Looking for the best outdoor toys for toddlers? Here are some superb ideas for gifts for toddlers who love outdoors.
Outdoor play is so important for kids. Especially in the world we’re living in today where more and more kids are spending excessive amounts of time in front of screens. So when it’s time to give a gift to a toddler in your life, toys that promote outdoor play are an excellent choice.
The benefits of outdoor play for children’s development are extensive, both in early childhood and the school-age years. Playing Outside directly impacts a child’s weight, physical strength and ability to fight off illness. Kids who spend a lot of active time outdoors in their early years generally continue to exercise more regularly as they age.
miracle-recreation.com/
All the product recommendations in this post are based on outdoor toys that my own toddler has used and loved, gifts I’ve given to other toddlers in my life and highly rated outdoor toys that toddler parents are loving, recommending and raving about.
This post is all about gifts for toddlers who love outdoors.
I hope you find this post useful and are able to find the perfect gift for the little tot in your life.
FAQs About Outdoor Play for Toddlers
Why is outdoor play important for toddlers?
Outdoor play is crucial to a toddler’s physical, social and emotional health. Playing outside helps a child develop motor skills, muscle strength and aids with brain development. It also allows little ones to explore, be creative, have more sensory experiences, learn about cause and effect and develop a sense of independence.
Does playing outside boost the immune system?
Innumberable research studies show us that playing outdoors helps a child build a stronger immune system. Outdoor play aids in a child developing a resistance to allergies and builds a stronger autoimmune system.
How often should toddlers play outside?
Research recommends that toddlers should be allowed 60 to 90 minutes of outdoor play time every day. This does not need to take place in one go and can happen in short durations throughout the day.
Seriously Cool Gifts for Toddlers Who Love Outdoors
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ride On Toys – Gifts for Toddlers Who Love Outdoors
A ride-on toy may help kids develop gross motor abilities and sensory skills during their early childhood development. Children learn and grow in all part of life by having access to developmentally appropriate toys.
kidsonwheelz.ca
Scooter
A scooter is one of the best outdoor gifts you can get your toddler. The Hurtle 3 Wheeled Sccooter is suitable for kids 1 and up and has some incredible features which set it apart from other scooters.
The lightweight design and lean to steer technology makes for smooth driving. There’s also a foldable and removable seat so kids can cruise on it while sitting. The handle bar is adjustable and it comes with in built LED lights in the wheels.
If your toddler doesn’t have a scooter yet, this would make a perfect gift.
Push Car
Someone gifted this to my toddler when she was about 1 year old and it was an instant hit.
The Toddler Push Car looks just like a real car; it isn’t just incredibly fun for toddlers to ride on but also makes a parents life so much easier! Have you ever struggled with a toddler who won’t hold hands? And doesn’t want to sit in the stroller either? Well this solves both problems and makes trips to the park so much smoother.
The storage under the hood is also a great plus as kids can take along snacks and drinks.
Trike
If you want to get something that has multiple uses, will grow with you your child and last for years then the Little Tikes Perfect Fit 4-in-1 Trike is an ideal gift. Suitable for kids aged 9 months – 5 years this literally grows as your child grows.
From parents pushing their little ones, to them learning how to pedal to then transitioning to riding a tricycle all by themselves, this product keeps up with your active growing baby.
I really wish that when my kids were younger I’d bought this 1 product rather than buying 3 separate ones! It would have saved us so much money and precious space.
Helmet
If your toddler already has a scooter or bike they love, a helmet can make a really good (and useful) gift that can help keep them safe.
The Ultimate Guide to Toddler Proofing Your Home – Safety Hacks That Work
There are so many cute designs to choose from on Amazon such as Paw Patrol, Minnie Mouse or Dinosaur.
Energy Burning Toys for Active Toddlers
Trampoline
This toddler trampoline by Little Tikes is designed to allow your little one to have hours of fun bouncing away. A great way for kids to burn off pent up energy. It features a large jumping surface and a handle bar for extra safety.
Pogo Jumper
Tired of your toddler jumping on the couch all day? Gift them the Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper for hours of bouncy, healthy fun!
Suitable for older toddlers 3+ this is a great toy to promote active play, strengthen hand eye coordination, balance and gross motor skills.
We gifted this to my daughter’s friend a few months ago and all the kids had a blast bouncing away on this!
