Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers: 2023 Must-Haves!

Just imagine… a sunny day, laughter echoing through the air, and your little bundle of joy beaming with excitement as they explore the wonders of the great outdoors. As parents, we all want to create those magical moments for our children, but finding the perfect outdoor toys for toddlers that strike the right balance of fun, safety, and development while providing hours of entertainment can be quite challenging.

Luckily, I’ve curated a handpicked selection of the best outdoor toys that will keep your toddlers engaged, entertained, and enthralled in outdoor adventure! I’ve got you covered with safe and sturdy ride-on cars to splash-tastic water play.

Enjoy a summer filled with smiles, giggles, and cherished memories, and get ready to dive into the fantastic world of the best outdoor toys for toddlers!

Best climbing and active play outdoor toys for toddlers

Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower

Price at time of posting: $150
Best for ages: 2 to 8 years old

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The Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower is a gateway to boundless fun and active play for your little explorer. Watch their confidence soar as they conquer the monkey dome, developing strength, problem-solving, and coordination with each triumphant step. It will quickly become a favorite backyard toy for toddlers.

Crafted with premium, durable UV-protected materials, the Eezy Peezy Climbing Tower ensures a safe and sturdy platform for endless explorations and won’t fade in the sun. It’s also so lightweight and portable, making it the perfect addition to your backyard!

What to love:

• Years of play
• Encourages active physical play
• Lightweight and portable
• Easy to assemble
• Durable and tough
• Indoor or outdoor use

What to consider:

• Tricky to set up for some

Chillafish Charlie Toddler Balance Bike

Price at time of posting: $50
Best for ages: 18 months to 4 years old

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The innovative Chillafish Charlie Toddler Balance Bike is designed to introduce toddlers to the world of biking, promoting balance and coordination with every stride.

Balance bikes revolutionize the way kids learn to ride by focusing on balance first, rather than using training wheels. With no pedals, toddlers grasp bike balance much more quickly. That means when they transition to a regular bike, they’ll be gliding in no time.

The Chillafish Charlie Balance Bike offers a sturdy and ergonomic design for a smooth and comfortable ride. With its easily adjustable handlebars and seat, children from 18 months to 4 years old can master the art of balance. Nothing beats fostering a sense of achievement and freedom for your sweet toddler! Plus, there are plenty of colors to choose from.

What to love:

• Years of play
• Encourages active physical play
• Lightweight
• Durable and tough
• Multiple colors to choose from
• Good on rough and smooth terrain
• No-puncture tires

What to consider:

• Not great for going down hills

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Step2 Naturally Playful Woodland Climber

Price at time of posting: $320
Best for ages: 18 months to 6 years old

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Why not bring an exciting park playground straight to your backyard? This sturdy and affordable Step2 Naturally Playful Woodland Climber II playground is the ultimate companion for years of outdoor play and exploration. Though the photo makes it look quite large, it’s actually very compact with a small footprint!

It offers so many exciting features like a fort-like playing area, a rock-climbing wall, 2 steering wheels, a slide, a ladder, and a lower level for hiding or storage. This exciting play structure strengthens the muscles, improves fine motor abilities, increases physical and mental strength, and encourages imaginative play, discovery, and problem-solving.

No splinters with this mighty playground! And it’s made with no BPA, phthalates, or VOC. Crafted with safety as a top priority, the Step2 Naturally Playful Woodland Climber II is not only sturdy and extremely durable but guarantees hours of excitement.

What to love:

• Years of play
• Lots of active physical play
• Very durable and tough
• Nature-inspired colors
• Non-toxic materials
• Easy to clean
• Great size: not too small not too large
• Easy assembly
• Great for multiple toddlers

What to consider:

• Steering wheels are sometimes tough to turn
• Could use a few more accessories
• Pricey

Asee’m 60″ Trampoline for Kids with Net

Price at time of posting: $120
Best for ages: Any age up to 220lbs

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If I had to pick just one outdoor toy, a trampoline would be my first pick for toddlers. Expect hours upon hours of active play on this The Asee’m 60″ Trampoline!

