We love providing kids with opportunities for lots of outdoor play!

Outdoor play is crucial for the healthy growth and development of a child. It improves physical strength, coordination, and balance. Plus, it exposes them to nature and fresh air, stimulating their senses and fostering curiosity.

For one-year-olds, buying outdoor toys that are suitable for their outdoor playtime can make a big difference in their early development. They can be fun, interactive, and engaging!

• Looking for outdoor toys for slightly older kids? Check out these top outdoor toys for kids!

So, let’s delve into the best outdoor toys for one-year-olds best outdoor toys you should consider for your little one’s playtime.

In this post:

• Benefits of Outdoor Play
• Top Outdoor Toys for 1-Year-Olds
• FAQS
• Final Thoughts

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Benefits of Outdoor Play

There are so many amazing reasons to get kids playing outside! These include:

• Physical Health and Development: Outdoor play encourages kids to move, which is crucial for healthy growth and development. Activities like running, jumping, and climbing can help develop their motor skills, balance, and coordination. This contributes to overall physical fitness, helping to reduce the risk of childhood obesity.

• Sensory Development: The outdoors are a sensory-rich environment. The different sounds, smells, textures, and visuals can stimulate a child’s sensory perception, contributing to cognitive development.

• Emotional Well-being: Playing outside can help children unwind and reduce stress. Nature has a calming effect and can boost mood. It also provides opportunities for unstructured play, which allows kids to engage in activities they enjoy, thereby promoting happiness and self-esteem.

• Social Skills: Outdoor play often involves interaction with other children. This encourages kids to develop essential social skills like communication, cooperation, negotiation, and conflict resolution. It also provides opportunities for making friends.

• Independence and Risk-taking: Playing outside provides children with more opportunities for exploring, problem-solving, and taking safe risks. Through these experiences, kids build confidence, learn to make decisions, and become more independent.

• Connection with Nature: Regular outdoor play can foster a love and appreciation for nature in children. This is important for promoting environmental stewardship in the future.

• Better Sleep: Physical activity and exposure to natural light outdoors can help regulate children’s sleep patterns and improve the quality of sleep.

Top Outdoor Toys for 1-Year-Olds

We love to head outside and have spent hundreds of hours outside with kids, so trust us when we say we know what kids find engaging.

When choosing great outdoor toys for your one-year-old, it’s crucial to consider safety, your child’s interests, and the potential for the toy to grow with them.

Avoid junky plastic sets, toys with lots of pieces, and overly specific toys. Instead, opt for simply open-ended toys that are well-made.

1. Water Table

This is a versatile outdoor toy that stimulates sensory play. One-year-olds can have fun scooping, pouring, and stirring, which are great ways to enhance their fine motor skills, curiosity, and focus.

You can keep it simple and fill a few buckets and plastic containers with water or buy a water table. Look for water tables with a sturdy design and minimal pieces (these simply get broken or lost all over the yard).

Here are a few great options:

2. Baby Swing

A secure swing designed for toddlers brings the joy of a playground right to your backyard. We’ve worked with one-year-olds who were happy to swing for hours. In addition to being a child favorite, swinging also helps develop a sense of balance and coordination.

When picking a swing, ensure it has a high-back seat, a safety harness, and sturdy construction.

Here are a few great options:

3. Mud Kitchen

A mud kitchen is essentially a play kitchen intended for outdoor use. Instead of using toy food, children are encouraged to use natural elements found outdoors – the star of the show being mud!

Mud provides a rich sensory experience while allowing kids to scoop, pour, and pretend play. Playing in a mud kitchen is a great outdoor activity for kids.

• Check out all our favorite mud kitchens and advice to getting started with messy play: Mud Kitchens For Kids: The Ultimate Guide + 7 Best Options!

*Note: for one-year-olds, close supervision is crucial as they still tend to put things in their mouth, and not everything in a mud kitchen is edible! Always ensure that the play area is safe and free from toxic plants.

4. Small Pool

In the summer months, on a hot day, an inflatable or plastic pool can be an excellent outdoor toy. It provides relief from the heat, plus the splashing around with water toys is great fun!

Always supervise water play to ensure safety.

Here are two of our favorite options:

5. Gardening Tools

We have yet to meet a toddler who didn’t like digging in the dirt, and even one-year-olds can “help” in the garden. Small, child-friendly rakes, shovels, and buckets can encourage imitation and introduce a love for nature early on.

