best buys
The best kids' outdoor toys to make your garden more fun
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Spring is nearly here, with warmer weather JUST around the corner.
So why not make the best of your garden with our pick of the best outdoor toys and play sets for kids?
You need to shop for toys that are easy to clean, designed with safety features, suitable for outdoor use and of course FUN!
A toy need to be waterproof, too, because we all know how often things get left outside by accident.
We've rounded-up a great selection of toys and games to suit every budget.
From ride-in cars to pop-up tunnels and sports games, these toys are suitable for kids of every age from baby to toddlers through to teens, with prices starting from under a tenner.
These toys and games all make great gifts, too, and include well-known brands such as Little Tikes and L.O.L Surprise.
1. Pop-up play tunnel
*Suitable for indoor and outdoor use at home
*Pop-up tunnel with holes to post balls through
*Quick, easy to assemble and folds flat for compact storage
This fun play tunnel is the perfect product for toddlers who love to crawl around and explore. It can be popped up instantly and has holes in the walls that balls can be passed through, providing hours of fun. It's great for encouraging little ones to be physically active and can help them to develop their motor skills, plus it's the perfect buy for keeping toddlers occupied outdoors as the days get warmer.
2. Medium Garden Slide
*Plastic slide for indoor or outdoor use
*Toddler-sized steps for ease of use
*Easy to fold up and store
A must for every garden, this plastic slide can also be used inside on rainy days!
Suitable for kids as young as two, it has a sturdy frame, ergonomic handrails and steps that are designed so that your child does not lose their grip or slip. The gradient flattens at the bottom, which means kids slide off smoothly.
When the weather gets warmer, you can even attach a hose to create your very own water slide!
3. Little Tikes Cosy Coupe
*Made from plastic with metal parts
*Maximum weight 23kg
*For ages 18 months and over
No playgroup or nursery is complete without one of these iconic toddler cars - so why not invest in one for your back garden? Comes complete with a working horn and a contained storage area and there's even a handle on the back for parent-controlled rides. You can also buy it in other designs, such as a dinosaur, a black cab or a police car.
4. Swingball, £20.00
*Fun game for children which involves hitting a ball attached to a string
*Great game if you have an only child as it can be played alone or in a pair
*Suitable for little ones over the age of three
Now available in an 'early fun' version, this game is a brilliant option and you won't have to worry about the ball going missing or breaking a window as it's attached by a piece of elastic.
It can be played by either one or two players, is height-adjustable and is suitable for children over the age of three years old. Two bats are included with the ball and base.
5. Binoculars
*Shock-proof binoculars designed for little adventurers to explore the world around them
*Perfect for birdwatching, finding creepy-crawlies outside or inspecting plants
*Easy-to-use with two times magnification
These colourful binoculars are designed just for kids, and they're as educational as they are exciting. Little ones will love inspecting the world around them in magnified vision, whether they use them indoors or out. They're simple to use and focus, lightweight and super durable, so they'll survive whatever your little explorer puts them through!
6. LOL Surprise House, £120
*Outdoor playhouse for children
*Ideal for outdoor play as the weather gets warmer
*This play home is suitable for little ones over the age of two
Features of the playhouse include L.O.L. Surprise! doll stickers on the outside, two working doors, two windows with shutters, a flag holder, plus a letterbox. It measures 126.06 x 103.84 x 24.77 cm, is lightweight and easy to assemble, and is suitable for little ones over two years old. The house is great for imaginative play, whether your child has a million L.O.L. Surprise! dolls already or they're new to the brand.
7. Children's Sand and Water Table
*Table for outdoor play with four separate activity sections in which to explore and play with
*Can be filled with water, sand, or mud
*Easy to wipe clean, and it dismantles for easy storage
This fun outdoor play set is so much fun for children who are always getting messy with water, sand, mud and more. As well as different compartments it has toys, spades, buckets and other fun tools to play with.
8. Football Posts
*Goalposts for playing football which are the perfect size for younger children
*Set also comes with a football
*Measures 91.5 x 76 cm
Fancy your child as a future Premier League star? This goalpost set for kids over the age of three comes complete with a garden ball and the goal itself. It's great for football-crazy little ones who want to practice at home. The set is particularly good if you have siblings of a similar age who want to take it in turns to play as goalie and shooter.
9. Dunster Playground
*Wooden playground set for the garden
*Has a slide, climbing frame and swing
*This toy gives hours of outdoors fun for little ones
Yes, it's pricey, but if you were planning to kit out your garden with some play equipment for the summer, this could be a great time to do it
This wooden set has almost everything a swing park has!
10. Giant Dominoes
*28 lightweight extra-large size dominoes
*Made from foam which is easy to handle
*Great for school-age kids
These large dominoes are fun for all the family to play outdoors, and the game is simple enough that little ones will understand it. The set comes with 28 lightweight dominoes which can be stacked flat or on their sides. Each is approximately 10cm in length, and they're chunky (and lightweight!) enough for little hands to hold easily without getting hurt. They also help your little one to practise their numeracy and counting skills.
Where's the best place to shop for outdoor toys?
Amazon has a wide selection, also try Argos and Smyths.
What are the best outdoor toys for toddlers?
Pretty much any toy that can be played with outside, from an inflatable paddling pool, to sports equipment and games.
A play tent or tepee is also a great buy for little ones, see our round-up of the best here.
What are the best outdoor water toys?
We've rounded-up our pick of the best water toys for your garden, here.
Fancy a paddling pool? Browse our pick of the best paddling pools, here.
Read on:
- L.O.L. Surprise! have released a new outdoor playhouse that kids will love
- The best playhouses, tents and teepees for kids
- Family camping essentials - from just £1!