Safety is paramount with its enclosed protective net located on the inside of the frame (unlike many models), ensuring worry-free play as little ones jump and run in circles to their heart’s content. This 5 FT indoor and outdoor toddler trampoline guarantees countless moments of excitement and active play while promoting balance and coordination.

Jumping on a trampoline can help your child release high energy, promoting physical well-being and motor skill development. Plus, if your little one ever struggles with constipation, trampolining can help stimulate their digestive system!

Provide exhilarating playtime and drain away all their excess high energy as they develop balance and coordination with the Asee’m 60″ Trampoline.

What to love:

• Years of play
• Lots of active physical play
• Durable
• Great size for toddlers
• Very stable
• Easy to transport
• Comes with a built-in basketball hoop and 10 pcs pit balls
• Never gets boring (until it’s too small!)

What to consider:

• Can be difficult to assemble
• You’ll want to upgrade to a larger one as they age

Lydaz Bubble Lawn Mower for Toddlers

Price at time of posting: $40
Best for ages: 18 months old and up

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Spark laughter and wonder with the Lydaz Bubble Lawn Mower for Toddlers! This nature-oriented outdoor toy brings magic to the garden with its built-in bubble maker.

Watch as bubbles dance and float, adding an extra layer of joy to warm days outside. Modeled after a real lawnmower, this toy sparks imaginative play and fosters creativity. With an easy push-start and child-safe design, little ones can explore the outdoors independently.

What to love:

• Encourages active physical play
• Durable
• Great size for toddlers
• Very stable
• Portable and lightweight
• Easy for toddlers to operate independently

What to consider:

• The bubble compartment is open so if the mower is tilted the bubbles can spill out

Step4Fun Inflatable Bounce House

Price at time of posting: $210
Best for ages: 24 months to 8 years old

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Get ready for hours of non-stop bouncing, giggling, and laughter with the Step4Fun Inflatable Bounce House! With high quality materials and safety standards, the Step4Fun Bounce House promises worry-free playtime for parents and limitless excitement for little ones. Its exciting 3-part design featuring a slide, jumping area and basketball net allows for tons of imaginative play with a ball pit (or small pool) attached to the side for added versatility.

It’s the perfect addition to any backyard adventure or for special occasions! It’s so easy to set up and deflate, and this inflatable wonderland is a breeze to transport and store, too. Transform playdates, birthdays, and family gatherings into unforgettable celebrations – toddlers can’t get enough!

What to love:

• Great size for toddlers
• Easy to transport
• Comes with pit balls
• Never gets boring (until it’s too small!)
• Lots of active physical play
• Reasonably priced
• Years of play

What to consider:

• The only entry is the slide
• Pricey

Best water outdoor toys for toddlers

Poolsider splash pad & play mat for toddlers

Price at time of posting: $14
Best for ages: 1 year and older

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On especially hot days, this Poolsider Splash Pad will transform your toddler’s playtime into a refreshing water-filled wonderland! This easy-to-store splash mat is made with non-toxic materials for our little ones and creates unforgettable memories all summer long. No inflating needed – just connect it to your hose and let the safe and slip-resistant fun begin! It’s easy to adjust the water pressure to find the perfect splashing height, and you can even just use it as a shallow pool!

Plus, it’s the perfect toy to get creative with and keep the excitement going all season. Toss alphabet toys into the mix and have them hunt for letters through thrilling splashes, or challenge them with water limbo, where they’ll bend, wiggle, and dance under the streams at varying heights. You can also introduce water balloons and watch your little adventurer stomp and burst them! The possibilities are endless.

