Best outdoor toys: get your kids active with great toys and games for your garden

If you want to let your children burn off some energy outside then Swingball Classic is a sure-fire way to do it. This fab family game is extremely easy to set up - all you have to do is push the spike into the ground, adjust the height, attach the tethered ball to the pole, pick up your racquet and let the fast and furious fun follow. Unlike other garden ball games, you won’t have to keep knocking on your neighbour’s door to ask for your ball back, unless you’re playing against a budding Serena Williams with a killer forehand. And it’s still amazing for building hand-eye coordination skills and getting little bodies moving.

The manufacturer says the game is suitable for kids aged three to 18, but of course there is nothing to stop competitive parents or grandparents from getting in on the action. The big downside to swingball is that the pole needs to be stuck into the ground, which is no good if your garden is decked or covered with paving slabs. But this doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun, as Swingball also makes an all-surface version for just a few pounds more. We think Swingball is the best overall outdoor toy you can buy because it’s great value, small enough to work well in most size gardens, can be used alone or with a partner, keeps kids active, and encourages coordination and focus.

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What could be better on a sunny summer's day than the family gathering together for a little friendly competition?

Quoits is a game of skill and accuracy and both little ones and grown-ups will have lots of fun trying to score the highest number of points by throwing the rope quoits over the numbered pegs. It's a great family-friendly game to play in the garden, but it also comes with a handy carry case, so you can take it down to the park or beach too.

If you are looking to refresh your outdoor toy offerings this spring and summer, without breaking the bank, quotis comes highly recommended by Mumsnetters.

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After 30 years, the ubiquitous red and yellow Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Car is still a firm favourite and can be found parked up in gardens across the land. Toddlers will love scurrying across the patio or lawn Fred Flinstone-style, or you could even use it indoors if you’re feeling brave and have hidden the breakables away.

The car features a petrol cap that opens and closes, a clicking ignition switch and a working horn. And if red and yellow aren’t to your child’s taste, the Cozy Coupe comes in a range of other colours and designs, including a dinosaur, ladybird and a police car. Mumsnet users love how many years of play their children have had from the Cozy Coupe car and say it’s the toy they run to time after time.

Looking for more like this? Take a look at our round-up of Mumsnetters' best ride-on toys for 1-year-olds and up.

If you can’t get to the beach, bring the beach to you with the Chad Valley Sand and Water Table. The set comes with two moulds, a sand rake, a scoop and two boats, so there’s no need to fork out on additional items to enjoy sand and water play in the garden. The table also comes with a storage lid, which means you can leave the table outside in all weathers (providing you remember to put the lid on, of course). Each side of the table holds around 7.6 litres of either water or sand, and with a drainage hole (and plug) on both sides it’s simple to empty out when you’ve finished playing.

It’s super easy to put together, and you can take the legs off so that it can be placed on the ground and enjoyed by younger children. It’s true that there are other water tables out there that come with more exciting features, not to mention a higher price tag attached. But if you’re looking for an affordable first water and sand table for your toddler, then this comes highly recommended by parents, who rate this as one of the best outdoor toys for 3-4-year-olds.

For more Mumsnetter-approved picks, check out our guide to the best water tables.

The brightly coloured Smoby Funny Slide is a great all-rounder for children aged two and above. With a sturdy frame and ergonomic design, the steps are gripped to avoid slips and trips, whilst the large handlebars offer stability and security as they reach the top.

The slide is 1.9m in length - over 6ft long - so it's probably not suitable for gardens that are on the smaller size. But if you do have the room, the Smoby Funny Slide will prove an utter Godsend on hot summer days, with a clever hose attachment transforming it into an exciting water slide.

Related: The best toys for 2-year-olds, according to Mumsnetters

Mumsnetters love the original Stomp Rocket, which provides hours of entertainment for kids both big and small. However the Original Stomp Rocket Duelling Rockets take things one step further by introducing a competitive edge to the game. The premise is simple: just jump or stomp on the powerful air-launch pad to send these durable foam rockets up to a whopping 200 feet into the air.

This kit comes with two launch pads, meaning two kids can play at the same time to see who can send their rocket the furthest. It’s dead easy to assemble, with no batteries required. But in order to avoid falling out with the neighbours, you do need a large open space for this one. If your garden is on the smaller size, it might be best to head to your local park instead. The kit comes with 4 ultra stomp rockets, and if you do end up losing a rocket or two you can order replacements easily enough.

