Outdoor toys (and non-toys) can help inspire and nature play and adventure in your own backyard. Make it a space they won’t want to leave!
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Adventure doesn’t always need distance or a destination — it can often be found right outside your door!
Sticks and stones and rocks and cones yield plenty of entertainment for kids, but sometimes a “new thing” also helps promote prolonged play outdoors. Enter our outdoor toy (and non-toy!) suggestions below.
Whether you’re shopping for outdoor gifts, planning backyard activities, or simply trying to get kids outside more often, the right mix of nature-based play and quality outdoor toys transforms any yard into a destination kids won’t want to leave. No more negotiations about “just five more minutes” – instead, you’ll be calling them in for dinner while they’re already planning tomorrow’s outdoor adventures.
From budget-friendly backyard essentials to investment pieces that grow with your family, these outdoor play ideas work for every space and every budget. You’ll discover tools for imaginative play, active adventures, quiet nature exploration, and even after-dark fun that extends outdoor time well past sunset.
- outdoor toys for imaginative play – Spark creativity and storytelling
- outdoor toys for active play – Build strength, coordination, and confidence
- outdoor toys for quiet play – Encourage mindful nature connection
- outdoor toys for play after dark – Extend outdoor fun into evening hours
Outdoor Toys
OUTDOOR TOYS for imaginative play
sticks: Is there a more versatile toy than a stick? It can transform into a wand, a sword, a paintbrush, a walking staff, or even an instrument. Sticks spark imagination and endless outdoor adventures!
tree cookies: Along with sticks and rocks and pinecones, tree cookies are great loose parts to have available in your backyard. They come in all sizes and are (hopefully) free, if you find the right source. But they yield endless play, with a dose of creativity and imagination!
stumps: Don’t underestimate the power of a good stump! It can play so many roles in imaginative and practical play. A table, a tower, a throne, a launch pad, a specimen. If you don’t have an existing stump, sections of log turned on their ends are just as valuable.
dirt/mud: Playing with dirt and mud gives kids the freedom to dig, build, and imagine—while strengthening their sensory skills and creativity. It’s messy fun that also boosts resilience and a love of the outdoors.
loose parts: Acorns, leaves, seeds, and pinecones—nature’s “loose parts” are free, abundant, and endlessly inspiring. Kids can collect, sort, build, and create with them, turning simple treasures into hours of imaginative play.
rocks: Rocks are simple, open-ended toys that spark creativity and problem-solving. Kids can collect and sort them, move and stack them, or even turn them into a game of tic-tac-toe—the possibilities are endless!
construction vehicle: Toy trucks are a great addition to free play, especially dump trucks that can load, transport, and dump in any conditions: rain, snow, mud, grass, sand. You can choose either a plastic truck (won’t rust) or steel (not plastic). You can also combine it with a front loader for even more imaginative movement. And just when you think your kid has outgrown it, they’ll find yet another creative use for this construction vehicle!
toy lawnmower: My sons loved their pretend lawnmower, starting from when they took their first steps and continuing until they were too tall to comfortably walk behind it. It seems as though most toy lawnmowers either make sound or blow bubbles, but this more-realistic-looking mower can be silent without batteries!
mud kitchen: A mud kitchen is a great way to encourage sensory play for kids. Water play, mud play, dirt play, sand play — this kitchen will ‘cook’ up anything with just a little imagination and creativity!
kids’ table: For snack time, homework, plein air art or nature crafts, kids will enjoy having their own dedicated space with this picnic table (and umbrella!).
OUTDOOR TOYS for active play
buckets: How much fun is a bucket? So much fun! For carrying water, sand, dirt, mud, leaves, acorns — there’s so much to do! Whether traditional or collapsible, a bucket is one of your backyard’s best features!
wagon: 
slackline: Few things say “my backyard is cool” more than a slack line or a zipline! A slackline helps kids practice their acrobatic skills, building core strength and balance. This one is the best-rated under $100 according to GearLab: “A great affordable complete package that has all the features to get you walking the line.”
obstacle course: Upgrade your slackline and create your own obstacle course in the backyard! Easy set-up and heavy-duty straps, it includes a cargo net, rope ladder, seat swing, monkey bars, gym rings and more!
zipline: A zipline can add a dose of thrill for kids as they whip through the air, even if just for a short distance!
big bubbles kit: Bubbles are fun any time of year, and making huge bubbles is always a great challenge. This kit comes with its own (concentrated) bubble solution, which yields great results.
cornhole: Cornhole is a recent crown favorite and a simple game for all ages. Make your own set (a great family project!) or but a collapsible/portable set that you can easily store away.
Spikeball: Spikeball is an outdoor lawn game that can be played in almost any setting and is great for all ages!
climbing grips: When the perfect climbing tree or climbing wall don’t already exist in your backyard, you can build your own challenge. Build a wall with these climbing grips, which come with all the necessary hardware.
These grips are designed to be secured around the trunk of a tree. Perfect for practicing bouldering skills or for reaching that perfect tree-climbing branch that’s just out of reach.
geometric dome: Turn your backyard into a playground! Climbing gym, igloo, mountain — this geometric dome is only limited by your child’s imagination.
stomp rockets: Stomp Rockets are generally simple in design, but provide endless fun. Whose rocket will go higher? How long will it take to reach the ground again? Try the original, double, or glow-in-the-dark. National Geographic also has their own version with LED lights.
archery sets: Archery sets are a great activity for kids, requiring focus and quiet, encouraging practice and repetitition. There are many different versions available for different ages and abilities, including a wooden set with fletched arrows, or a set with a light-up bow and suction-cup arrows.
