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· Posted 7 hours ago

31 Really Cool Things For “Outdoor Kids”

You better believe I bought myself a DIY nature kaleidoscope. I, too, am an outdoor kid.

by Mallory Mower BuzzFeed BuzzFeed Staff

I have been a BuzzFeed Shopping writer since 2017, with a focus on unique, practical products, up-to-date parenting finds, and up-and-coming home decor.

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1. A giant inflatable bouncer — if you want more outdoor activities your whole family can enjoy together, this is the way to go! It's inflatable and can store flat, but becomes a whopping 8-foot planet when you wanna play! And it supports up to 250 pounds, so go ahead, get in on the fun with your little ones!

Amazon

Promising review: "I purchased this two years ago for my grandchildren when they come to my house for family parties, and it has been a hit from day one! If it ever has its last day, I most definitely will buy another one! Two years with five grandchildren (and adults) playing on it and it's still going strong — a quality product! :-)" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $99.99.

2. A giant bubble kit with a two-handle wand that'll help your friends and family make eye-bogglingly big bubbles! 

Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed

The kit comes with the giant bubble wand, two pouches of bubble concentrate, and a booklet to help you become a skilled bubble creator! It's my family's #1 favorite summer activity. It's easy enough for our toddler to make giant bubbles with a little help. She loves chasing them, and it always brings a big crowd of kids over to play!

Promising review: "Love this!! Easy for kids to use — my six-year-old son figured it out pretty quickly — and fun for adults as well (my husband and I might have played with it as much as our son did...) Makes amazing bubbles. The bubble mix it comes with is fantastic." —Thomas Durant

Get it from Amazon for $15.95+ (available in seven styles).

3. A bug catcher wand to give your entry-level entomologist a chance to inspect bugs up close. To use, hold the handle and scoop it under the bug you want to see, then shut the enclosure with the button. The clear dome is a 6X magnifier, making it easy to see all the tiny details on those cool critters. After you're done inspecting, just open the top and let it go!

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This is cool — it's a great toy. The kids love them and always want to go look for bugs. It's durable and easy to use." —Adam J.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three colors and two-packs).

4. A giant balloon dog (we're talkin' over 4 feet wide and 5 feet long!) that'll keep your kids feeling cool in the pool even during those upcoming *ruff* dog days of summer. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This float is THE BEST! A big hit at the pool. It’s very large, so if you have a small pool, it may not work, but it’s a party favorite. Easy to inflate and deflate as needed. If you’re looking for a fun pool party float that’s bound to be the hit of the party, this is it!" —slsmith

Get it from Amazon for $49.50.

5. A wavesurf shaper to turn rocky, uneven lake waves made by your boat into smooth, curved, and *perfect* ocean-like waves that are primo for surfin'. This will totally get those teens off their screens.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

It can be easily mounted on most boats with a flat surface. 

Promising review: "Wow, just wow. Surfing with this has made a huge difference!!! I use this on my 2014 Moomba Mobius LSV. I now fill both the rear bags even to 900 lbs. each on both sides, and this thing throws a clean long wave to whichever side it's not mounted to. I don't have to list the boat anymore, making it much easier to drive and so much faster to switch riders from different sides. It looks exactly the same as the picture shows, and it floats. I've never had it fall off during surfing, and even forgot to remove it once and came up to speed 20+ mph before I realized it was still on, and it never came loose. It floats, so if you accidentally drop it while mounting it, you don't have to worry about it sinking to the bottom of the lake. I wish I had bought long ago!" —Joel

Get it from Amazon for $229.

6. Waldorf woodland creatures — each open-ended shape is designed with holes that'll easily fit different twigs, stems, petals, and leaves you (or your kids) find while on nature walks. If you like the idea of some screen-free time outside with a little creative direction, creating tiny woodland creatures may be just the thing!

Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com

I bought these for my daughter waaay before she was old enough to care, because I wanted to play with them myself! They're solid, made of high-quality materials (not plastic), and owned by a small business. Now that my kiddo is older, these have become a staple in our diaper bag on days at the park. We'll spend ages looking for special pieces, seeing if they fit, testing out different configurations, and then have a blast with some imagination play (these little critters get up to a lot of mischief!). Whether you're totally into playing fantastical, made-up games with your kids or need clear directions to create a little whimsy, these have got your back. I recommend them to every parent I know (and now, even those I don't — hi from me!).