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Famous for making some of the best trampolines on the market, JumpKing has also managed to impress Mumsnet users with this fun basket swing. Young kids will love swinging up high, while teens and adults can enjoy lazing around in the summer sunshine. Because why not?

The swing is attached to a robust black and yellow powder-coated frame by a strong and durable rope, so while it is quite an investment it really is built to last. The whole thing is rust and weather resistant and it’s covered by a 3 year limited warranty too. It’s easy to adjust the height of the swing to suit different ages and the seat is made with the same material as a trampoline bed so it’s nice and comfy. These types of swings are always popular at the park so any child would be beyond excited to have one of their own in the garden.

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If your garden is short on space then you may want to invest in this handy picnic table and sandpit in one. This traditional wooden picnic bench is perfect for family barbecues and alfresco dining, and the top lifts off to reveal two plastic containers for sand or water play, which makes it another contender for the best outdoor toy for 3-4-year-olds.

It’s on the pricey side, there’s no doubt about it, but Mumsnetters who’ve tried and tested this particular outdoor toy say it’s well worth the investment. We love that you can use it for eating outside and for arts and crafts activities as a normal table, then take the top off and enjoy water and sand play as well. There is so much play value in the table that it’s well worth the initial investment.

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For real back to basics outdoor fun you can’t get much better than building dens, and this kit has everything kids need to build their own amazing dens outside. The kit has a tough waterproof camouflage tarpaulin and green waterproof groundsheet as well as a wooden mallet, natural jute rope, and 8 steel tent pegs for erecting the perfect small den. It also has an enamelware mug and camo face paints to add to the fun.

We love that this kit comes with a handy guide with tips and inspiration for building the best dens possible and that the whole kit is packed inside a durable cotton satchel for taking out on adventures. The den isn’t massive once it’s up but you can easily fit two young children under it and it makes the perfect base for outdoor activities and creative fun.

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This cute wooden boat is so much more than just a sandpit. The captain’s wheel and compass will allow your child to set sail on a maritime adventure, plus there’s a blackboard, removable splash bowl and a sturdy wooden surface to boot, making it a great outdoor space for the sort of arts and crafts that you don’t want in the house. And when you’re done, the play surface lifts up to provide some handy storage.

It’s a little on the pricey side, but the versatility and longevity of the TP Toys Ahoy Wooden Play Boat means that you’ll almost certainly get your money’s worth.  We love how the play boat encourages creative and imaginative play as well as keeping kids active and busy out in the fresh air.

A firm favourite across the continent, Mölkky is a simple game that involves throwing a piece of wood at 12 numbered wooden skittles. The first player to score dead on 50 points wins, but watch out, if you score over 50 then your total gets taken back down to 25. It sounds deceptively simple, but you need tactics, a good throwing arm and maths skills to be a Mölkky champion, which makes it great for older children and adults alike.

Ideal for family get-togethers, Mölkky is great for taking to the park, beach or on holiday. Some reviewers have said that the carry box feels a bit flimsy though, so you may want to consider investing in a separate carry bag, just in case.

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Bestway is one of the most reliable names when it comes to inflatables and this family-sized paddling pool is robust, sturdy and shouldn’t let you down. It’s a good size, so you’ll be able to fit the whole family in there without a problem, although the depth of the pool means it’s unsuitable for younger children.

Granted, it’s not the prettiest pool out there, but it does the job along with the best of them and will keep you and the family cool on hot summer days. It can take a while to inflate and fill the pool, but once it’s up reviewers say it stays well inflated for ages and is great fun for kids to splash around in and for adults to cool off in. On balance, we think it's the best paddling pool out there for summer 2024.

Love them or hate them, no list of the best outdoor toys would be complete without a spot for the best trampoline. Trampolining aficionados will know that a rectangular trampoline gives a better bounce than a round one, so the Zero Gravity Ultima 5 Rectangular Barrel Trampoline is great for the experienced trampolinist who has outgrown their previous trampoline and wants to hone their skills.

Parents love this particular trampoline for its high-quality construction and safety features, including its state-of-the-art safety enclosure with a wired top ring and extra-thick padding. But if your child is new to trampolining, you may want to try something a little less intense (and kinder to your pocket), such as the Chad Valley 6ft Trampoline.

Shopping for younger children? Here's our review of the Costway 7ft Toddler Trampoline