Summer is fast approaching, and as we all know with the situation, we have right now, going outside is not safe for you and your baby. As we all know babies love toys, as it provides at least some opportunity to learn. Toys are not only for playing, but it also helps child senses encourage them to interact with others, sparking their imaginations.
Babies are curious and very eager to learn about the world around them. Giving your baby safe and stimulating toys will help them discover their senses. For example, babies enjoy rattles and toys that make music.
Contrasting-color toys captivate babies and stimulate their developing vision. Toys can help babies learn about depth perception and cause-and-effect relationships as they grow. They also require objects such as blocks to assist them in developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
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What are the benefits of playing outdoors?
Nowadays, as early as three months old, children are already exposed daily in front of electronics, such as television, tablets, laptops, and phones. There is no doubt what statistics show all over the world.
In that case, many children are foregoing active, outdoor play in favor of a more sedentary lifestyle, which has severe consequences for their health and overall well-being.
Most parents would agree that they want their kids to be physically healthy, well-rounded, independent, and compassionate individuals.
How can you encourage your child to play outside?
First, make it fun, introduce your child to different kinds of toys and activities that you and your child will enjoy.
Secondly, take them to different kind of places. In this case, you will help your children learn how to collaborate, play with other children, and gain independence.
Third, give options of places to your child. It can be either unfamiliar playground equipment or board games, or educational games that can be played outside.
Next, bring family and friends. It will help your child develop emotional regulation, creativity, and group leadership skills. Lastly, go outside regularly. Make sure to make it a habit to bring your child outside as a regular activity within your family. As a result, children are more confident to try new things.
What makes a good outdoor toy for babies?
According to the experts, the toys should encourage the babies to be active and get outside. It should also include open-ended, which allows your babies to climb with parents’ guidance, crawl, and jump. Just make sure that all the toys included are appropriate for their age.
It would help if you also thought about durability and safety when deciding which toy to buy. For safety reasons, you should always check the age grading on a toy to ensure that it is appropriate for the child’s age.
Also, always keep an eye on your child when they are playing in or near water, and always use helmets with any ride-on toys.
What to avoid in choosing toys for your baby?
First, you should avoid buying a toy that is made from lead. Lead poisoning is severe – it can lead to learning and growth delays, kidney damage, and more.
In addition, some imported toys tested in the US has reportedly had medium to high levels of cadmium, lead, mercury, and other potentially dangerous chemicals.
You should also avoid getting toys that are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride). PVC is a type of plastic that usually contains harmful chemical such as dioxin, phthalate, and vinyl chloride. These harmful chemicals may trigger your babies’ asthma, allergies, and reproductive problems.
Whether they enjoy an active game or relaxing in an inflatable kiddie pool, we found some terrific outdoor toys that will keep them amused for hours.
Read on to learn about the 25 best outdoor toys for your babies!
Top Outdoor Toys for Your Babies in 2021
1. The First Years Stack Up Cup Toys
Stacking cups are popular for a reason: they provide easy-to-learn yet entertaining ways to play. Babies enjoy putting toy cups together, turning them over, stacking them, and hiding items beneath them.
These eight brightly colored baby cup toys contain huge numbers imprinted on the base, allowing the babies to practice counting and developing number identification skills. These toys are BPA and Phthalate free. It is a good toy for teaching color, numbers, shapes, and size to encourage developmental play experiences, motor control, hand-eye coordination, and interaction.
2. Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy
This toy is well-designed, such a fun toy for babies, and it has a variety of colors that your baby enjoys looking at. It has a distinct line to chew on and several spots to grab it no matter how your baby holds it. If your baby has a small hand, they can also get around and grab the lines because they are thin enough.
It can be brought outside and play in the garden. Colorful loops made of soft, malleable plastic are easy to grasp and hold, and caregivers can use it as a calming teether by refrigerating it. The Winkel is built of PU tubing (polyurethane), free of BPA and PVC and complies with SPSIA and European phthalate regulations.
3. Little Tikes Spiralin Seas Waterpark Play Table, Multicolor
This entertaining children’s water table is jam-packed with features and activities. While splashing around, babies will strengthen their fine motor abilities, sharing skills, and inventiveness. With this toy, you can see how water turns the wheels or just splash around outside.
