backyard activities

Kids (and adults) need fresh air, sunshine, and time outdoors to play and recharge, but outdoor adventures don’t have to be far from home. Outdoor spaces like your own backyard can easily be turned into super fun play areas for kids with a few of these awesome outdoor toys, playsets, games, activities, and more. We know there are a lot of options out there, so we got feedback from our team and online community about their favorites and then compiled this huge list of the best outdoor toys for kids. If you’re looking for some new outdoor toys, these ideas are guaranteed to get your little ones outside and keep them out for hours!

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Best outdoor toys for kids

We love our big adventures, but sometimes it’s necessary to have kids play close to home. Getting outside every day is a priority for us, and that’s easier for the kids to do when they have friends to play with and things to do. While they don’t always need to be completely entertained (there’s magic in unstructured outdoor free play and make-believe), we have found that the presence of open-ended toys and games can keep them outside longer and having fun.

I love finding fun and creative outdoor toys, games, and activities that keep our kids active and OUTSIDE for hours! We’ve tried a lot (if not all) of these toys and put them through the wringer, so they’re kid-tested (and mom-approved). Most of these toys encourage creativity, and imagination and promote unstructured free play. Here are some of our favorite outdoor toys, games, and activities for kids and families.

Photo credit: @sara_mccarty

Best outdoor toys for active kids

Slackline

A slackline is a two-inch-wide nylon webbing strip with a ratchet tensioning system that kids (and adults) can walk or bounce on. Most slacklines attach easily to trees with no additional tools or rigging needed. Slacklining is a perfect way for kids of all ages to hone balancing skills while building core strength and confidence. Slacklining is one of my kids’ favorite backyard activities and I’m blown away by how much time they spend on it daily, balancing, bouncing and playing games. This is a great beginner slackline kit and we’ve got an awesome post on slacklining with kids.

Ninja course

If you want to take your basic slackline to the next level and turn your kids into ninja warriors, definitely check out this backyard obstacle course. This one has hanging knots, rings and swings that will keep your kids entertained and physically active. Wonderful for balance, coordination, gross motor skills, and building hand and upper body strength. Easy to set up and space out according to your level of difficulty. It can be used by kids 5 and up through adults. Big kids and tweens will particularly love this. 

Zipline

If you’ve got the backyard space, ziplines are fun, safe and easy to set up! Using this backyard zipline kit with thorough installation and safety instructions, you can add a zipline to your backyard in no time. The fully assembled steel trolley comes pre-loaded with an adjustable rope and comfortable seat. The stylish and comfortable rubber grips are screwed into the trolley to ensure a safe and fun ride. This zipline will guarantee fun-filled family time outdoors.

Photo credit: @meghangarriott

Trampoline

A trampoline is the ultimate backyard addition for any active outdoorsy kid. It’s a big-ticket item and requires a lot of space, but it’s guaranteed to entertain your kids for hours (and hopefully wear them out!). We suggest getting a trampoline with a surrounding net enclosure (for safety). Trampolines can be dangerous, so please make sure to have adult supervision and teach your kids about proper trampoline safety. If you have a trampoline and are looking for games for your kids to play to keep them entertained, check out our post on trampoline games for kids. 

Rope climber

This rope climber is a great outdoor activity that’s also an introduction to a challenging, fun, and traditional fitness sport. It includes a circular rubber bottom disc that kids can stand or sit on to swing, hand and toeholds to help them climb, and lots of rope to grab and climb without aids. Hang it from a swing set or a tree branch and watch kids have fun with this simple but wonderfully multifunctional invention. 

Bounce house

If you want to go all-out crazy with action, a bounce house is a HUGE hit for any outdoor play space. Again, it’s a bit of an investment, but it’s guaranteed to be a big hit and keep your little ones jumping and happy for hours at a time. Many bounce houses can be used both indoors and outdoors, so if you have a large enough space inside, it can be used year-round. 