What to love:

• It can be used as a wading pool or an exciting splash pad
• Perfect to get creative with for endless hours of use
• Great for especially hot days
• Foldable
• Easy setup
• Pool edges help keep little ones in if they slip
• Easily adjustable splash height
• Non-toxic materials (free from phthalates and BPA, CPC & ASTM certified)
• Affordable

What to consider:

• Water soaking your grass can lead to messy conditions

Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table

Price at time of posting: $85
Best for ages: 18 months to 10 years old

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The Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table lets your little ones immerse themselves in a world of aquatic fun! Water tables are always a hit, but this one takes the cake with its adorable interactive maze of waterfalls, spinners, and fountains. It’s the toy that never gets boring, and thanks to all of the bonus accessories, it’s also ideal for multiple toddlers to play with!

This handy water table offers endless opportunities for sensory play and developmental growth, as they scoop, pour, and navigate floating toys through the pond. It’s so durable, versatile, and you’ll get years of play with this one outdoor toy. Take a look at their girly-colored option, too.

You can even take it to the next level by replacing water with play sand, allowing for even more hours of fun as you create engaging sensory bins within the table! If you have a small toddler who can’t reach the top to fill with water, a water table water pump is so worth it!

What to love:

• Can be used with sand or water
• Interactive
• Many accessories
• Refreshing
• Can be used for years
• Easy to assemble
• Lightweight

What to consider:

• Expect a wet toddler!

Animal Water Squirters

Price at time of posting: $18
Best for ages: 2 to 4 years old

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Let your toddler’s imagination run wild as they embark on epic water battles using these adorable animal water squirters. Crafted with safety in mind, these durable blasters are designed for small hands, ensuring even a 2-year-old can easily use them with a comfortable grip. Watch your little ones develop fine motor skills and teamwork while engaging in silly water shenanigans.

Whether at the beach, in the backyard, or by the pool, these tubed water blasters offer hours of fun. It’s a classic and irresistible outdoor toy that guarantees non-stop splashing fun for your little adventurers, especially when multiple kiddos are involved!

What to love:

• Great for little hands
• Lightweight
• Non-toxic materials
• Compact

What to consider:

• Durability seems to be hit or miss

SAMTOP Octopus Outdoor Water Spray Sprinkler

Price at time of posting: $30
Best for ages: 3 to 12 years old

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Elevate your toddler’s outdoor play to new levels of laughter with the SAMTOP Outdoor Water Spray Sprinkler! This ingenious water toy is the secret to an unforgettable summer of laughter and splashes as a family. Simply connect it to your hose, and watch the magic unfold as it transforms into a thrilling wiggly spray of water.

Designed especially for toddlers, it’s extra durable and made of soft, safe plastic and rubber without any flimsy parts. The SAMTOP Sprinkler Octopus will randomly spray water around through 1 rotary big water outlet at the top and 8 wiggle tubes. Depending on the water pressure of your hose, it can spray water up to 10-20 feet in all directions!

What to love:

• Many years of play
• Encourages active physical play
• Durable
• Adjustable water pressure
• Easy to use and assemble
• Pets love it too
• Tons of laughs!
• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Compact

What to consider:

• Needs enough pressure for its arms to wiggle, but if you have a small yard it can be too large of a spread

Best ride-on outdoor toys for toddlers

Kicksy Toddler Scooter with Adjustable Height

Price at time of posting: $38
Best for ages: 2 to 5 years old

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The Kicksy Toddler Scooter sparks a lifelong love for active play and endless discoveries. Designed with little ones in mind, this scooter features adjustable height settings, growing alongside your toddler for years of thrilling scooting adventures.

Crafted with high-quality materials and safety features, the Kicksy Toddler Scooter ensures a smooth and secure ride with its fun light-up wheels. Watch as your little one develops balance, coordination, and confidence, exploring the world on their sturdy and reliable scooter.

With its intuitive lean-to-steer mechanism, your little one will master the art of gliding in no time. Whether indoors or outdoors, this scooter guarantees endless smiles and cherished moments.