The Faux Bow is great for older kids too, with a range of up to 120 feet (and foam blasters to keep it safe).
stacking game: Build a tumble tower up to 5 feet tall with this stacking game, great for any backyard gathering. A little more expensive, but the OG Jenga is another great option.
offroad RC car/truck: My boys really enjoy this offroad RC truck — definitely the fastest and quietest they’ve ever owned! It crawls well over rocks and roots and can go incredibly fast on a flat surface. The speed makes it more suitable for older kids, since it needs a deft hand to control the steering. And it’s rechargeable! (The price has gone up significantly since we purchased it, so keep your eye out for sales in the holiday season.)
ramp/jump: Ramps and jumps are a great addition for kids who scooter or bike and are ready for a new challenge. I like the way these ramps are adjustable — you can keep them together for beginners, and move them farther apart (or use singly) when riders want to be challenged even more.
fire pit: Backyard campfires are a great opportunity for family bonding, especially when combined with s’mores. You don’t need a fancy firepit (unless you want one), but if you want join the pandemic crazy, check out Solo stoves. Especially if you’re the one constantly being chased by the smoke (if you know, you know) — Solo stoves claim to yield less smoke.
trampoline: Definitely a splurge, a trampoline is a great addition to any backyard (after a conversation with your insurance agency) — either solo or with friends. (They’re always a big draw.) They’ve come a long way in the last decade, yielding some fun-yet-safe designs. Check out the Springfree options, which always have rave reviews. (Designed by an engineer dad who wanted a safe trampoline option for his kids. His other claims to fame are a bald patch inspector and an amphibious car!)
OUTDOOR TOYS for quiet play
swings: There’s just something special about a swing. It’s such a simple piece of equipment and seems like a symbol of childhood. These day, a “simple” swing is not so simple any more, but there’s no harm in some variety!
This stand-up swing — the Swurfer — allows kids to “surf” the air, The adjustable handles make it good for a broad range of ages, starting at about age 6. Kids can work on core body strength and balance, all while having fun swinging through the air.
My son loves his saucer swing and would happily spend hours swinging and reading. He often brings a snack, a pillow, and a favorite book for some quiet time outdoors.
A combination of swing and ladder, this apparatus can be attached to the beam of an existing swing set, or other locations if properly installed. Endless fun!
hammock: Backyard time is often active, but is equally good for quiet and rest. Enjoy fresh air while reading, napping or daydreaming from the comfort of your own hammock. Easy to install, this hammock is a great option for kids (or any other family member).
teepee: I love the idea of sitting outside in a teepee to read. This one is indoor/outdoor and comes with a waterproof mat. It can become a hideaway, a headquarters, a fort, a bedroom… let their imagination fly!
sandbox: Sandboxes are great spaces for quiet (or not-so-quiet!) sensory play. Choose a sandbox with a liner and a cover to keep the sand as contained as possible. Add funnels, construction toys, shovels and buckets for endless play!
OUTDOOR TOYS for play after dark
games: To extend your playtime outside, consider games that can be played after dark. These are especially good for older kids, even — gasp — teenagers!
Kids love capture the flag, but have yours ever played glow in the dark capture the flag?
Laser tag is another great option for tweens and teens. The vests sense when they’ve been tagged, so it also eliminates any squabbling over whether or not someone was actually tagged by a friend!
Bocce ball is a great game for the whole family, in a more relaxed and leisurely pace. And what could be better than a light-up bocce ball set that you can enjoy in the dark?
lights: Nighttime play often requires light. To help them play hands-free, consider a head lamp! This one is rechargeable.
outdoor string lights: Give your backyard atmosphere (and light) with these retractable string lights.
inflatable solar lantern: A lantern allows for reading, board games, eating and exploring outdoors after the sun has set. This lantern is not only inflatable (easy to pack) and solar (lightweight), it is also waterproof! Recharged by the sun or USB-C, it can provide up to 24 hrs of light per charge.
frisbee: Another classic game for all ages, this sport disc can be used for a casual game in the backyard or an ultimate frisbee match.
light-up football: Keep the fun going after dark with this light-up football.
lawn darts: Turn up the fun after sunset with glow-in-the-dark lawn darts — perfect for epic backyard games, day or night!
telescope: Given the number of yearly celestial events and casual stargazing opportunities, a telescope can be a great investment for budding astronomers. This telescope is purported to be family-friendly with relatively quick assembly, a traditional set-up (telescope on tri-pod), providing sharp views of the stars and details on the moon. One exciting add-on that may interest kids is the smartphone adapter (when available), letting them take photos of what they see.
With so many ideas to help your kids prolong their outdoor time at home, you may find it hard to get them back inside! Outdoor toys (and non-toys) aren’t required for backyard play, but if you’re giving a gift anyway, make it one that keeps kids enriched, entertained and active outside!
More outdoorsy gift ideas:
outdoorsy gifts for all ages and interests
- non-toy gifts
- gifts under $35
- stocking stuffers
- gifts for moms
- gifts for dads
- gifts for teens
- non-fiction books
- fiction books
- irreverent/funny nature books
