Best garden toy for toddlers?

[lottytheladybird]

I have two little boys. My eldest is almost 3 and my youngest has just turned one. We'd like to spend more time in the garden, but the playhouse, two ride-ons and balls that we have in the garden just don't keep them entertained for long enough - maybe half an hour? So we'd like to get them more toys for the garden, but can't decide what. We've been thinking about sand tables or a swing & slide set (there are two parks in our village). We're happy to spend a few hundred. What keeps your little ones happy in the garden? What would be worth investing in?

sounds like their age rather than the toys which only keeps them occupied for half an hour! my 3.8 yo will play for a while in the sandpit on hi own, but it has taken a while for him to do so.

might be worth looking at pinterest for ideas to keep them occupied too - I have made dens out of sheets, given DS a bucket of water and a paint brush, made bubble snakes - all cheap and cheerful options :)

I have a two year old ds and five year old dd. They have one of those mini trampolines with handles, a swing (which they fight over so if you can, get a double swing set), a sand table and a water table and www.johnlewis.com/tp755-rapide-slide-body-3m-green/p230210368.

I get to sit down and mumsnet, it's great!

www.amazon.co.uk/AquaPlay-630-Canal-Tour-Stations/dp/B003MB2GMY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1370266553&sr=8-3&keywords=aqua+play

aqua play canal system.

www.amazon.co.uk/Hedstrom-M08681-Junior-Trampoline/dp/B000OW7Y8U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370266603&sr=8-2&keywords=toddler+trampoline

cheap trampoline

Btw the sandtable is the early learning one. The water table is a cheap argos one where the legs keep falling off but to be honest they would be happy with a few plastic cups and a washing up bowl full of water!

As well as the playhouse we also have a little climbing frame with a ladder, slide and tunnel - its from a brand called smoby so is plastic rather than the more attractive wooden ones but its free standing so doesnt need to be concreted in as some of the bigger ones do.... we've also got a trampoline, sandpit, swing and giant football goal... my husband despairs!

One of These

My kids still play with ours daily and they are 4 and 8.

Our wooden playhouse, trampoline and play kitchen have all been the most successful outdoor toys.

Thanks for all your responses! They've been really helpful.

Heidi - I love the look of that canal toy and think we'll be getting one of them!

Ladyface - How lovely it must be to actually sit in your garden!

Hi I am looking at getting a play house for my 2.9 y twins. Need a spacious one I can put lots in to keep them entertained. Was looking at the smoby duplex or the smoby friends house also a little tykes town house. Does anyone know any of these or can recommend a good one for slightly older children? Thanks

They don't need more toys, they need an adult to play with to get them started - they're too little to really be expected to self-start yet.

Also I really wouldn't bother with a sandtable - they're just frustrating. Get a proper sandpit and put enough sand in it to really build with - they will play with it year-round.

My to dd's 2 and 4 live their swing and slide