Get it from Amazon for $27.99 (available in six options).

7. A beginner's telescope for the kids who are absolutely dazzled by the night sky. It comes with two replaceable eyepieces, a wireless remote, an adjustable tripod, and a carrying bag. Here's to finding ways we can continue getting a liiittle bit closer! 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "My husband and I bought this as a gift for our son because he’s super into science and space, and it ended up being a great choice. It was easy to set up, lightweight, and beginner-friendly (he’s only eight), which made it perfect for him to learn the basics without getting overwhelmed. The clarity honestly surprised me because you can really see the moon and stars with solid detail. I love that it comes with everything he needs to understand the different parts and how a telescope actually works. It feels sturdy, well-made, and not like one of those toys that break after a week. If you have a curious kid who loves space or STEM stuff, this is 100 percent worth it, and I would definitely recommend it." —Jaii

Get it from Amazon for $84.24.

8. A mod outdoor playset from Avenlur that'll guarantee your backyard is the coolest on the block. This unnecessarily lovely set has a climbing wall, two swings, a ladder, a wavy slide, and a play fort with windows. My favorite feature? There's a flower box! As if this thing wasn't pretty as a picture already. Have fun picking out some flowers with your kids, and watch as they make their playhouse a play home.

Amazon

Promising review: "This playset is absolutely GORGEOUS. My 2.5-year-old (although she’s the height of a 4-year-old) adores it and plays on it from morning ’til night. I wanted something affordable, modern, attractive, that didn’t take up too much space. This playset was the perfect choice. It is stunningly beautiful. My kiddo sits in the clubhouse for hours putting her little rocks and toys on the ledge and peaking through the windows. 

It’s definitely meant for kids under the age of, say, 12; it's not an adult-sized playset. I love that I don't have to worry about my kiddo being TOO high up. She can easily navigate the climbing wall and ladder vs. other playsets where I’m a nervous wreck, and she can’t reach anything. All in all, if you’re looking for a playset that will beautify your yard and provide hours of joy, it’s the best buy for the amazing price!" —A.K.

Get it from Amazon for $1,629.

9. A too-fun-to-be-so-functional Doona Liki Trike you can start using when your child is as young as 10 months! It grows with your child, transforming into a tricycle for kids up to 3 years old. This can make your "stroller" rides feel more engaging and fun for your kiddo — while still being an easy outing for you.

Amazon, Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed

BuzzFeeder Shopping contributor Chandini Reddy says: "I'm not sure who's more OBSESSED with our Liki Trike...my toddler or me? My active toddler, who absolutely hates being strapped into his stroller, loves that it allows him to sit upright and steer the handles (while I push him), making him feel like he's in control and going on an adventure. It has made trips to the park/mall/zoo so much easier because it is lighter than our stroller *and* folds up tiny, taking up minimal trunk space. (We also took it on a flight recently and were amazed at how easily it fit in the airplane overhead bin!) My fave feature is how seamlessly it steers. Unlike other trikes, you don't need to awkwardly force it to change directions. In fact, my 5-year-old has no trouble navigating my 2-year-old around the park. The best part? My little one is so happy riding around on this thing that he's had barely any meltdowns when we're out and about. I'd say that's a huge win!"

BTW, that's my daughter in the photo on the left. I agree with everything Chandini said above *and* wanna shout out how surprisingly well it compacts — small enough to keep in my daughter's closet in our tiny apartment! It's great!

Get it from Amazon for $300 (available in four colors).

10. A SunPrint paper kit sure to spark the interest of artistic souls and clever kiddos. Gather leaves, flowers, and the like in your yard and set them up on this kit while it sits in the sun. Then watch as your natural craft comes to life!

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This works like magic! It's easy to use and makes a beautiful gift from the kids!" —Sj773

Get it from Amazon for $19.50.

11. A four-pack of reusable water bomb balloons for families who would gladly have water balloon fights every day if their resources would magically replenish. Look at you, making magic happen. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These are so fun for summer or even just bath time fun! They are easy to fill, even my two-year-old was able to open them and fill them without a problem. They are a little pricey, to begin with, but once I thought about how much I was spending on the one-time use water balloons this felt like a drop in the bucket given that you can use these over and over again." —Nikki B

Get them from Amazon for $13.49+ (available in five size packs).