It can be fun to include little ones in gardening projects, but also make sure to provide dirt space away from your favorite plants where they can freely dig without you needing to step in and say no.

Make sure to select high-quality sets that will last when left outside.

Here are a few great options:

6. Bubble Machine

One-year-olds are often fascinated by bubbles. A bubble machine produces a constant stream of bubbles that they can chase and pop. This can encourage physical activity and hand-eye coordination.

In addition to bubble machines, we also love non-spill bubble containers. These containers allow little ones to carry bubbles around and independently practice dipping the bubble wand and blowing bubbles.

Here is our favorite bubble machine:

Gazillion Tornado Bubble Machine

We’ve seen some pretty wimpy bubble machines over the years, but this one delivers when it comes to bubbles! Make sure to buy lots of extra bubble solution as it goes through it fast.

7. Balance Bikes

A no-pedal balance bike can help your child develop balance and coordination skills while preparing them for a real bicycle in the future. We have seen kids as young as 18 months old cruising around on balance bikes.

Always make sure to have your child wear a helmet. While it may seem unnecessary when they are so young, it does increase safety and builds the habit for the future.

• Check out our favorite bikes: 5 Great Wooden Balance Bikes for Toddlers

8. Wheelbarrow

A child-sized wheelbarrow can be a fun tool for pretend play or for helping with gardening tasks.

Kids love to engage in heavy work or what is often referred to as maximum effort, and a wheelbarrow allows them to lift and move heavy things and develop their strength.

*Note: as the wheelbarrow must be lifted to be pushed, it’s not a great option for non walkers.

Here are two great options:

9. Balls

Balls can be a fantastic way for toddlers to improve their gross motor skills, including kicking, throwing, and catching. Engaging with balls of different sizes and textures also encourages sensory exploration, making it a fun outdoor or indoor toy and activity for one-year-olds.

No need to rush out and get anything fancy or even baby-specific. We often head outside with just a small soccer ball that toddlers can roll, kick, throw, and carry around.

Try to avoid full t-ball or soccer goal sets. These are much too directed for little ones and actually stifle their independent play and exploration.

Here are several great options:

10. Toddler Trampoline

A small, safe trampoline designed for toddlers can be a great source of fun and can help develop their leg muscles and balance. A trampoline is great for both indoor or outdoor play. Ensure it has a handlebar for grip and stability.

Here are two perfect options for little ones:

11. Buckets and Shovel

A classic for any kind of digging and building activity, whether in the sand or even in a dirt patch in the backyard.

Digging and transferring things in and out of a bucket help to improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. And anyone who has a one-year-old has seen their fascination with taking items in and out of containers!

Here are some sturdy options:

12. Sand Box

Anyone else know a 1-year-old who could merrily engage in sand play for hours?

A sandbox can offer a wonderful sensory and imaginative play experience for toddlers, providing a unique opportunity to explore, dig, pour, and build.

Outdoor play with sandboxes not only promotes fine motor skills but also encourages creativity and understanding of concepts like cause and effect, making it a valuable learning tool for one-year-olds.

Add a few sand toys, rocks, and a few trucks for maximum engagement.

Here are a few great options:

13. Picnic Table

A child-size picnic table can be a great addition to outdoor snacks, crafts, or activities. It’s the perfect comfy spot for your kids to rest, eat, and play.

• Here are our favorite durable tables for toddlers: 6 Best Kids Plastic Picnic Tables for Younger Kids

14. Toy Lawn Mower

A toy version of a lawn mower is one of those classic outdoor toys that can give your child the feeling of doing important work and can encourage imitation and role play. Some models even have popping beads or balls to simulate mowing action.

Here are two options we love:

15. Slide

Small, toddler-appropriate slides can be a fun addition to your backyard and encourage active play. Slides can help improve gross motor skills as the child climbs up and glides down.

• Check out some of our favorite slides: Top 5 Dinosaur Slides For Kids

16. Outdoor Climber

These larger toys can include various activities, from simple slides and climbing walls to a steering wheel and interactive panels. They can promote physical activity and strengthen gross motor skills. We find that they are great for engaging kids and using up lots of energy.

• Check out all our favorite climbers here: Best Kids Outdoor Climbers for all Ages and Budgets

17. Wagon

A sturdy wagon can serve many purposes: your child can pull their favorite toys around, help with gardening tasks, or even take a ride themselves. It’s a great way for kids to engage their need for maximum effort.