Photo credit: @sara_mccartyPhoto credit: @dimples.and.the.blonde

Best outdoor toys for kids on the go

Bikes, trikes, and scooters

Bikes, scooters and skateboards make great outdoor toys for kids that are on the move! No matter what age your child is, there are options available. The littlest kids ( 2 to 5 year olds) can start with a classic tricycle or a balance bike. We put together a post of our top picks for the best balance bikes for kids. Older kids will probably be more interested in a traditional bike and older kids (teens and tweens) may get a lot of use out of a mountain bike. There are so many great options out there, for whatever age, size, and ability of your child.

Skateboards

Skateboarding is a fun and active way to spend time outside. It’s not only a great full-body workout, but it helps build core strength, balance, and confidence in kids. It’s one of those fast-action sports that are not only fun to watch, but a blast for kids to participate in. If you have a kid that’s interested in skateboarding, our post on how to get started skateboarding with kids gives you all the info you need to know to pick out the right skateboard and get moving! 

Photo credit: @sara_mccarty

Battery-powered vehicles

Battery-powered ride-on vehicles are another pricy toy, but they do a great job of keeping kids outside, active, and entertained for hours. If buying a new one is out of budget, these tend to pop up in online sale/swap pages pretty frequently as their kids outgrow them. My kids are currently on their second Hummer. They drove the first one for years, through multiple batteries, until the wheels disintegrated and it became undrivable. We purchased the first one through an online swag page for a fraction of the retail price ($60) and replaced the old battery. We definitely got our money’s worth there! 

Photo credit: @daphne_audePhoto credit: @_stephaniehowells_Photo credit: @sara_mccarty

Best outdoor toys with water

Water table

If you have little ones, a water table is a really fun and easy outdoor toy. We’ve had the same water table for years and all my kids have loved playing with (and in/on) it. Little ones just pulling up can stand at a water table and splash away! It’s a great sensory activity. And the simple joy of it grows with the kids. My 2-year-old and 8-year-old both play in the water in different ways, so it’s easily adaptable for lots of ages with a little creativity and imagination. Add some measuring cups, balls, toy boats or dolls/characters and turn a simple water table in a water playhouse! When you’re not using it with water, fill it with sand or water beads for a different type of sensory play. There are so many great ways to play with a simple water table.

Photo credit: @sara_mccarty

Inflatable pool

An inflatable kiddie pool is a great backyard activity for warm spring and summer days. We have this large inflatable pool that the kids love to play in! It’s big enough that the whole family can get in and play, but shallow enough for the little ones. 

Inflatable water slide and playset

For absolute maximum outdoor summertime fun, this Little Tikes inflatable water slide is the ultimate portable water park. It’s massive, so make sure you have plenty of space. Kids can climb the center wall to the top of this enormous water slide bounce house and race down the 2 slides into the kids splash pool. Durable,colorful, and well-designed, this is a toy the kids will enjoy summer after summer. It also has a crawl-through to inside dry bouncing area.

Photo credit: @lphotographiePhoto credit: @sara_mccarty

Sprinkler

When it’s warm, a simple sprinkler set up in the yard can keep your little ones entertained, active and laughing for HOURS. All you need to do is set up a basic yard sprinkler in an open area where the kids can run through it and play. At first, they’ll jump and squeal and run away from the water, but eventually, they’ll fully embrace it and go all in! It’s so much fun to watch kids play in the sprinkler. And it’s a great opportunity to get your camera out and practice taking some amazing sprinkler photos. If you have really little kids, maybe this sprinkler splash pad would be fun!

Photo credit: @boomhutboris

Best outdoor playsets for kids

Wooden playset

There are so many amazing wooden playsets in every shape, size, and price range out there. Usually, these playsets need quite a bit of space, but they last for years and can be used year-round. Many also have a good resale value, so you can recoup a bit of your money by selling once your kids outgrow it. The Gorilla Nantucket II wood swingset is a top choice. It has a wooden clubhouse area with a roof, two swings, a slide, a sandbox area, and a rock wall. Is it enormous and expensive? Yes. Will your children go bananas over it? Also YES. 

Here’s a smaller more budget-friendly wooden playset option. 

Swingsets

If you’re looking for something a bit smaller than a huge wooden playset, this double swingset frame hosts one traditional swing and one two-seater net swing. For the tiniest of tots, this toddler climber playset has a slide, swing, basketball net and ring toss. It can be played with both inside and outside. If you have a child that loves to swing (but no trees to hang a swing from or a super small yard), this simple metal frame holds one swing. 

