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A bug vacuum made the list. Bath Toys
As a working parent of a 4-year-old and 6-year-old, anything that keeps my kiddos occupied—and lets them get some fresh air—is a must during summer break. While I love the extra family time, it can be tough to entertain them during my workday. Now that the weather is warmer, our trusty collection of outdoor toys and games has been a lifesaver—and many are on sale right now.
These 12 outdoor toys keep my kids active, engaged, and entertained, and they’re also just plain fun to play with. My kiddos love everything from our Step2 water and sand table to a half-off scooter with LED wheels to a unique bug vacuum, and I’m sure yours will too. You can shop our top picks starting at $15 at Amazon—and many are on sale this Memorial Day weekend.
My kids love any opportunity to use our garden hose, but that can get out of hand quickly (and wastes a ton of water). These best-selling Max Liquidator Blasters let them continue to spray water at each other in a more controlled manner. In addition to water fights, my kids love to use these to help me clean: From washing the car to cleaning patio furniture, these blasters make cleaning up loads of fun, and they think I’m the coolest mom ever for letting them do it.
This set comes with six colorful blasters and is 33% off right now.
When my kids turned 3 years old, I decided to get them their first bike. I went with the Royalbaby Freestyle Kids Bike: It’s available in four different sizes and eight colors, plus it’s equipped with tons of accessories. In addition to a removable bike lever and training wheels, this bike has a bell, kickstand, tool kit, and a water bottle holder with a matching water bottle. It also has a nicely padded saddle and extra-wide tires to help kids maintain their balance.
If your little one isn’t ready for a bike, we think they’ll love this balance bike to boost their confidence as they learn to balance and glide with ease.
I bought this bug vacuum for my kids on a whim and am so glad that I did. They get so excited when they see a bug and rush to gently vacuum it up so they can examine it inside the attached clear container. Once they’ve finished studying their insect, we simply unscrew the container and let it free in the yard—no bugs get harmed. I love that this uniquely engaging encourages kids’ curiosity for days on end.
I have fond memories of watching both of my kids spend hours playing with this adorable Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond. An Amazon best-selling sand and water table with over 17,000 five-star ratings, this splash pond comes with 13 accessories that spark imaginative play and allow kids to create multiple waterfalls, pour water over spinning wheels, and launch animals into the pond.
One shopper raved that it’s “great” for days that you want to be outside and that her kids play with it “forever” and “haven’t gotten bored yet.” She also notes that it’s “easy to clean” and can be “left up for “repeated days,” which makes cleanup a breeze for parents.
This three-wheeled scooter is a more affordable alternative to the popular Micro Mini Deluxe. It’s 43% off right now, and I can attest to the fact that my 4-year-old daughter loves it. It comes in 10 different colors and has light-up wheels, so my daughter even rode it to trick or treat last year. Plus, its handlebar extends almost an additional foot so your kiddo can continue to use it as they grow.
Bubbles are always a fan favorite, except when the solution spills everywhere. Thanks to its no-spill design, the Fubbles Bubbles Tumbler lets your kid enjoy lots of bubbly fun without the sticky mess. Each pack comes with three tumblers that vary in color, so you can divide them among your kid(s) and their friends or keep extras stashed away for later.
This cute table is a sandbox, water table, and picnic table in one. The removable top hides two activity bins that you can fill up with water, sand, Play-Doh, and more. When it’s time for lunch, simply slide the tabletop back on to turn this activity center into a picnic table. It even comes with an adjustable umbrella so you can keep your kids in the shade at all times.
One parent raved that this table isn’t “just a toy,” but rather a “source of joy and creativity” that has made it a “lasting choice” for their toddler’s playtime adventures.
Spring is a great time for gardening, so why not let your kiddo test out their green thumb? This colorful gardening set comes with a sturdy canvas tote that stands up on its own and holds a watering can, gloves, rake, shovel, and pitchfork.
Calling it a “very cute” gardening set, one shopper confirmed that the tools are made of “high-quality metal” and that it is a “great set” to give as a gift or keep. It comes in four different color schemes, which is especially helpful for parents with multiple kids.
No matter the temperature outside, my kids will stop whatever they’re doing to have a water balloon fight (something I do have to curtail when it’s cold out). This Bunch O Balloons is a go-to for my household: It takes a minute or less to tie and fill up 100 balloons, eliminating the least fun part of water balloon fights. After attaching the innovative stem to a hose, water travels through tiny tubes connected to each pre-tied balloon so they get filled with water at the exact same time.
One pro tip: Have a large storage bin handy so kids can collect the water-filled balloons.
It’s not often that we tell our kids to stomp on things, but they can go to town with this air rocket from National Geographic! It launches up to 100 feet in the air and is entirely powered by how hard your kid stomps on the foot pump. Each kit comes with three rockets that are equipped with LED lights, making these rockets extra fun to watch as the sun goes down.
“We've had hours of fun with this toy, plus it's very educational,” raved one shopper. Also included is a learning guide, which contains various experiments and insights into rocket aerodynamics.
If there was ever a classic outdoor toy that has stood the test of time, the delta kite is it. This best-selling kite is designed for kids as young as 3 years old, letting nearly the whole family get in on the action. It’s available in 10 different colors and patterns, each adorned with two ribbons that fly nearly 10 feet long. Certain colors are nearly 30% off right now and are priced as low as $16.
Kid Fidget Toys This DIY bird feeder is a craft and educational toy in one. It comes with two pre-cut bird feeders as well as paint, paint brushes, and stick-on gems so your kiddo can personalize their feeder before hanging it in the yard. We’ve had ours for almost a year and my kids still love watching it through the living room window and calling out when they see a bird land on it. Plus, it’s just $15 for two.