Animal Bouncy Hopper Toy

Price at time of posting: $33
Best for ages: 18 months to 6 years old

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The Babe Fairy Bouncy Inflatable Animal Hopper Toy is the perfect outdoor companion that will keep your toddlers tuckered out. Crafted for toddlers with care, these adorable animal bouncer toys are made with durable, high-quality materials free of phthalates, lead, BPA, and heavy metals.

It’s a safe and sturdy ride to help toddlers enjoy imaginative play while also burning off extra energy through exercise. It helps your child develop physical stamina, improve their agility and muscle strength, and maintain balance in a fun and exciting way. These bouncy animals can be used both indoors and outdoors with multiple animals and colors to choose from!

Perfect for the backyard and easy to transport, this inflatable hopper toy will easily become their favorite playtime companion. 

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Little Tikes Cozy Coupe

Price at time of posting: $98
Best for ages: 18 months to 4 years old

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The Little Tikes Ladybug Cozy Coupe Ride-On Car is a timeless favorite. It’s an outdoor adventure that combines cuteness and function in one package!

Crafted with durability in mind, this classic ride-on car is built to withstand playful explorations while ensuring a safe and smooth ride on various terrains. These indoor/outdoor toys boost imagination as kids move, and use the ignition, swinging doors, horn, and the gas cap that opens and closes.

With this easy-to-use foot-powered buggy, active playtime becomes a breeze. There’s a handy removable floorboard in case your child isn’t ready to use their own feet yet, and a handle for parents to help push. You’ll find multiple car styles to choose from, along with delightful accessories like a gas pump which add an extra element of fun to the experience!

Sakar Sonic The Hedgehog Bumper Car

Price at time of posting: $130
Best for ages: 3 years to 6 years old

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Rev up the excitement with the Sakar Sonic The Hedgehog Bumper Car – the ultimate outdoor ride-on toy any toddler will love! Styled after the iconic video game character, this durable bumper car has a 360 degree spin and ensures safe and gentle collisions with it’s soft yet sturdy bumper.

It features 2 speed modes and anti-flat tires with a secure safety belt. Easy steering promotes motor skills and coordination. And these bumper cars even have a wireless remote control that allows you to control the bumper car speed when needed, steer, adjust the LED lighting, apply emergency brakes, and more so your little one can drive and have fun the safest way possible.

Versatile for indoor and outdoor fun, rain or shine. It guarantees hours of active play and has cute energizing music from the Sonic universe. It’s also quite lightweight allowing for easy storage and portability.

Best nature outdoor toys for toddlers

Unanscre Gardening Tool Set for Toddlers

Price at time of posting: $37
Best for ages: 3 years old and up

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The Unanscre Gardening Tool Set for Kids is a wholesome nature-oriented outdoor toy that ignites your toddler’s love for gardening. Watch as your little one cultivates a green thumb with this adorable little gardening set.

Add a little bit of dirt and you’ll have endless hours of joyful play in the backyard or garden. Let your child’s imagination bloom as they dig, plant, and water alongside you, fostering a genuine connection with nature. You can nurture their imagination through pretend play or sow real seeds to learn valuable skills like patience and responsibility. They’ll feel a sense of pride as they witness their plants grow and flourish while having fun in the dirt!

With real-like tools like a mini shovel, rake, watering can and gardening gloves, your toddler will feel like a true little gardener.

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Nature Bound Bug Catcher Vacuum with Light Up Critter Habitat Case

Price at time of posting: $50
Best for ages: 3 years old and up

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The Nature Bound Bug Catcher Vacuum and Habitat Case sparks curiosity in young explorers as they venture into the outdoors to observe bugs up close. Its powerful yet gentle suction lets kids capture insects without harm, while its transparent chamber with a built-in magnifying glass provides a fascinating view of their critter companions.

