Image: MomJunction Design Team
Outdoor toys can help your children experience the world outside while taking in some fresh air. Here, we have included a list of the best outdoor toys for 5-year-old boys and girls to help you choose the right ones for your children. These toys help your children have fun, stay busy for hours, and develop age-appropriate skills. These quality-tested and classic games and toys can also foster parent-child bonding. Keep scrolling and choose a few toys for outdoor time based on your children’s interests and inclinations.
Top Picks
11 Best Outdoor Toys For 5-Year-Old Boys And Girls In 2024
1. Best For Solo Play: iPlay iLearn 2-In-1 Baseball And Tennis Toy Set
For times when group play isn’t feasible, or you don’t have the time to play baseball or tennis with your child, this playset by the trusted brand iPlay iLearn can serve as the perfect companion and provide hours of fun. It is a pitching machine that automatically throws six soft EVA balls at intervals of five to seven seconds for your toddler to hit with either the baseball bat or the tennis racket. The baseball bat is equipped with a remote control that enables the player to trigger the pitching machine to serve the ball.
Pros
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
- Pitching machine can be tilted at four angles
- Helps improve hand-eye coordination
- Helps enhance visual processing
Cons
- Set may not include batteries
- May require parental assistance for the initial setup
Trivia2. Best Lightweight: Activ Life Kid’s Flying Rings
Suitable for youngsters, these flyers have a unique design that helps them fly straight. They can fit in the smallest hands, wrist, and foot. These are 80% lighter than standard rings, allowing comfortable and safe catches. The rings glow in the dark and float to make the playing experience more exhilarating. This review video will give you more insights into a tester’s experience with the product.
Pros
- Soars up to 80 feet in calm weather
- Pain-free design
- Available in various colors
- Suitable for both children and adults
Cons
- May not be ideal for rough handling
- May not be suitable for indoors
Remember
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has earned its stripes, with over 18,624 reviews on Amazon.
3. Best For Motor Skills: iPlay, iLearn Kids Golf Toy Set
Containing one ball-to-tee trainer, one club, fifteen golf balls, and three club heads, this golf toy set will help keep your little one engaged. It helps improve children’s gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination, strengthens limb muscles, and enhances observation and judgment.
Pros
- Suitable for both right and left-handed users
- Comes with a length-adjuster button
- Ideal for parent-child bonding
- Backyard-friendly
- Makes a good birthday gift idea
Cons
- May need adult supervision for children
- Not environment-friendly
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
About 1,936 reviewers on Amazon have given their seal of approval to the product.
4. Best For Exploration: Small Discoverer Outdoor Exploration Set
Suitable for scientific and fun-filled nature exploration, your child can easily carry this complete set in a small hiking backpack. It provides endless opportunities for children to engage in outdoor adventures like hunting, sports games, wilderness expeditions, and nature walks. The entertaining kit includes 4x30mm binoculars, an LED hand-crank flashlight, 3x60mm magnifying glass, a whistle, and a compass.
Pros
- Rechargeable flashlight
- Enhances imagination
- Comes with a backpack
- Ideal for camping experience
Cons
- Flashlight might not stay charged for longer durations
- Might not be suitable for children below three years
5. Best For Creativity: Vlusso DIY Flower Garden Building Kit
Vlusso DIY garden kit comprises up to 150 pieces, including eight bases, 48 stem and leaf pieces, 34 flower cores, 40 brightly colored flower pieces, two flower pots, 12 colored butterflies, two rakes and shovels, a watering can, a drawstring bag, a gift box, and an instruction manual. It allows your children to learn about different parts of plants and helps enhance their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, imagination, and creativity.
Pros
- Smooth and soft edges
- Easy to assemble
- Non-toxic material
- Easily to clean with water
- Encourages creative play
Cons
- Flower stem may not withstand rough use
- Butterflies may not have antennae
"These realistic-looking flowers and water cans have been excellent for encouraging pretend play. Some flower stems are slightly flimsy, but a touch of glue keeps them in place. Besides, the storage bag allows me to carry it outdoors, too."
6. Best Air-Powered: Stomp Rocket Stomp Racer Car Launchers
The Stomp Rocket Dueling Racer set includes two racer cars, two stomp launchers, and a ramp, providing children with the opportunity to be physically active and be part of an exciting racing experience. It comes with exciting decal stickers to customize the cars and make them look more attractive. The speed, force, and angles of the launch pads are adjustable, and the racing cars are air-powered to let your children engage in action-filled outdoor adventures.
Pros
- Enhances children’s interest in STEM subjects
- Easy to assemble
- Portable
- Manually propelled
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
Cons
- Ramp might be slightly flimsy
- Stickers may not be waterproof
7. Best Easy-To-Use: Toysmith Outdoor Discovery Hoot-N-Hollar Animal Caller
Hone your child’s interest in the natural world of wilderness and outdoor adventures with the Hoot-N-Holler animal caller by Toysmith. The horn-shaped toy is nine inches long and has nine different animal sounds that are audible when you blow into the horn. Further, this interactive toy is suitable for teaching your children how to identify animals by their sounds and calls.
