12 fun outdoor toys for toddlers, including kiddie pools, water tables, scooters, and tricycles

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

MICRO

• Toy industry and play experts shared with us their recommendations for toys that toddlers will love playing with all summer and beyond.
• These are the best outdoor toys for toddlers, including a sandbox, playhouse, inflatable pool, scooter, and water table.
• See also: the best outdoor toys for kids of all ages and indoor toddler toys for active play.
• Some of these toys are quickly selling out. You can sign up for updates on retailers' websites to be notified when they are back in stock.

Many kids love to explore the great outdoors, but others need a little help from an exciting toy to get outside or to extend their outside play. With my toddler, the right toy that captures her attention has her begging to go out and staring longingly at her outdoor toys when she's stuck inside.

To find the best toys for toddlers, we spoke to five child and toy experts: Laurie Leahey, senior editor at Toys, Tots, Pets & More (TTPM); Joyce Shulman, founder and CEO of Macaroni Kid; Lee Scott, director of curriculum and enrichment programs for The Goddard School; Adrienne Appell, senior director of strategic communications at The Toy Association and an expert behind the Play Today campaign; and Laurie Schacht, chief toy officer of The Toy Insider.

What makes a good outdoor toy for toddlers?

We turned to the experts to find out what makes a great outdoor toy for the youngest children, and first, they all agreed that outdoor toys should encourage kids to get outside and be active. "The outdoor toy also needs to be something that engages kids for more than a few minutes," Leahey said. "Otherwise kids will be begging to come back inside."

Scott said that open-ended toys are ideal, especially toys that allow toddlers to climb, crawl, and jump. "Make sure they are age-appropriate and watch your youngest when they are on these items," she said. This is especially important with toddlers who may not know their limits and are still mastering walking and running.

Parents should also think about safety and durability when choosing an outdoor toy. "Since outdoor toys are often stored outside, they can also take a beating," Schacht said. "So if you're looking for a larger price point item like a bike or an electric ride-on, quality really does matter."

For safety reasons, Appell emphasizes that parents should always check the age grading on a toy to make sure it matches the age of the child. Additionally, be sure to actively monitor your children any time they are playing in and around water, and use helmets with any ride-on toys.

Here are 12 of the best outdoor toys for toddlers:Read the original article on Insider