The Best Outdoor Toys to Support Child Development
The right outdoor toys can support your child's sensory, motor, communication, and cognitive development while they enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
From sandboxes and sidewalk chalk to wheeled toys and sports equipment, there are plenty of age-appropriate options to choose from.
All outdoor play should be supervised, and certain safety precautions should be taken when using these toys.
What could be better than some fresh air, sunshine, and room for your little one to roam? Outdoor play is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to support your child's development. And the right toys can make it even better for their development!
These are the Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers and Kids!
Remember, all outdoor play should be supervised to ensure children stay safe.
Sandboxes
A warm-weather classic! Sandboxes are great for sensory development. From touching sand for tactile play, to balancing and moving around in it using the vestibular and proprioception senses, children get a variety of sensory experiences in the sandbox!. Sand play is also a great way to work on fine motor skills by scooping, picking up, and playing with sand. Just remember, try to avoid Baby using the taste sense with a mouthful of sand!
Sidewalk Chalk
Sidewalk chalk is a way to make writing and drawing so much fun! This fine motor activity gives children who are beginning to learn how to write and spell a fun opportunity to practice communication skills. It’s also a great sensory experience, especially in using the proprioceptive sense, because children learn how hard they need to press while using the chalk.
Water and Sand Tables
These tables have become a popular warm-weather toy! They can be placed outside and allow toddlers to safely play with water and sand while walking and standing, which promotes gross motor development. Mud kitchens are another great outdoor sensory toy that provide countless hours of imaginative fun! Be sure to check the age recommendations before purchasing these toys, as some are made for children ages 4 and up.
Outdoor Swings
No matter if it’s at the local park or in your own backyard, a swing is a unique sensory experience for your little one! Swinging provides vestibular stimulation, helping children learn balance and body awareness. They also have to use core strength to stay upright. There are even some social-emotional benefits to swings, as the repetitive motion can be calming. Make sure the swing is secure to the swing set and that Baby is safely in the seat before using it.
Imitation Outdoor Toys
A great way to promote executive function development is to have Baby imitate what the grown-ups are doing! There are many different outdoor toys for kids that involve imitation play, including push lawn mowers, gardening sets, playhouses, and outdoor explorer kits, all of which can promote problem-solving and mental flexibility. You can even have children “work” in the garden with a grown-up using their kid toys to strengthen the social-emotional connection!
Wheeled Toys
As children get older and steadier on their feet, they can go on outdoor adventures using a wheeled vehicle! These include scooters, wagons, tricycles, bicycles, and play cars. All of these are good for motor strength and balance practice. Additionally, using a wheeled toy requires learning a new skill, remembering how to do it, and problem-solving when it doesn’t work, which is a great executive function exercise. Make sure that children wear the proper safety gear, such as a helmet, when using these toys.
Play Tunnels
A play tunnel makes crawling in the yard fun and mess-free. It’s a great way to strengthen Baby’s crawling skills or to have a child practice some different motor moves. Tunnels are also the perfect addition to any good obstacle course! You can challenge children to make their own obstacle course to let their creativity run wild!
Bubbles
These can be a fun way to improve gross and fine motor skills! Children usually chase after bubbles and use their hands to hold the wand and create more bubbles. They also help with visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, and attention. Try having children catch, poke, or stomp on the bubbles! Try to discourage children from eating bubbles. While they are minimally toxic, they can lead to an upset stomach if children ingest them.
Beach Balls
Play ball! Beach balls are lightweight and safe to toss around with little ones. They’re a great way to work motor skills through throwing, kicking, hitting, and catching. Beach balls also encourage children to use the body awareness sense, as they rely on a mental map of their body to properly catch and kick.
Child-Friendly Sports Equipment
There are many different ways to introduce children to sports using small, child-friendly sports equipment. Some outdoor toys for kids that are sport-based include child-sized basketball hoops, plastic baseball bats and golf clubs, lawn bowling sets, soft soccer balls, etc. These help with all kinds of motor skills, as well as the vestibular and proprioception senses. Additionally, playing sports games with rules encourages executive function skills and can even teach children new words and phrases!
No toys? No problem!
The outdoors are the perfect setting for unstructured play, which doesn't require toys! Whether it’s exploring their backyard or running around the park, nature helps kids use their imagination and creativity while playing. So let your little one explore and enjoy the great outdoors!