Pros
- Colorful and lightweight
- Easy-to-use dial to adjust between animal sounds
- Demo mode also works without blowing air into horn
- Includes a strap for portability
- Batteries included
Cons
- May be a bit noisy
- Batteries may need frequent replacement
Quick Tip8. Best Environmentally Friendly: Dolanus Remote Control Car
Equipped with elastic anti-slip hollow tires, this all-terrain remote control car comprises two powerful motors, two joysticks, and a four-wheel-drive system that offers high power and endless entertainment. The car can spin, flip and tumble up to 360°. It can pass through snow, rock, road, grass, and sand seamlessly. The car is manufactured from environmentally friendly ABS plastic that is stylish, durable, and firm. Its remote control has 2.4GHz technology and the latest anti-jamming technology.
Pros
- Anti-skid grip tires
- Anti-crash rubber
- Can reach speeds of 7-8mph (12km/h)
- Rechargeable batteries
- Great as a birthday gift idea
Cons
- Batteries may not stay charged for longer durations
- Remote control might be a little flimsy
9. Best Portable: Tal Ennt Walkie-Talkies
BUY ON AMAZON | $18.77
Offering clear voice and stable signals, this pack of walkie-talkies uses Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) that automatically mutes the background noise. The VOX hands-free function helps send the voice without pushing any button. It supports up to 22 main channels, making sure you can communicate up to 3km. You can broadcast to one or multiple units.
The in-built flashlight can be used as an emergency light or night light. It has an LCD backlit display that adds fun while playing. The tried-and-tested set is portable, lightweight, and comes with an ergonomic design for a firm grip.
Pros
- 2m drop-resistant
- Belt clip for easy attachment
- Auto-power saver function available
- 12 months warranty
Cons
- Batteries not included
- No volume control function
10. Best Bubble Game: Duckura Bubble Leaf Blower
Make your little one bubble with joy by bringing home this bubble blower that has five spanning wands to create endless bubbles. The pack includes three bottles of bubble solution for hours of outdoor play. All you need to do is attach the bubble solution bottle to the blower and turn on the blower. The toy also doubles as a mini leaf blower, encouraging your child to take part in backyard cleaning work.
Pros
- Non-toxic solution
- Sturdy blower
- Leak-proof design
- No sharp edges
- Easy-to-press trigger
- Helps enhance social-emotional skills
Cons
- Might not withstand rough use
11. Best Adjustable: Crazy Forts Buildable Play Fort
The Crazy Forts buildable tent comes with 25 connector balls and 44 sticks to build the frame of your tent. You can create your own custom-shaped tent, as these durable and adjustable tools can connect in multiple ways to build the shape of your imagination. Further, you can inspire your child’s creativity and role-playing skills with this fun, award-winning toy that can give shape to whichever structure they can imagine. This crowd favorite toy is an absolute backyard staple.
Pros
- Colorful and lightweight
- Portable
- Suitable for both indoors and outdoors
- Easy to install
- Suitable for imaginative play
Cons
- Does not include tent cover, sheet, or tarp
- Poles may not be as sturdy as expected
*The prices provided in this article are based on the latest available information. However, they may vary due to changes in pricing by the seller and/or promotional offers.
How To Choose The Right Outdoor Toy For Five-Year-Olds?
Here are a few things to keep in mind when buying outdoor toys for 5-year-olds.
- Safety: Read warnings and descriptions carefully. Ensure the toy you choose is safety-tested, non-toxic, and easy to clean.
- Material: Choose outdoor toys made of sustainable, durable, and eco-friendly materials with antibacterial properties.
- Educational value: Pick toys that offer entertainment and education to allow your child to play and develop essential skills simultaneously. Educational toys can hone your child’s attention span and hand-eye coordination and foster social and emotional development as well.
- Child’s interest: You will find a large variety of outdoor toys available, ranging from water toys to bounce houses and ride on toys to walkie-talkies. Keep your child’s interests in mind when buying a toy. Talk to them to find out their dislikes or likes before making a decision.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose specializes in product analyses and reviews on children’s toys and gifts. Her in-depth research ensures safe and high-quality products for you. She has listed some of the best outdoor toys for five-year-olds that can help improve their cognitive skills and hand-eye coordination. These toys can be a great way of encouraging your child to have fun outdoors. Priti has compared several products and considered user reviews to help you make an informed decision.
A 5-year-old can be a handful, and therefore, giving them appropriate toys is a must as they help safely channel their curiosity and energy. In addition, children of this age need toys that guarantee fun and help improve their motor and logical thinking skills. When selecting the ideal toy for your child, choose those made of sustainable, durable, and eco-friendly materials and ones that can pique your child’s interest while teaching them something new. Regardless of which toy you choose, always read the instruction manual so you can take the necessary safety precautions.
Infographic: Why Is Outdoor Play Important For Five-Year-Olds?
While indoor games such as puzzles and building blocks can aid in cognitive development, outdoor games are equally crucial for your child’s emotional and physical growth. Check out the following infographic to learn the benefits of letting your child play outdoors.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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