12 Best-Ever Outdoor Toys

As fall looms, retailers are trying to unload their outdoor gear to make way for school supplies and Halloween hoopla.  Translation: deep discounts, making now, counterintuitively, a great time to stock up on outdoor playthings, many of which can be used indoors during colder weather, too.

Keeping a big bin or two well-stocked with interesting active toys is one of the best things you can do to get and keep your kids off the couch from season to season—and this may be especially true for girls, research suggests. So I asked Curt Hinson, Ph.D, a HHK advisory board member, what would be his top picks for age-spanning, gender-neutral toys that are least likely to collect dust in your garage, porch, or basement. As “Dr. Recess,” Dr. Hinson travels around the country to help kids get moving during free playtime, and sees firsthand what toys children in a variety of different neighborhoods are apt to return to again and again. The good news is, his picks aren’t pricey. In fact, the simplest toys often have the longest shelf-life, he says.

So, without further ado, here’s a list of must-have outdoor toys, with links to examples and descriptions below. 

1. Sidewalk Chalk. Not just for doodles; create hopscotch game, ball or puck target, or an obstacle course for bikes or skateboards. BUY: Crayola 48-Count Sidewalk Chalk, $10

2. Frisbee/Flying Disc. Some fave uses: Tossing at targets (like trees) for points, or playing keep away. There are many variations to test out, but you can’t go wrong with a classic disc. Discraft has no less than 17 colors patterns, from “Ultra-Violet” to “Blue Orb.” BUY: Discraft 175 gram Ultra Star frisbee, $8-$18

3. Zoom Ball. A favorite of occupational therapists,  ball on two ropes with handles, and you send it back and forth to each other. It’s fun to see how far you can make it travel. BUY: Zoom Ball Sliding Ball, $8

4. Wiffle Ball Set. Picnic table is first base, the oak tree is second base, neighbor’s vegetable patch is a home run (you get it). Once your child masters hitting a ball with a skinny wiffle ball bat, making contact with a classic baseball or softball bat will feel much easier. BUY: Wiffle Ball Bat and Ball Set, $6

5. Soccer ball. Kick it back and forth, play keep away, or try to hit targets in a backyard obstacle. Size guidelines: Buy 1 (mini) ball for toddlers, size 3 for 3-5 year olds, size 4 for 6-8 year olds, and size 5 for older kids. BUY: Vizari Astro Soccer Ball, $6-$20

6. Jump rope. Simple, cheap, and a great workout. Count how many times your child can jump without stepping on the rope. BUY: Green Toys Jump Rope, $10

7. Horseshoes. This traditional backyard game is loads of fun for kids. Try a rubberized version for safety’s sake. BUY: Champion Sports Rubber Horseshoe Set, $14

8. Skip Toy. There’s a lot of versions, from the Skip It to the Skipper. Like a jump rope, it’s simple, but even trickier (in a fun way) for bigger kids. BUY: Skipper, $7.

9. Hula Hoop. An addicting challenge, once you get the hang of it. Little ones can roll and chase them, or hop between them, across driveways or gyms. Buy a few and the game options grow. BUY: Wham-O Original Hula Hoop, Set of 3, $35

10. Lawn Darts. The plastic kind with rounded tips are safest. Try to toss them in opponents’ ring for to score points. BUY: Jarts, $16

11. Bubbles. Want to get a little kid running around? Blow some bubbles and challenge them to count how many they can pop. BUY: Super Miracle Bubbles, with Wand, $4

12. Balloons. See who can keep an inflated balloon up the longest using different body parts, or race across the yard, hitting the balloon as you go. Playing balloon “volleyball” over a line of couch cushions can keep kids of all ages busy during  rainy or cold afternoon. Perhaps the king of all cheap, versatile toys, come to think of it. Fun Express Assorted Color Balloons, 144 for $7

Additional photo credits:

Hula Hoops: Elliot Mar

Zoom Ball: Unloveable

Frisbee: Annalisa