of their physical wellbeing.

Have you tried any of these best outdoor toys for kids? What else would you add to the list? Leave a comment below!