12. A 36-piece set of sidewalk chalk, including 12 tie dye, 12 glitter, and 12 neon styles, so your kids can get their angst out by (legally) tagging your entire patio. There's nothing more gratifying than graffiti if it gets your kids outside for an hour. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "We love this chalk in our family. It's great for party favors and to give in gift bags for young kids. We love the variety of colors - the neon is super bright and fun, the tie dye is my son's favorite, and the glitter is cute too. It’s a great value for the price. We’ve bought them several times and always get compliments when gifting them." —Carley Powers

Get the 36-piece set from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two other quantities).

13. A pair of GeoSafari Jr. binoculars your observant, pint-sized bird watcher is sure to adore. 

Amazon

Promising review: "These are absolutely the best for preschool-aged children. There is no need for adjustment. You just look into the binoculars and see a clear image. My son used these this past summer to get a closer look at the hummingbirds at our feeder. We also took these with us on nature walks. He really enjoyed using them, and after a full summer's use, they are still in great shape. Anything that makes a child curious about nature and the environment gets an A+ in my book." —Rachael P.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

14. A pop-up beach tentcomplete with a splash pool and UV protection that'll keep your baby cool when your family spends an entire day at the beach. I can't promise they'll be calm and collected, but it's a start.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

This item is noted for children under the age of 3.

Promising review: "Found this after our first experience with our 9-month-old at the beach. He wanted to crawl straight in the beach so I wanted to find something that would keep him busy but yet be able to play with sand and water! This was perfect!!!! He loved it and it kept him occupied all day, on and off. We didn’t use the shade since we had a canopy up already for shade so not sure how strong the shade part of it is." —Brittany

Get it from Amazon for$26.99+ (available in six styles).

15. A paint and plant your own garden set, so your kiddo can grow their own plants beside your garden. Want your kids to eat their veggies? Have them grow their very own! 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

The kit comes with a tin planter, plastic liner, soil, three seed packets, six-color paint strips, two paintbrushes, a paint palette, three wooden plant markers, a shovel, a watering bottle, and an instruction booklet.

Promising review: "Worth every penny! I ordered this as a gift for my 6-year-old niece. She absolutely loves it. She painted the container and planted the seeds all by herself. She talks to the little plants every day and is loving watching them grow! Absolutely recommend!!!" —Honey

Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

16. A personalized nature hunt board perfect for keeping inside their mushroom home. Gathering a number of these items could be dinner for their little gnome neighbors, the ingredients for a magic spell, or simply be lovely outdoor decor. Imaginations run wild outside (literally).

Hilltop Wood Shop Co/Etsy

This small biz is located in Oregon and owned by Kelsie, who makes custom name signs, puzzles, and other woodcut crafts. 

Promising review: "Colors are very vibrant! It is such a neat idea and gift, and it came exactly as ordered!" —Tori

Get it on sale from Hilltop Wood Shop Coon Etsy for $16.80+ (originally $24; available with or without paint). 

17. A learning skateboard with configurations set for several different stages. As children first learn, you can use the extended stroller to pull and push your child while they learn how to balance. Once they are confident standing on the moving board, the adjustable pole can be removed, and they can move themselves while still holding onto the back handle. After that is mastered? They've got a pint-sized skateboard all their own! AND the confidence to impress everyone at the skatepark. 

Ookkie

Promising review: "I just love this. It offers me some reassurance as she learns her balance on a board and gives me control so she doesn't start off by going too fast." —Sabrena Donohoe

Get it from Ookkie for $139.99 (available in six colors).

18. Or a 2-in-1 rocking bike — this adapts from a "rocking horse" that stays in place to a true, pedal-free outdoor balance bike. With this, your kiddo can start feeling confident on a bike even before walking. And once they're older? Good luck catching up to them on your rides in the park! 

Strider, Strider

My daughter started using this around nine months old, and she is a HUGE fan. She loves this *practical* 'rocking horse.' I love its durability (her older cousin used it on our deck and was riding it so wildly we were sure he'd end up doing a front flip... this thing held up — and kept the kid intact — like a champ). We have had it for two years now, and she still rides it every dang day. Which is the biggest win. 

