When the summer heat comes out, there is no reason for you to go inside. With the right outdoor toys, not only will your kids be entertained for hours but the whole family will be able to beat the heat and enjoy the great outdoors. Check out my tried and true list of summer outdoor toys for the whole family below!
Kiddie Pool
Our number one must-have is our kiddie pool! If you are not equipped with a pool, this is the perfect SMALL addition to your yard. It is easy to keep clean and it is a huge entertainer. I empty the pool next to my garden beds to get my flowers extra water during our heatwaves too! Just fill it up in the morning and by the time the heat sets in for the day, it will be the perfect temperature to swim in. Remember, just because it is a shallow pool, you still need to be present when your kids are playing in it!
Splash Pad
Our splash pad is a favorite in our household. It is a nice mix-up from the pool and allows for the kids to burn extra energy by running, jumping, and sliding in and out of the splash pad. It also folds up nicely and is easy to store. If you are limited on space this is a great option! The splash pad we have holds water in the basin and also sprays water, so it is a pool/sprinkler combo making it crazy fun to beat the heat of summer.
Water Guns
For the summer, we like to use the pump-action water guns because they are easy for both kids to use independently! They can use both the pool and splash pad to fill them up and they spend hours spraying each other (and my plants). I like to have them help water my gardens and they often opt to use their water guns to assist! The ones that we use are small and are easy to store.
SandBox
One of our favorite summer outdoors backyard activities is to play in the sandbox. We’ll get out our favorite buckets and shovels and hit the sand. You can fill a bucket with water (or a couple) and pour the water into the sandbox creating the perfect material to make sandcastles and tide pools! This is not only a great way to entertain your kids but it is a wonderful sensory-filled activity. You can also bury objects and let your kids dig for them!
Water Table
This is one of the best outdoor toys to have for long time use! Water Tables are good for infants and up. This sensory activity will give your kids hours of play and entertainment all while keeping them cool! Better yet, you can set this activity up on your porch or deck. During the cooler months, we like to put sand in the basin and give the kids a sensory table for extra playtime. When the kids get bigger, this tool is great to practice floating activities too.
Riding Toys
Depending on age, there are tons of different options for this but it is a great way to spark curiosity, adventure and promote movement. Scooters, Bicycles, Little Tikes Cars, and Battery Powered Vehicles are favorites in our household. It lets your kids get out and explore in a different manner. My children spend hours pretending with their riding toys too. Sometimes they playhouse, they’ll pretend to be farmers on their battery-powered tractor, and have races on their bikes.
Gardening Tools
We are huge gardeners so these are an absolute must-have. You’ll want to grab a shovel, hoe, rake, and watering pail. Gardening gloves are a huge bonus as well! My favorite part about these is that you can implement them into multiple activities – use them in the garden, the sandbox, at the beach, and really, anywhere outside! This will get your kids involved in helping with the gardening and encourage curiosity in their surroundings.
Exploratory Tools
When you equip your kids with their own adventure tools, their minds will go wild. Give them a compass, map, and magnifying glass, they become Sherlock Holmes in their own backyard! Add in a bug cage, net, and tweezers, they find every critter and bug they can get their hands on. And for my kids, if you give them a bag to carry it all, their world turns into a whole different place as they get out and explore with their imagination.
Camping Gear
Backyard camping is a great activity to get your kids into. Not only does it help them to get ready for the real deal camping trips but it gives them an incredible place to escape to all while letting them build excitement about being outside. This is also a great way to help teach them how to set up camp and to show them the responsibility of handling all of the gear. It can be as simple as a tent but when you add sleeping bags, flashlights, lanterns, and all of the camping essentials, they get a mini-vacation in the comfort of their own backyard!
Let me know how you liked the list and if you think that anything should be added on! For more tips. tricks, and family adventure you can follow me on Instagram and Pinterest.
