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Want an outdoor summer for young kids? This is the list for you!
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items With two young boys, being outside is a life saver for keeping my sanity (and keeping the house clean…ish!) these are some of my absolute favorite things from Walmart/Sam’s club that we use over and over!
Sections
4
The Big Hitters!
Garden favorites!
Summer heat? Best water activities!
Small toys, big fun!
The Big Hitters!
These are the big items that help make your backyard into the neighborhood hang out or just a great place for your kids to be spending more time outside!
This is our go to when having friends over in the summer, great quality and has lasted years! Perfect for a hot summer day.
H2OGO! Spray Bay Kids Inflatable Mega Water Park
We researched a lot of climbing domes before buying this one and I cannot recommend this one enough. Our kids love it and especially love switching between the hammock and swing attachments
Naipo 10FT Climbing Dome with Hammock Swing Kids Outdoor Jungle Gym Playground Climber 500 lbs Gift for Juniors Orange and Green
The perfect backyard set up always involves the perfect playset. This affordable option for littles is top tier. Assembly does take awhile, but the kids will spend plenty of hours on it making up for that time
Backyard Discovery Grayson Peak Cedar Swing Set/Playset
We call this bounce house “the babysitter”. Once this is blown up the kids (and neighbors and friends) are entertained for hours. We even take this one with us camping for a fun afternoon!
Member’s Mark Climb 'n Bounce Kids Inflatable Mega Bounce House
Garden favorites!
We do a big garden every year and the kids love to help and play there! Here’s a few of our favorite things for the garden to keep the kids engaged and also helping.
My kids love this set and helps them be more “independent” in the garden. They love helping with the weeding and planting at this age and this encourages it!
Member's Mark Wheelbarrow Gardening Playset
We just bought this this year and it has already gotten so much use. My kids LOVE the working sink and I cannot wait for our garden veggies to come in so our kids can make their own little outdoor snacks
Member's Mark Outdoor Wooden Mud Kitchen
We have the monster gloves but any patterned gloves seem to be my kids favorite. They love the idea of putting on their “work gloves” when we go to the garden.
topjuju 6 Pairs Kids Gardening Gloves for Age 3-6, Cotton Garden Gloves with Non-Slip, Yard Work Gloves for Toddlers Boys Girls Outdoor, Soft, Breathable, Washable
My kids are obsessed with finding bugs in the garden and the built in microscope makes it so fun!
Bug Catcher Kit - Outdoor Toys for Kids Ages 4-6 8-12, Insect Catching Set - Birthday Gift Science Experiments
We used to use plastic watering cans, but they broke easily and never lasted more than a season. These metal ones have been great and so much more durable with young kids
D-GROEE Metal Watering Can, Simple Kids Watering Can, Children Garden Watering Bucket Iron Watering Tin Can Sprinkling Kettle for Garden Plants Flower (1.97x2.76 in) - Walmart.com
Summer heat? Best water activities!
The best defense to the hot summer heat, water toys! Here’s some of our absolute favorites to keep cool in the summer!
Our water table is very well loved (and used) and still holding up well 6 summers in!
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Station Water Table
When my 6 year old has friends over in the summer he always asks for water fights. Add together these water balloons, a bunch of water squirters, and a kiddie pool of water and they are well on their way to a great afternoon!
Bunch O Balloons Tropical Party 280 Rapid-Filling Self-Sealing Water Balloons (8 pack) for Kids, Teens & Adults Ages 3 + by ZURU
Add these in to a kiddie pool of water along with the bunch of balloons water balloons and they kids are in for an epic water battle!
Play Day Max Liquidator Water Blaster Pool Toy, Neon Green-Blue and Yellow-Orange, 2-Pack
This cheap kiddie pool is used so much at our house. Fill it with water and add water balloons and water blasters and you’re set for the afternoon!
Bluescape 45" Light Blue Wading Kiddie Pool for Kids, Age 2 & Up, Unisex
You cannot go wrong with a fun sprinkler in the summer! Add your favorite pair of googles for those kiddos who don’t like the water in their eyes
Banzai Wigglin Water Sprinkler 12-Foot Multi-Color Lawn Toy for Kids Ages 3+
Small toys, big fun!
We are going into our third summer with this bubble machine and absolutely love it!
Play Day Mega Bubble Blower, Battery Operated, Bubble Blowing Toy Machine
Simple toy, but our kids spend so much time with this one! Great for coordination too!
Stomp Rocket® Original Ultra Rocket Launcher for Kids, Soars 200', Adjustable Launcher, Kids Ages 5+
So much fun with this one! The kids fight over this one (which you know means it’s the one to beat!)
3 Pack Airplane Launcher Toys, 2 Flight Modes Led Foam Glider Catapult Plane, Outdoor Flying Toy for Kids Age 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Years Old, Ideal Supplies for Birthday, Sport Party Favor
Fun fact: magnatiles are so fun outside if you have a garage door! Our kids make endless pictures and creations using magnatiles on the garage door
MAGNA-TILES Classic 100-Piece Magnetic Construction Set, The ORIGINAL Magnetic Building Brand