This interactive water table for babies is the perfect height for them to play for hours! We would strongly recommend this to anyone looking for a method for their child to play in the water but is not quite old enough for a kiddy pool or the weather is not quite warm enough. Your child will be able to splash their hands in the water and grab toys. This is one of the best outdoor toys recommended for your baby!
4. SplashEZ 3-in-1 Splash Pad, Sprinkler for Kids, and Wading Pool for Learning
SplasEz 3-in-1 Splash Pad creates a miniature water park jammed with learning lessons and hours of fun for your children. It has child-friendly features and a spacious 60″ diameter. Your baby will experience cognitive, social, and emotional growth using this toy!
You can set up this toy easily. Just makes sure to dry it well before storing it back to avoid mold manifestation. It is BPA-free and phthalates free. Thus, it is safe for you and your baby.
5. Summer Pop ‘n Play Portable Playard
The Summer Pop’ n Play Portable Playard makes it simple to set up a safe play area for your child on the go. The ultra-lightweight and compact fold playpen takes seconds to set up and take down, making it ideal for usage at home, at the park, or the beach. Even on wet grass, the water-resistant floor keeps the baby dry.
The airy mesh sides add to the visibility so you can easily monitor and check your little ones. It is very convenient since it includes a travel bag with a shoulder strap for on-the-go trips. It is great for keeping your babies contained and safe while you are doing something else! The metal frame is very solid and sturdy, which means when your little one falls over or bumps into the side, they will run face-first into a tough, solid metal bar.
6. Little Tikes 2-in-1 Snug’ n Secure Swing
The Little Tikes Snug is a two-in-one toy. Secure swing is designed for children that adore swinging. Little Tikes’ baby swing is the ideal combination of safety and comfort. Parents who are concerned about their children’s safety will appreciate the Little Tikes swing’s numerous safety features.
Your baby is held in place by a T-bar and straps, which can be removed as your baby grows. It is very easy to install, and it allows a little bit of adjustment, left to right, which helps compensate for the difference in length of the straps you will hang it from. It is really recommended for babies!
7. Summer Pop ‘n Jump Portable Activity Center
Summer Infant’s Pop ‘n Jump is the ideal travel companion for parents and babies. It comes with a fully completed, lightweight foldable frame that sets up in seconds. The jumping function and toys will keep the baby busy and delighted for a long time. It is sturdy and effortless to adjust as they grow.
The tabletop/support structure is elastic, and your baby will love it because of the feels it provides. This portable activity center is also washable, which ensures your babies safety. The toys are perfect, rattle, teether, crinkle and squeak book and hard plastic rolling ball with balls inside. The shade and floor cover make it great for outdoor use anywhere.
8. Green Toys Dump Truck in Yellow and Red
Green Toys Dump Truck is a great way for your babies to learn. This dumping truck toy is a practical and creative way for your child to strengthen their fine and gross motor abilities, as well as their pincer grip. In addition, this toy is free of BPA, phthalates, and PVC, making it safe for both the environment and your baby.
Green Toys provides the best of both worlds: a high-quality, long-lasting product with the benefits of being entirely eco-friendly and at a reasonable price!
9. EcoSun Kids Ball Pit Large Pop Up
EocuSun Kids Ball Pit is a toy whose baby will be amused for hours with this pop-up ball pit playhouse playset! A wonderful environment for your baby to crawl, walk, jump, and play simultaneously improves their independence and coordination. To ensure your baby’s safety during happy hour, the ball pit is created with soft waterproof polyester materials and a high-strength memory steel holder.
In a matter of seconds, the entire ball pit toy pops open! It comes with a little zippered storage bag that is lightweight and easy to carry. Since the sides collapse, your baby can basically roll in and out if they want. No tripping, no falling. Big enough for two to play comfortably and not get in each other’s way.
10. Sunny Days Entertainment Bubble-N-Go to Lawn Mower with Refill Solution
Sunny Days Entertainment Bubble-N-Go to Lawn Mower is a charming push mower ideal for your baby who wishes to help their parents in the yard. It promotes active pretend play and encourages kids to use their creativity while helping around the yard.
It is designed realistically and with mechanical sounds. It is simple to use! Fill it up with provided bubble solution, and you will be blowing bubbles in no time! It doesn’t clog up like any other Lawn Mower with bubbles!
11. Little Tikes Perfect 4-in-1 Trike
The Perfect Fit 4-in-1 Trike is designed to grow alongside your child. This trike is not only a “perfect fit” for your child, but it’s also a “great fit” for parents, with all the characteristics of your favorite stroller! It has several storage compartments; this is sophisticated that it makes on-the-go travel a breeze!
