Top 14 Gift Ideas to Encourage Outdoor Time

One of the easiest ways to get kids outdoors is when it’s accessible to them. By that we mean, it doesn’t have to be someplace you need to drive to get to, and what’s nearer than our own backyard? If you already have a garden, what better way to get the kids involved than their having their own tools? 

Check out some of these garden tools that your children can call their very own. 

A sandbox provides hours of entertaining play for toddlers and preschoolers. You can build your own, or you can buy a ready-to-use sandbox like the one shown here, which we recommend largely because it comes with a cover.

If you live near a beach or lake, (or if you have a sandbox!) beach toys to use for digging in the sand can surely keep kids entertained for hours. Who needs to take out a gadget when out on a family vacation? We picked this particular item because they’re collapsible, making them easy to store when you’re done. 

One of our favorite nature study activities is when the kids caught some caterpillars and watched them go through their life cycle to become a moth! If you can find caterpillars in your own garden, we highly encourage you to do so! 

Alternatively, a butterfly growing kit can also get your kids started with the project, and get them interested in all the flying creatures outdoors after they grow their first butterfly!

If you have trees in your backyard, adding a swing will surely give your child more reasons to play outdoors. We recommend this swing set because it’s sturdy and can easily be attached to trees that you already have in your yard.

Or, if you want to go all out and you have the space, you may want to consider adding an entire swing set for the two kids to go on at any one time.

Adding an obstacle course to your yard can add a challenge for kids to work on outdoors. For example, you can put some tires across the yard for the kids to run through. Or you can also add some climbing cargo nets to encourage plenty of climbing practice.

A trampoline is another great thing to encourage active play out of doors. Check out this one with a safety enclosure net.

Do you remember childhood in the days before gadgets showed up? A lot of us played outdoors most of the time, and frisbees were among our favorite toys! Introduce a happy childhood running out in the fresh air with this frisbee for your kids.

Or for beginners, consider flying rings, which are relatively easier to catch.

If you have a lot of children, lawn games like this ring toss game can be a good idea to have in the house for some impromptu outdoor fun. Or, add some outdoor fun to your coop with items inspired by carnivals or traditional fairs: sack race or three-legged race, anyone? 

If you have preschoolers, bubbles are always fun! Make it a habit to allow them to play with bubbles only on the yard, and anytime you whip one of these bubble wands out, you get assured of outdoor time! 

If you have trees in your backyard, you can either encourage the kids to climb them, or consider adding these rock climbing holds for wall-climbing practice! 

Encourage lots of family playtime with a basketball hoop out on your own garage. We chose this one because of its adjustable height, making it a gift that can grow with your kids.

Encouraging your kids to bring their toys outside will also likely translate into longer time spent outdoors. But if they have to come in and out of the house all the time, you risk having them decide to stay inside on one of those trips! A wagon can help solve that problem, as they can now bring everything they need out into a tent or a fort, even including snacks! 

The weather can be one deterrent for getting kids outside. But how about letting them play in rain puddles with this pair of rain boots that they can easily put on and take off themselves? Of course, we would recommend getting them other weather-proof clothing to go with the boots!