Geometric dome

If you’ve got space in your yard for this awesome geodome dome jungle gym, get one! Our neighbors have one of these incredibly cool outdoor toys and it’s a huge hit with all the kid on the street (prior to social distancing, of course)! It helps with upper body strength, coordination, and balance, plus helps develop that all-important vestibular sense! The kids use it as home base in games, a support for their hammocks, a hangout place to chat and more!

Photo credit: @beautifullittlesoulsblogPhoto credit: @sara_mccarty

Swings

Swings are a great outddor toy for kids of all ages. Setting up a swing in the yard is a guaranteed way to keep the kids outside and entertained. Our neighbors have a net swing in their front yard and every kid on our block has spent countless hours out there playing. From tweens to toddlers, the kids are just fascinated by the swing and love playing on it! It’s such a simple thing, and yet so popular for all ages! This swing supports a few kids together and they have the best time pushing each other and giggling. If you have more dare-devil kids, consider a surfer swing that lets your kids surf in the air up to 10 feet high! Or, check out this really cool multi-person hoop swing. 

Best outdoor sports toys for kids

Pitching machine

If your kids are into sports and missing their little league team and practice, a pitching machine could be a great addition to your backyard activities. Baseball is a big hit (pun intended) at our house and my son loves this pitching machine.  It has 3 speeds: 10mph, 15mph & 20mph and an adjustable 3 position pitch angle. There’s a red light that flashes to indicate pitch release, which occurs every 5 seconds. It holds up to 9 balls and includes 4 foam balls. Requires 4 size C batteries or a power adapter (both sold separately).

Hitting net

And speaking of hitting baseballs, a hitting net is a great toy for any kid that’s into baseball or softball. This net can be set up outside and catches balls hit into it. For little kids, set up a tee-ball stand right in front of the net and let them practice. Older kids can practice hitting through a soft toss from the side. The net means you aren’t chasing balls all over the neighborhood and no broken windows for big hits! 

Frisbee golf

This mini Frisbee golf game lets your kids (or the whole family) play a par 3 round of disc golf. It features six mini Frisbee discs and one Frisbee golf target. It’s designed for ages 5 and up – even adults love it! The metal chains are designed to catch the Frisbee discs so throw your favorite, tossing, hyzers, etc.

Soccer goals

Soccer is another great outdoor activity that burns a lot of energy, encourages teamwork and strengthens coordination. If you’ve got little soccer players, these collapsible soccer goal nets set-up and can be taken down in seconds with no assembly required. They come with 2 goals, 6 cones, and a carrying case so you can take them anywhere. They can be secured with plastic or metal stakes to any grass surface in your backyard or park.

Kickball and bases

Nearly every day after school, there’s a kickball game going on in our neighborhood. This is the perfect kickball set and bases for any kickball fan and comes with an 8.5-inch kickball, three rubber bases, home plate, a pitcher’s rubber, and inflation pump (with a needle). That’s everything you need to play this super fun and simple game. A great outdoor sport for all ages and abilities.

Capture the flag

If you have a group of kids that love to play sports, take your game to the next level (and keep the game going later into the evening) with this glow-in-the-dark capture the flag game. It includes 25 light-up game pieces, 12+ hours of batteries and 12 game variations for hours of play. You can play 4-8 players (or up to 16 with game variations).  All ages can play together – kids, teens & adults love this awesome neighborhood game that develops teamwork, social skills and strategy!

Basketball hoop

If your child is into sports at all, a basketball hoop is a great addition to any outdoor playspace. There are so many fun games that kids and families can play while shooting hoops. Or, shooting hoops is also something that kids can do on their own, promoting independence and working on grit through learning a skill. We like this Spalding portable hoop that can be easily moved to maximize your play area. 