Promising review: "The bike paired with the rocking base has been a favorite since day one! Some days, he rocks. Other days, we take it off the stand and ride in the backyard! This is learning how to ride a bike made easy!" —Tracy

Get it from Strider for $299.98 or from Amazon for $279.98 (available in eight colors).

19. A Little Tikes Spiralin' Seas water table so well-reviewed you just might feel FOMO until it ships! Honestly, ~water~ you doing without this in your home?! It's an instant hit! 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Pretty cool. My son loves water, and I was getting tired of mopping the restroom after every bath or when he turned the knobs on himself. This helps get that energy out and keep the water outside. Pretty easy to assemble. Just make sure the water plug gets pulled through all the way (spent 10 mins and two YouTube videos trying to figure this out). He has so much fun and only wants to stop playing when he gets sleepy. Works for me! —Chrissy

Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available with extra attachments). 

20. A glow-in-the-dark Capture the Flag set that'll encourage your family to hang out outside, even when it gets dark. Don't waste those warm nights... just play a game that includes some lights! 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "The game comes with very easy, animated directions, and we were surprised at the high quality of the components. We first tried playing on a camping trip with three families, and it only took a couple of minutes to learn the game and set it up before we were giggling like crazy people. It was really dark, and the blinking lights and glowing orbs added a lot to the excitement. We played with adults, teens, and young children, and everyone really got into it because this is something that everyone can do. My children have been asking to play it every night since." —Roy Jones

Get it from Amazon for $39.90+ (available in two kit styles).

21. Banzai Bump N' Bounce Body Bumpers for kids who like playing rough and parents who would like them covered in bubble wrap 24/7. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

I'm gonna go ahead and recommend wearing helmets too — gotta watch out for those noggins! 

Promising review: "Absolutely hilarious to watch! I got these for my kids (7 and 8) because I thought it would be a perfect way to blow off steam and get out some energy... It was great! They ran at each other pretty hard, but it didn't pop, and no one got hurt! If your kids do a lot of bickering like mine do, get these!" —Sky

Get it from Amazon for $22.99.

22. A *cleaning* Go-Kart (you read that right!) designed with adjustable speeds from 0–5mph, a 3-hour battery life, and a quirky mopping function! Gift your baby driver this toy, and they can use the blue "headlight" to spot dirt on the ground while the added mop attachment cleans the floors of your home! When they're ready for a faster ride, remove the mop and take this outside for some extra fast fun.

www.amazon.com

This Go-Kart is designed for children 3–8 years old but also suitable for up to 180 lbs.

Promising review: "This is so much fun! While it works great to use inside to sweep up dirty floors, we use ours mostly as a Go-Kart. Our 1.5-year-old can drive this thing like a champ, but so can our 5-year-old, and we’ve even had our 17-year-old on it before! It is super easy to assemble and super easy to run. We loved it so much we bought a second one!" —Stacy Foreman 

Get it from Amazon for $169.99 (available in three colors).

23. A jumbo four-to-score game that'll encourage your kids to play outside for more than just half a second, even if they aren't the sporty sort. Giant strategy games FTW!

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This is equally loved by kids and adults. Playing the tabletop version is boring (to me), but I love this oversized version! If you have the space for it, buy it! When computer time is over, this is the first thing my kids want to play. I was a reluctant buyer because I wasn't sure it would keep their interest and was afraid it would take up too much space. But we are still playing it over a month later, and it easily slides out of the way. Looking forward to when we can again use it during backyard barbecues with friends." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $144.99+ (available in 12 color combos).

24. Twister Splash for fun-loving families who are more than happy to slip, slide, and laugh their way through a super-sprinkler version of this classic game. 

www.amazon.com

The game comes with an inflatable splash mat, hose connector, waterproof spinner, and gameplay instructions.