The cover is completely movable, and it locks on both back wheels. It contains a footboard to protect your baby’s feet until they are ready to ride it independently.
12. Playz Ball Pit, Play Tent and Tunnels for Boys and Girls
Play Ball Pit has an excellent 7-piece adventure play tent set. You can let your baby’s imagination run free. They will keep themselves occupied for hours jumping, crawling, and playing hide-and-seek while making memories that you will treasure forever.
Multiple different combo maze possibilities allow kids to personalize their playset, making your baby engage and thrilled! This is a must-have toy for babies and toddlers. In seconds, the entire play jungle gym top pops open! Easy locks keep tunnels closed without causing discomfort.
With the best quality 190T soft polyester fabric and strong steel wire, you can assure that your baby will have the safest, long-lasting, and enjoyable play experiences possible! It aids in the development of arm and leg muscles as well as gross motor skills.
13. Le Papillon Pink Princess Tent
The Le Papillon Pink Princess Tent is lightweight and portable to take the play tent outside and anywhere. It pops up in two seconds, and you did not have to do anything to create it, and it is easy to fold up and put away.
The assembly or setup is super easy, like unfolding a car sunshade. It is very portable in the carry case. Your baby can move their toys into it and sit in the tent to play.
14. Step2 Game Time Sports Climber and Slide
Get outside and move around! The oversized design of this climber allows for many ways to play, making it ideal for engaging social play with multiple children. Shoot hoops with the provided ball and built-in basket while keeping score with clickable knobs on the side.
Play kickball or soccer in the crawlspace beneath the platform, which also serves as a soccer goal. This is a great play system and very engaging.
15. Fire Truck Tent for Boys and Girls
In general, children’s playhouses provide excellent opportunities to pretend play and encourage children to use their imagination and creativity. Large compartments and visible windows are included in this red pop-up tent. Installing a kid’s outdoor play tent is extremely relatively simple and convenient.
This pop-up play tent is made of tough, weather-resistant fabric that will last for years. Learn while having fun! These children’s play tents encourage imaginative play and encourage children to be more creative. In addition, playing with these toys encourages them to consider a problem, which increases their cognitive abilities.
16. Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Rock-a-Stack
Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Rock-a-Stack will let your babies enjoy grasping, shaking, and exploring five bright rings. The smallest ring offers a gleaming, reflecting surface for the baby to explore on the inside, as well as colorful, swirling beads that make exciting rattle sounds!
When the baby is ready to sit and stack, they can place rings on the post and bat at the wobbling base to make it rock. As they learn to sort and stack from largest to smallest, stacking helps babies develop eye-hand coordination and teaches them to the concept of relative size!
17. Edushape Small Sensory Balls
Edushape Small Sensory Balls have four-pack various bright hues. The multicolored texture surface will appeal to both your visual and touch sense. Bouncing, rolling, and tossing encourage the development of fine and gross motor skills, logic, reasoning, and coordination.
It includes thick walls, and a non-removable inflation/deflation receptacle (basketball pin type) are among the qualities that have made it the gold standard, resulting in a long-last fun and therapeutic toy. In addition, there is no odor coming off them, and it is washable.
18. Melissa & Doug Seaside Sidekicks Sand-and-Water Sifting Funnel
Fill this funny tower of sea creatures with water or sand, then watch as the different strata funnel, tip, spin, and sift! Funnel Fun is made of durable plastic in a rainbow of vivid, fade-resistant colors and is ideal for outdoor play. It is simple to transport to the beach or your lawn thanks to the convenient carry handle!
It is very durable. Plus, it has enough working parts to be entertaining for dirt, sand, water, and mud. A funnel, then strainer, water wheel and finally a catch-all at the bottom.
19. UNIH Pull-Back Vehicle Toys of Soft Plush Car Set with Play Mat
The wheelbase is heavy enough for stable operation, while the top is made of cloth and stuffing. Friction (no battery required) is used to create a fun and helpful toy for children.
This bright and artistically designed to pull back vehicles set can excite children’s imaginations, nurture curiosity, encourage hand-eye coordination, and improve self-recognition, all of which are very educational as an educational toy.
