Outdoor toys kids will love (2024)

A mainstay of nurseries, tuff trays may not look that fancy, but they offer so many play opportunities for young kids.

Able to be used for everything from messy play to a sand pit or for arts and crafts, the Tuff Spot is such a versatile bit of kit. It has quite a following – check out #tufftray on Instagram for ideas – and will last from baby stage right up to primary school years. It’s great for focusing attention – a few toys and some water on the tray and my toddler’s engrossed for a good 20 minutes, which is no mean feat.

You can buy the tray alone, but it’s often more cost effective to buy the adjustable stand at the same time if you want one.

While bulky, tuff trays can be folded down and, as they have so many uses, can take the place of a myriad of other toys. We stash ours in the shed, but it could also be tucked away in a cupboard or under the sofa.

Available in four colours, we reckon kids will have hours of fun with this foam pogo jumper. Whilst this toy can be used both indoors and outdoors, we think it's the perfect sunny day garden game.

This budget-friendly toy helps to train your child's balance and hand eye coordination, and it's suitable for little ones aged three years old and over.

Little Tykes’ iconic yellow and red car is as cute as it is fun, with an openable petrol cap, steering wheel and working horn.

Kids can move the car along themselves with their feet or add in the floor provided and push them with the handle at the back, which is set at a comfortable height. Simple to steer, it will travel across a bumpy lawn easily.

While it looks like child play, putting it together does take a bit more effort, requiring two people and an electric drill. So if flat-pack furniture isn’t your thing, rope in a willing friend or family member to help.

Once put together, it’ll be a mainstay of your outdoor toy collection. For ages 8 months to 5 years.

For the child who likes to get involved with your plans, there's this super adorable picnic set is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Featuring toy foods and a super sweet basket, this is a great option for the little one with a big imagination.

We all love a space hopper, and for smaller kids Happy Hopperz have a range of beast-shaped rubber inflatables for them to hop around on. They come deflated with a pumping that will inflate them in around 5 minutes, although we found it did need pumping up now and again.

Aimed at ages 12m+, make sure your child is tall enough to reach the floor so they can balance and bounce around.

Sturdy and compact, this tiny trike also folds down making it easy to store or sling in the bottom of a buggy for a trip to the park.

With a front-wheel steer, this foot to floor three-wheel ride is easy for toddlers to get about on and learn how to balance on a bike. We love the bold bug-inspired designs. At around £20, it’s a great value set of wheels for 1 to 3 year olds and can be used both indoors and outside.

Nothing says summer like a water fight – and this Nerf Super Soaker is just the ticket.

Open the hatch and submerge for a quick-to-fill water pistol. At such a decent price, it worth’s buying enough to make sure all your family can get involved.

For the older kids, there's this Bug Safari kit. Featuring equipment designed by nature expert Nick Baker, this kit encourages your little one to explore the world around them.

The set includes a bug guide that'll help your child identify creepy crawlies lurking in the garden and beyond.

Featuring summery strawberry face paddles and a soft yellow ball, this game set will help energetic little ones burn some of that energy!

Thanks to their lightweight design and comfy handles, they're easy for smaller hands to use, making this game suitable for kids over 36 months old with adult supervision.