Promising review: "Fun for all ages. Such a fun twist on an already loved game! This kept my 4- and 7-year-olds' attention for a while! Each spot you put your hand on sprays water; whoever stays up the longest wins! Even the adults had to try it out. I was a little nervous with the quality of the plastic, but it held up adults and kids moving all around it without any holes." —Deborah Gaffney

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

25. A mini golf set to make your very own mini golf course as hard or easy as you'd like! Change up the positions to keep things interesting, far longer than your children's attention span usually lasts. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

The set comes with nine holes, four golf balls, and a dry-erase scorecard. To play at night like the reviewers above, grab some light-up golf balls. And don't forget clubs! 

Promising review: "We tried to set it up in the grass, and that's not really ideal, but on a patio or down a hall — it's so much better. The silicone molding is so lightweight, and the little flag centers are marvelous to make you feel like you are more than a new learner! The set is complete with four foam balls and a scoreboard that you use a dry-erase marker on. GREAT to use only a few of the pieces for a short game for kiddos or the entire set for a more competitive experience." —Momakookie

Get it from Amazon for $39.99.

26. Flickin' Chickenmight be the next big thing in Olympic competitions, and certainly the biggest hit in your own backyard! This ridiculously silly game is safe for all ages and may even make grandpa laugh! That is, if he's not too chicken~ to play. 

Amazon

This game includes four rubber chickens, a tracking sheet, and a disc. To play, toss the disc and then see who can get their chicken closest to it. Players are also encouraged to break off from the rules and create their own! 

Promising review: "Our grandkids and family have had lots of fun with this game." —Joe Mama

Get it from Amazon for $17.39.

27. A bubble toy lawn mower that'll be a hit with your kiddo if they love working in the yard right alongside you. Watch them bubble up inside with excitement as this little gadget blows actual bubbles all over the yard! Ugh. I wish mine did that. 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Lots of bubbles! We bought this for our 2.5-year-old, as the one her big sister has (the more expensive brand everyone knows) doesn't blow bubbles anymore, and we wanted her to be able to have one that worked. The first time they used it, I only put in maybe a third of the bubble solution, and they were out there FOREVER chasing bubbles and 'mowing.' We are very, very happy with this purchase!" —Jennie

Get it from Amazon for $21.99.

28. A foot-to-floor moped — with this chic toy around your child, is sure to feel like Audrey Hepburn exploring the streets of Rome with Gregory Peck...wait, your toddler hasn't seen Roman Holiday yet? Well, looks like movie night is planned for this week! 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "My toddler is loving this scooter! It gives him the independence he wants while also helping him practice his balance for future bike riding. It was easy to assemble and is very durable. The storage in the seat was a nice addition as well!" —Cev197

Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in three colors).

29. A roller coaster for kidsthat's so durable you can leave it outside, rain or shine, and it's gonna be just fine! This thing is gonna safely entertain your kiddos through all the ups and downs of summer vacation. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "So if you're like me, you've come to the reviews to talk you into or out of buying this. Well, no further scrolling is needed. Buy it. Just do it. It's worth every penny I spent on it. My son LOVES it. It's easy to put together and to take apart when you want to move it. It's built really well and shipped faster than expected. It's hours of fun indoors and out." —Mariah Manley

Get it from Amazon for $139.99 (available in two styles).

30. A DIY kaleidoscope kit — if you have a child who loves arts and crafts and you would love to get them out of the house, then look no further than this gorgeous toy! They'll use up their energy hunting for unique things to put inside and then enjoy looking at different backdrops once it's full. This can be used over and over to create new kaleidoscopes, so the fun won't stop! 

Dreamer Kids/Etsy

Dreamer Kids is a family-owned small biz that sells unique wooden toys for kids.

FYI: This kit requires some assembly and includes 10 plastic flowers.

Promising review: "We love it! We enjoyed the plastic flowers that came with the kit, but had the most fun when we started putting in natural objects —flower petals, tiny ferns. Lots of creative play ahead." —martharich3

Get it from Dreamer Kidson Etsy for $70.72 (available with two quote options or no text).

31. A mud kitchen for little chefs who would happily spend *hours* preparing literal mud pies for those lucky enough to spend time at their exclusive restaurant. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This is so cute. My kids are eight, six, and three, and they play with this for HOURS. It was easy enough to assemble that I was able to do it myself. So far, it seems high quality and durable. Versatile for all ages!" —Jessica S.

Get it from Amazon for $199.99.

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.

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