I have the most amazing memories of playing outside for hours with my sisters and our neighbors with various outdoor toys, especially in the summer months. (One summer we acquired a refrigerator box and spent SO much time coloring that! Ah, the good old 90s…) So whenever my kids ask to play outside, I try to say yes – no matter what we’re doing. Getting lots of outdoor time can be fun and beneficial, too, for young children. I can totally see the difference in my kids’ energy when they spend more time outdoors. They sleep better, they’re happier… it’s just great for all of us.
That said, you don’t have to stock your backyard with the most expensive toys. Just moving around (working on those gross motor skills!) and enjoying the sunshine is what’s important for outdoor play. We often do outdoor picnics when it’s a nice day, and it’s a great way to shake things up a bit. (It isn’t always a lunch, either – it could just be a snack plate or a popsicle!)
One of the best things we did in our yard was to start gardening. My husband built raised garden beds next to our patio, and we started growing our own vegetables during the summers. The kids have their own gardening tools, and they love being involved and being surrounded by nature. My daughter’s a big fan of worms these days which kind of surprised me, but after explaining how worms can help our garden she had this new respect for them. It was really cute to see. (Here’s a post on how we started composting for our garden!)
One of us is always with the kids in the backyard– they aren’t out there alone- but we still want everything we have to be safe. Especially with kids under 5, you want to make sure anything you’re letting them play with is as safe as it can be.
Note: This list of the best outdoor toys includes affiliate links. I may make a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you purchase anything after clicking the links. As always, thank you for your support!
10 Best Outdoor Toys For Kids Under 5
Today I’m sharing a roundup of great outdoor toys that are appropriate and safe for kids under 5 years old. Some of them are favorite outdoor toys we have in our own yard, and others are ones on my wish list for the near future.
Click to shop these outdoor toys:
Bubbles! Bubble Wand and Bubble Machine
I didn’t realize how much kids love bubbles until my daughter’s first birthday when I set up a bubble machine and the kids literally just sat in front of it. We have this small bubble machine, and the kids get so excited when it comes out. It’s for sure one of my top picks. Younger kids get a kick out of bubbles, no matter where they are!
Shop at Amazon: Water Tables
What kid doesn’t love splashing in the water?? As much as my kids beg, I typically don’t pull out the water table until it’s hot enough for the kids to get soaking wet. There’s no way they don’t get water all over them when they play, so we do swimsuits and water table. We have a more basic water table, but I just bought this one because I think it has more for my kids to do now that they’re older. If you don’t have a lot of outdoor space, you can still get a great water table and skip some of the bigger inflatable pool toys or kiddie pools. I’ve also seen people take these indoors and not always keep them for outdoor use! I think this year I’m going to add an automatic water pump for more water table fun.
Shop at Amazon: Splash Pad
My kids love water toys, and one of their favorite things to pull out is the mini splash pad on a hot day. I bought it for less than $10 and it’s always a huge hit. You just hook it up to the hose and it’s ready to go! It’s a water mat but also works as a little wading pool too. One of our favorite outdoor games for sure!
Shop at Amazon: Sidewalk Chalk
Chalk is one of our favorite outdoor activities. I’ve probably spent at least tens of hours with my kids in the driveway drawing everything from Elsa and Anna to trains and trucks. There’s nothing like just drawing with chalk! We often use chalk to draw an obstacle course, and then my kids will either scooter or balance bike around it.
Shop at Amazon: Classic Car
We had this classic cozy coupe when I was little, and now it’s fun to watch my kids push each other around in it. We use the plastic piece inside of it with my youngest so that his feet don’t get stuck, but my 4 year old only fits in it if we remove that. This toy is probably best for the 3-and-under crowd, but everyone seems to love it. This coupe definitely makes the “favorite toys” list for the little ones who can’t yet use a pedal bike.
Shop at Amazon: Push Car
We inherited this push car from a friend, and our kids love it. It’s equally great for pushing the kids around the backyard as for a walk in the neighborhood.
Shop at Amazon: Sand and Water Table
This table is cool because it has spots for water and sand, too. It has a windmill, scoops, everything your kids need for the ultimate sensory experience. I love this for working on fine motor skills. If you don’t want to do sand, you could do beans in one of the spots for a different texture experience. Or why not get out the shaving cream and let them make a mess!
Shop at Amazon: Climbing Structure
There’s a bigger version of this climbing dome at the local playground, and all of the kids love it so much. I’ve had this one on our wish list to add to the backyard for some climbing fun at home. The max load is 150 lbs so more than one little kid can play at a time. And it’s made of PVC that has UV protection and will be fine if you leave it out in the sun. It’s probably best up to 5 or 6 years old, and after that (for older children) you’ll want something bigger.
Shop at Amazon: Playhouse
This is the playhouse we have, and my kids adore it. It has a little kitchen area where they can pretend to cook, and it was large windows on either side that let a lot of air in. (Does anyone else remember the plastic play houses we had as kids that got SO hot inside? This one is not at all like that!) It’s perfect for imaginative play and pretend play, and if you’re adventurous you could use the sink area as a mud kitchen too. There are other play houses that have an attached picnic table, which would be a great idea too! This one took a few hours to put together, but it’s really cute when it’s done.
Shop at Amazon: Gardening Set
We do all of our own landscaping/planting at home, so it’s natural that the kids see us doing that and want to help out. They have this cute little gardening set, and it’s the perfect size for them to do their own gardening. (Of course, we have specific areas in the yard where they’re allowed to dig so they don’t just dig random holes.) It’s been really fun to teach them to water the plants, and how to grow our own vegetables. This summer we’re doing vegetables but also strawberries and tomatoes!
Shop at Amazon: What are your favorite outdoor toys for your kids? Did I miss any that you love?
For more at-home fun you might want to check out Our Favorite Toddler Board Games, Favorite Toddler Toys (for 2 Year Olds), and Toddler Activities At Home (Using Stuff You Already Have)!
I’m also hunting down the best swing sets and best outdoor playsets for kids who love to climb and jump! Think rock wall, trapeze bar, tire swings… We had wooden playsets growing up all around the neighboorhood that we just loved. I feel like all of us kids used them for a long time – even though we had backyard playsets in our own backyard, it seemed like we were always going from one backyard to another.
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