Basketball Hoop
Make outdoor play a bast with the Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set. With adjustable height, an extra large rim and kid sized balls, this set can grow with your child and last for years.
Little Tikes T-Ball Set
This is an innovative toy, designed to instill a love of baseball and softball in 1-2 year Olds. The Little Tikes T ball set for toddlers will help your little one practice their batting skills, develop hand eye coordination and bat to ball skills.
More importantly, it’ll allow your little one to use up their energy as they swing away at the ball. Comes with easy storage, extra balls and a lightweight design.
Outdoor Play Tunnel
Which kid doesn’t like tunnels? It’s the most exciting of things for a child to be able to crawl through a tunnel, use it for imaginative play or play peekaboo.
This one’s a 3 in 1 with a tent, tunnel and ball pit for tripple the fun!
Franklin Sports Kids Mini Soccer Goal Set
This is the only set you’ll need to get your little champion started with soccer! The Franklin Sports Soccer Goal set comes with a foldable soccer goal, a mini soccer ball and an inflatable pump so your tot is ready to start playing indoors, outdoors or anywhere else they choose!
Pretend Play Gifts for Toddlers Who Love Outdoors
When your child engages in pretend (or dramatic) play, he is actively experimenting with the social and emotional roles of life. Through cooperative play, he learns how to take turns, share responsibility, and creatively problem-solve.
scholastic.com
Gardening Tool Set
Let your kids pretend to be gardeners with this adorable all inclusive Cute Stone gardening set. Playing with dirt and getting your hands messy while handling soil has so many benefits for a growing child.
This set comes with a child sized wheelbarrow, gardening tools and an apron with pockets to hold the tools. This would make an ideal gift to promote open ended play and hours of fun.
Bubble Lawn Mower for Toddlers
Have you ever met a toddler that didn’t squeal with delight upon seeing bubbles? This bubble making machine is genius – it doubles as a lawn mower.
So as your tot pretends to help you mow the garden, they also get to enjoy the bubbles. It’s a great gift for outdoor loving, bubble loving toddlers with wild imaginations.
Mud Kitchen
A kitchen set has so many benefits for a growing child. Apart from offering hours of fun it also encourages imaginative play, builds social skills, physical and motor skills and creativity.
An outdoor mud kitchen is a great addition to any backyard and a perfect gift for toddlers who loves outdoors.
This TP Toys Muddy Maker Mud Kitchen is a perfect place to make mud pies. It features a chalkboard, serving station, ample storage and a removable mixing sink for stirring up concoctions.
Teepee/Tent
Toddlers love playing pretend and having an outdoor tent or teepee is the perfect thing to spark their imagination.
It can be their secret hideout place, a castle, a fort or whatever they imagine it to be.
A pop up foldable and portable tent that can be set up in seconds is ideal. It can be taken along to the park, the backyard, a friend’s house or a camping trip. We take ours everywhere!
Play Tent Princess Castle Pink
Fire Truck Tent with Sound Button for Kids
Meland Kids Camping Set
Speaking of camping.. a camping set can be a great gift idea for an outdoor loving little one.
Your kids can set it in the backyard (or take it along on real camping trips!) and have so much fun.
The Meland Kids Camping Set comes with a pop up foldable tent and so many accessories such as flashlight, binoculars and camp stove.
Outdoor Toys – Gifts for Toddlers who Love to Climb
Climbing, spinning, and hanging upside down are some of the best ways to support the development of the vestibular system. It’s thought that this is why young kids are so naturally drawn to these behaviors! Providing safe opportunities to climb is a great way to help your kids develop strong balance and enjoy physical activity throughout their lives.
kidkraft.com
Monkey Bars Climbing Tower
Got a little climber in the house whose always jumping on the couch, bed or other furniture? These Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars are built to provide your little one with hours of climbing fun. Suitable for older toddlers, this would be a fantastic gift to help channel your active little one’s pent up energy.
Little Tikes Toddler Slide
Ever met a toddler who didn’t like a slide? The Little Tikes Slide is the perfect first slide for a little one. It also folds and unfolds for easy storing.
It’s small enough for tiny tots to enjoy independently and strong enough for older toddlers to slide on.
Step2 Naturally Playful Woodland Climber
Sliding, climbing, hiding, pretend play…the Step2 Naturally Playful Woodland Climber is designed for little ones to have hours of fun.