Photo credit: @muddy_buddy_outdoorPhoto credit: @sara_mccarty

Best messy play outdoor toys for kids

Sandbox

A sandbox is a perfect backyard activity for the outdoorsy kid and great for inspiring pretend play. This wooden kids’ sandbox has seats on the edges, a mesh cover (to keep bugs/animals out) and is large enough for multiple kids, but not too big for backyards. If you’re handy and need a project, you can also build a really cool sandbox yourself! My dad made one of these (using these plans) for our kids and it was a huge hit! Just fold out the doors of the sandbox to form 2 benches that allow your child to sit and play (200 lbs. capacity for each bench). Has a capacity of 750 lbs. of sand for the sandbox!

Mud kitchen

Mud kitchens are so much fun for kids! Not only do they love the sensory feel of playing with mud, but they’re really great for promoting creativity and imaginative play. You can buy a premade mud kitchen, or put those DIY skills to good use and make a mud pie outdoor kitchen for your kids out of a shoe bench or old cabinets/wood pallets. Throw in some hand-me-down kitchen utensils, dishes, pots and pans and you’ve got yourself the ultimate mud kitchen. It’s sure to entertain your children for hours and hours. Just be sure to put it somewhere close to a hose for easy clean-up!

Garden

I love the idea of giving kids their own garden to take care of. While I try to get them involved in taking care of our large garden, it’s really fun for them to have a portion or a few planters that are all theirs to nurture and grow. I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a small elevated garden planter for my oldest and letting him do all the work, from picking out the plants, to taking care of them, and harvesting. I think it would teach him a lot and give him a lot of pride in the plants that grow. We have a great post on easy vegetables to grow with kids, if you’re interested in doing this with your kids. 

Photo credit: @thedailyperfections

Best outdoor games for kids

Ladder golf

Perfect for even small yards, ladder golf is an easy outdoor game that the whole family can play. This game is easy to assemble and doesn’t take up much space. It’s a team game and can spark some intense competition and camaraderie between players. Great for hand-eye coordination and perfect for taking on camping trips, picnics or tailgating.

Cornhole

And speaking of great outdoor backyard, camping, and tailgate games, Cornhole is one of our favorites. This cornhole set comes with boards, beanbags and a carrying case. Set up a backyard family cornhole competition and get everyone involved! Losers have to make dinner!

Outdoor Jenga

If your kids like playing Jenga inside, they will love taking it outside and making it GIANT! This is the biggest authentic hardwood Jenga game ever sold! At setup, it starts at 26 inches high, and can stack to over 5 feet high in play! Includes 54 precision-crafted premium hardwood blocks, Each one nearly 15 times the volume of a classic Jenga block! Comes with a case for easy storage. 

Lawn darts

Playing a game of lawn darts is so much fun for kids. This glow-in-the-dark lawn dart set has soft, durable darts that stand up after every toss and adjustable rings for big targets or small ones, making it suitable for all skill levels. You can charge the darts with a headlight or flashlight and play into the night! Glow in the dark darts are extremely fun and perfect for taking the fun into the evening hours. This is also a great game to play on the beach, lawn, park, backyard, or other soft surfaces. 

Feature image credit: @eliza.flaska.mi

Best old school outdoor toys for kids

Stomp rockets

If your kids are into low-tech old school fun, stomp rockets are a (literal) blast! 100% kid-powered: just run, jump and STOMP to launch these rockets up to 20 stories high — that’s 200 feet in the air! Best for outdoor use, no batteries required; easy, fast assembly. 

Pogo stick

Another old-fashioned retro way to bounce and work on your coordination is with a pogo stick. This one is designed for kids age 5 and up, between 40-80 pounds. Pogo sticks are great for developing coordination, balance, muscle tone, and staying active.  It has foam-covered hand grips and sturdy foam-covered metal frame for comfort and safety. 

Jump ropes

Jump ropes are such fun outdoor toys. There are so many benefits of jumping rope! It improves balance and coordination, exercises parts of the brain related to reading, memory, and alertness, inspires creativity, and encourages teamwork, collaboration, and friendship. Plus, it gets kids outside and moving! We like these classic colorful jump ropes in a 6-pack, so each kid has their own (and there’s usually a few extra to share with friends). 