20. FoxPrint Basketball Ball Pit – Toddler Ball Pit Tent – Sensory Ball Pit with Basketball Hoop & Zippered Storage Bag
This fun ball outdoor and indoor ball pit allows your child to explore and play in their personal space, and it even has a basketball hoop for added fun! The bright and colorful polka dot hexagonal pattern appeals to babies while also helping them learn colors and improve their physical coordination.
If you have the space in your home, you may utilize this giant ball pit to double as a large toy storage area, giving you a place to store all your child’s other toys and things.
21. Galt Nursery Trampoline
A fun tortoise trampoline for building confidence and boosting coordination and balance in young children. A tubular steel frame, padded cover, easy-grip handle, and rubber feet make this chair suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
For easy storage, the handle and legs detach. 60cm (23″) from floor to handle, 70cm diameter frame when assembled. 20kg maximum weight.
22. Beach Toys Sand Toys Bath Toys for Kids Toddlers Baby
For outdoor activities, beach toys can appear like a dream come true for little boys and girls. The sand toy set is appropriate for children aged 18 months and older.
It has everything a toddler might require when going outside. When filled with sand or water, the smaller bucket is less weighty, making it ideal for babies and toddlers.
23. VTech Sit, Stand and Ride Baby Walker
Activity Panel, Walker, and Ride-On all in one! A music button and three light-up buttons on the activity panel teach animals, colors, and numbers.
Fine motor abilities are developed by using spinning gears, mirrors, sliding cars, and steering wheels. Ages 12 months to 3 years are recommended.
24. Monkey & Mouse Secure Canvas and Wooden Hanging Swing Seat Chair
Your little one will swing safely thanks to rigorous testing and high-quality natural materials, including double-sided cotton canvas fabric, marine-grade rope, and locking carabiners. The detachable and easy-to-clean designed dual-color cushioned cotton cushion is available in two colors.
It is pretty portable, and it only takes a few minutes to set it up! No special tools are necessary, and easy-to-follow assembly instructions are included.
25. SWAGITLOUD Bubble Machine Fish Bubble Blower
This bubble blower is lightweight and has a handle, making it very easy for youngsters and teens to carry it about. It can also be hung from a tree or a high vantage point to catch the wind and produce richer and taller bubbles.
This bubble machine is made of kid-friendly ABS plastic, has a high density, and is battery-powered. It is safe, sturdy, and non-toxic for your baby.
In Conclusion
Overall, picking your babies outdoor toys still depends on you. Make sure to look over your babies while playing.
Always consider the things you need to include when buying your babies toys. Just like in the introduction, avoid toy with chemicals that might affect their health.
References:
Australian Government Department of Education and Training (2009). Belonging, being and becoming: The early years learning framework for Australia. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 19 June 2019 from https://docs.education.gov.au/documents/belonging-being-becoming-early-years-learning-framework-australia.
Cole-Hamilton, I. (2011). Getting it right for play: The power of play: An evidence base. Midlothian: Play Scotland. Retrieved 19 June 2019 from https://www.playscotland.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/Power-of-Play.pdf.
Fleer, M. (2013). Play in the early years. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.
Ginsburg, K.A. (2007). The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182-191. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-2697.
Lester, S., & Russell, W. (2010). Children’s right to play: An examination of the importance of play in the lives of children worldwide. The Hague: Bernard van Leer Foundation.
Lui, C., Solis, S.L., Jensen, H., Hopkins, E.J., Neale, D., Zosh, J.M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Whitebread, D. (2017). Neuroscience and learning through play: A review of the evidence. Denmark: The LEGO Foundation. Retrieved 19 June 2019 from https://www.legofoundation.com/media/1064/neuroscience-review_web.pdf.
Whitebread, D., Neale, D., Jensen, H., Liu, C., Solis, S.L., Hopkins, E., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Zosh, J.M. (2017). The role of play in children’s development: A review of the evidence. Denmark: The LEGO Foundation. Retrieved 18 June 2019 from https://www.legofoundation.com/media/1065/play-types-_-development-review_web.pdf.
Woods, A. (2013). Child-initiated play and learning: Planning for possibilities in the early years. Oxon & New York: Routledge.
Yogman, M., Garner, A., Hutchinson, J., Hirsh-Pasek, K. & Golinkoff, R.M., Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health & Council on Communications and Media (2018). The power of play: A pediatric role in enhancing development in young children. Pediatrics, 142(3), 1-17. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2018-2058.
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