There are two rockwall climbing walls that are great for littles who love to climb plus a slide, two steering wheels and a platform area ideal for playing hide and seek or storing away outdoor toys.
Sensory Play – Gifts for Toddlers Who Love Outdoors
Sensory play encourages learning through exploration, curiosity, problem solving and creativity. It helps to build nerve connections in the brain and encourages the development of language and motor skills.
Only About Children
Splash n Sand Activity Table
If youre looking to get your 2 year old a gift that keeps them engaged and also promotes learning then a sensory table is a great option.
Development of fine motor skills, social and emotional skills, language skills, creativity, a source of relaxation – these are just a few of the many benefits of letting your toddler play with a sensory table.
This one is a parent favorite and comes with a lid, is easily portable and can be converted into a storage box too!
Rock Painting
Rock painting is such a fun activity to do with your kids outside. This rock painting kit is a huge hit with parents and kids alike. Suitable for older toddlers (since it includes small parts like gems), this is a great activity based kit to gift a child.
We gifted this recently to my daughter’s friend and the kids had a blast with creating.
Little Tikes Fish ‘n Splash Water Table
Any toddler would be thrilled to receive the Little Tikes Fish n Splash Water Table as a gift. And that’s why there are RAVING reviews for this on Amazon.
Kids can use the fishing pole to catch the fish, use the launcher to fling the critters on to the lilly pad and fill up the fishing bowl until it spills over with a splash. This is designed to provide hours of spalshing fun for your little one.
Toddler Splash Pad
In the summer time, this is the only place your toddler will want to be! This works like a normal splash pad with sprinkles and can also be filled to work as a kiddie pool. Ideal for ages 1+, this toddler splash pad would make a terrific gift for any outdoor loving kid.
Gifts for Toddlers Who Love Outdoors
While outdoor play looks different as children grow and change, parents must remember all outdoor games and activities are beneficial to children. While a 1-year-old may not be able to swing on monkey bars or slide down a slide alone, they are learning a slide feels smooth, sunshine is bright and birds live in the trees around the park where you go to explore.
miracle-recreation.com
Binoculars
Binoculars can make a great gift for little explorers. Kids can use it during bird watching, camping trips, boating, sports games and while traveling.
I recently bought the Let’s Go Binoculars for my nephew and was super impressed with the quality. Designed for durability, these binoculars are shock proof and can withstand drops and falls. There’s a rubber coating surrounding the eye lens to make it comfortable for kids to look through the lens. The advanced ergonomically patented design has been made for little hands to easily grip.
Kids Picnic Table
The Step2 Sun & Shade Umbrella Table is an adorable picnic table designed for littles. Its an ideal gift for a kid that loves outdoors. Little ones can have their snacks on it, do coloring or art projects all while enjoying being outside. It would make a super cute addition to any backyard and a gift any toddler would be over the moon to receive.
Stackable Cups
Stackable cups are a must in any household with kids. They are SO versatile and can be played with in so many ways.
From playing indoors and stacking up/ knocking over to using in the bath tub for scooping and pouring to using outside in the backyard or at the beach, the possibilities for play are endless.
I hope these ideas helped give you some inspiration for gifts for toddlers who love outdoors. What did I miss? Let me know if you have any more ideas!
This post was all about gifts for toddlers who love outdoors.
Check Out Our Best-Selling Printable – the SweetnSour Busy Book for Toddlers!
This adorable Busy Book is currently available for more than 60% off! We also have 2 amazing bonuses that you can get for FREE: 7 adorable educational posters ideal for a toddler bedroom/playroom along with 2 of our best selling bedtime routine charts!
Read these next:
25 Insanely Practical Gifts for Toddlers that Aren’t Toys
15 Genius Non Toy Gifts for Toddlers Who Love to Draw
Brilliantly Fun Educational Gifts for Toddlers That Promote Learning
Popar posts on the blog:
The Ultimate Guide to Toddler Proofing Your Home – Safety Hacks That Work
15 Best Bath Toys For Toddlers That Are Educational and Fun
12 Easy Toddler Activities to Keep your Toddler Out of Trouble | No Prep Indoor Activities
[…] When kids get a chance to expend their energy outdoors and come home tired, they are less likely to wreak havoc indoors. Another great idea is to get them outdoor toys that help them have fun and also use up their energy. […]