Photo credit: @capturing.herringtonPhoto credit: @meganrigdonphotography

Bubbles and sidewalk chalk

There are not many outdoor activities that are more classic than sidewalk chalk and bubbles. Bubbles are fun and exciting, but they are also an activity that enables science learning, artistic exploration, a lot of movement, and DIY projects. We’re got a great post all about the most fun ways to play with bubbles (including recipes for giant bubbles, glow-in-the-dark bubbles, and colorful bubbles). Throw in some sidewalk chalk, and your kids will be entertained for hours!  

Kites

Children absolutely love flying kites and it’s easier to do than you think. Flying a kite is one of those activities that people often talk about, but never get around to doing. We want to change that and challenge you to take your kids out for a kite flight! We’ve got a great post on kite flying with kids, where we walk you through the steps of how to choose a kite for kids, how to launch, fly and land a kite, plus explain all the benefits of kite flying. Here are some great tips for flying a kite and ways to make your kite flying extra fun!

Cars and trucks

There’s a lot of fun to be had with good old-fashioned cars and trucks outside. My kids love taking their HotWheels cars to the park to race them down the slides, on the sidewalk, and around the playground. When it rains, the Tonka Truck always gets dragged out and filled with mud and rocks and worms! For older kids, consider remote control cars and trucks (and even boats!). There are some really fun off-road remote control vehicles that are so much fun to watch do tricks and stunts. 

Photo credit: @stephanie.b.collinsPhoto credit: @sara_mccarty

Creating an outdoor play area

Outdoor table

An outdoor table is a must for any backyard. A table is a perfect spot to do schoolwork, paint, make crafts, have lunch/dinner, or play games. We use our outdoor backyard table for everything! During this stay home order, outdoor family dinners have been a saving grace for us. We light tiki torches around the yard and pretend we’re dining al fresco on vacation. If our backyard was a bit larger, I would love to have a separate outdoor kids picnic table that is smaller and easier for them to use for their projects and snacks.

Photo credit: @jrcozylifePhoto credit: @sara_mccarty

Clubhouse or treehouse

When my oldest turned 2 (nearly six years ago!), we bought him a wooden outdoor clubhouse. While a bit pricy initially, this thing has taken a beating and is still standing and one of our kids’ favorite places to play in the backyard. They’ve used it as a restaurant, a shop, a hideout, a pirate ship, a library, and everything in between. The possibilities are endless and this is a great way to encourage unlimited creative and imaginative unstructured outdoor play. If you want a less pricy version, this clubhouse might be a good option. (We bought ours at Costco, so check them out there, too.)

Bird feeders

While not necessarily an active activity, birdwatching is one of my favorite things to do in the backyard. We’ve set up a few bird feeders around our yard and the birds and squirrels keep us constantly entertained and watching, whether we’re inside or out. We’ve gotten to know our neighborhood birds and love figuring out their colors and calls. Here’s a great post about setting up bird feeders and creating a “nature window” where you can watch them and learn!

Photo credit: @sara_mccarty

Best outdoor toys for backyard camping fun

Tent

There’s something super fun and exciting about setting up a play tent in the backyard! If you already have one that you use for camping, by all means, break it out and get it set up for the kids to play in. It’ll entertain them for hours! If you need a tent, this 4-person dome tent is relatively inexpensive (only $53!) and can be used on camping trips or set up in the backyard for camping. Let your kids learn how to set up the tent by themselves and practice putting it up and taking it down at home.

Photo credit: @sara_mccarty

Hammock

A hammock is a perfect addition to your backyard this season. Not only can the kids play in it, swing and have fun, but when they’re all tuckered out, a hammock is a great place to read, relax, mediate or take a nap. Hang your hammock in a quiet shady location and use it as a getaway spot for anyone needing some chill-out time. And no worries if you don’t have two properly spaced trees, you can get a hammock with a stand.

Photo credit: @sara_mccarty

Firepit

While not a toy, a firepit is a great addition to any backyard and great for the entire family. Having a fire in the evenings is one of our family’s favorite backyard activities. We love roasting hotdogs and marshmallows over the open flame. We love sitting around the fire telling stories or singing songs. There’s truly something magical about spending time with those you love around a fire. We used to have a very simple outdoor fire pit, but we recently upgraded to one of these amazing smokeless firepits for the backyard and we love it! 

Photo credit: @arevook

What are your kids’ favorite outdoor toys?