The excitement doesn’t end when the sun sets with an illuminating light-up critter habitat case. Educational and fun, this bug catcher nurtures a deeper understanding of nature and biology. Crafted with child-safe materials and a simple one-button design, it’s perfect for tiny hands.

Inspire outdoor adventure and imaginative play, creating cherished memories of bug-hunting escapades with the Nature Bound Bug Catcher Vacuum!

GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars Binoculars for Toddlers

Price at time of posting: $15
Best for ages: 3 years to 7 years old

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There’s no doubt that the GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars reign supreme as the top binoculars for very young explorers. Lightweight and easy to use, these binoculars provide focus-free vision, making exploration a breeze for tiny adventurers.

It’s built to endure tough and rugged play, plus they’re sturdy and safe with a breakaway neck strap. It also encourages curiosity and early STEM learning. I don’t know what it is about these, but toddlers just love them! They’re perfect for travel so these portable binoculars are ideal companions for hikes and park strolls.

ORIENTAL CHERRY Seek and Find Scavenger Hunt Cards

Price at time of posting: $20
Best for ages: 3 years old and up

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Watch as toddlers embark on thrilling nature scavenger hunts with these ORIENTAL CHERRY Seek and Find Scavenger Hunt Cards! These cards encourage playful learning, fostering early literacy, color recognition, and STEM skills.

With a variety of items to find, from vibrant flowers to elusive creatures, little adventurers will be captivated by nature’s wonders. Durable and portable, the cards are perfect for on-the-go explorations. It’s great for family bonding and it’s also made of safe, eco-friendly materials. Whether in the backyard, park, or nature walks, these cards spark the quest for excitement and learning.

Best creative outdoor toys for toddlers

Colorations 50pc Sidewalk Chalk

Price at time of posting: $20
Best for ages: 2 years old and up

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Ignite outdoor creativity with Colorations 50pc Sidewalk Chalk! This vibrant set empowers toddlers to express their imagination on sidewalks in brilliant hues.

Jumbo-sized chalks are easy to grip for little hands. The washable formula ensures super easy cleanup, leaving no permanent marks. Outdoor play becomes an artistic adventure, while drawing and coloring enhance fine motor skills and cognitive development. With endless possibilities, from hopscotch to imaginative drawings, kids are entertained for hours!

Share the fun with friends and siblings, promoting social interaction. Plus, it’s crafted with non-toxic materials so this chalk set is safe for worry-free play. Transform sidewalks into magical canvases of imagination with Colorations Sidewalk Chalk!

TP Toys Deluxe Wooden Mud Kitchen

Price at time of posting: $200
Best for ages: 3 years to 8 years old

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The TP Toys Deluxe Wooden Mud Kitchen is a nature-inspired playset that invites toddlers to explore messy, sensory play with mud, sand, and water. Modeled after a modern kitchen, it sparks imaginative role-play as little chefs create culinary masterpieces.

Crafted from weather-resistant wood, the mud kitchen is durable and safe for worry-free fun. With open-ended play, kids experiment, fostering cognitive development and problem-solving skills. Messy play enhances sensory and fine motor development.

Enjoy endless outdoor culinary delight with the Deluxe Wooden Mud Kitchen – where nature meets imagination!

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel

Price at time of posting: $95
Best for ages: 3 years to 7 years old

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The Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel is a versatile outdoor toy features a double-sided design with a chalkboard and dry-erase board for drawing and painting fun.

The adjustable height ensures years of creativity, and ample storage keeps art supplies organized. Crafted with durable wood, it withstands outdoor use well! Mess-free creativity blooms with the dry-erase and chalkboard surfaces. It features a locking paper-roll holder, child-safe paper cutter, and 4 easy-clip grips to secure paper in place for painting.

Multiple artists can collaborate, inspiring social play and cooperation. Drawing and painting develop fine motor skills and imaginative thinking. Set up and take down in minutes for on-the-go artistic sessions in any outdoor setting.