Here are two perfect options for 1 year olds:

18. Outdoor Easel

An outdoor easel with chunky, toddler-safe paints can offer a fantastic outlet for creative play, learning about cause and effect, and developing fine motor skills. We love that taking messy painting projects outside makes the cleanup easy.

If you’re handy, you make your own DIY plexiglass easel, or there are some great premade options.

19. Sidewalk Chalk

Even though one-year-olds might not be able to draw much beyond scribbles, sidewalk chalk can still be an effective tool for sensory play and motor skills development.

Children can feel the chalk’s texture, see the vibrant colors it creates, and may even enjoy the sound of the chalk scraping against the sidewalk.

Here is our go-to chalk:

Crayola Chalk

We love these bright colors and how easy they are for toddlers to grasp.

20. Trucks

Big, colorful trucks that are easy for little hands to grip and move are usually a big hit with one-year-olds. Kids love to hold onto the sides and push the trucks as they run around outside. They also are a favorite in the sandbox.

When choosing a toy truck, look for ones that are robust and have no small detachable parts that can pose a choking hazard or simply get lost outside.

Here are out two favorite trucks:

21. Ride-on-Toys

Ride-on-toys come in many shapes and sizes, from things like animals to cars. They can help toddlers develop muscle strength and balance. We have seen little ones happily scoot around for hours.

Make sure to choose a ride-on toy appropriate for your child’s age and size.

Here are several toddler favorites:

22. Stacking Cups

Simple yet versatile, these can be used in a sandbox, kiddie pool, or just on the grass. Stacking cups also make a great bath toy when used indoors. They can teach about size, cause and effect, and even basic principles of volume and weight.

Here are our two simple sets:

23. Sprinkler Toys

Kids love water, and sprinkler toys can provide a fun way for little kids to cool off during hot summer days. Ensure you choose sprinklers with gentle water flow suitable for one-year-olds.

Here are two fun kid-friendly options:

24. Toy Animals

Durable, plastic animals are great for outdoor play and help to facilitate imaginative scenarios. Your child can play with them in the dirt, grass, or even in water.

• Check out all our favorite toy animals: 16 Best Realistic Sets of Toy Animals for Kids

25. Push Toys and Walkers

Push toys provide balance and stability, thus encouraging younger toddlers to take those brave first steps and enhance their mobility. Also, toddlers LOVE to push things, so these toys can be a great investment when it comes to keeping kids moving and engaged!

There are many durable options that can be used outside:

26. Rocking Toys

One-year-olds love outdoor rocking toys as they offer a safe and enjoyable way to experience movement, which can be both exhilarating and soothing.

Rocking toys come in many fun designs, such as the classic horse, various vehicles, and even small teter totters that allow little ones to practice playing with others.

Here are a few great options:

27. Rocks

Now we know that rocks aren’t “toys,” but often, the most engaging playthings aren’t toys but rather everyday objects for kids to explore.

We currently work with several 1-year-olds who love a good old pile of landscaping rocks. They spend hours outside moving rocks from one place to another, taking rocks in and out of buckets, and trying to climb a play structure while carrying rocks.

Try adding a rock pile (or just even 10 to 15 rocks) to your backyard and see what your kids do with them. You might be surprised to see how engaging such a simple thing can be. Make sure to select rocks that are big enough to not be choking hazards.

FAQS

• What should I look for in outdoor toys for a 1-year-old?

It’s important to consider safety, age-appropriateness, and fun when selecting toys. The toy should be free of small parts or sharp edges, be suitable for a one-year-old’s developmental stage, and be as open-ended or simple as possible.

Open-ended toys are toys that are not overly specific and can be used in endless ways based on the child’s creativity, imagination, and stage of development.

• How can outdoor toys benefit my toddler’s development?

Outdoor toys can stimulate a range of skills, including gross and fine motor skills, sensory skills, cognitive skills, and social skills. They can also help to improve balance, coordination, and physical strength.

• Are there safety precautions I should take when my child is playing with outdoor toys?

Always supervise your child during playtime. Ensure the play area is free from hazards, and regularly inspect toys for sharp edges, loose parts, or other damage.

Take the time to babyproof your outdoor play area as much as possible. This should include eliminating any toxic plants and stringing insects, storing garden chemicals and tools out of reach, fully childproofing pools and spas, and looking around to see what outdoor furniture might be sharp or tippy if used by a child.

Creating a safe outdoor space will allow you to step back and let your kids play as you won’t need to step in as often to redirect your kids.

Additionally, protect your child from the sun with appropriate clothing and sunscreen.

• My child tends to put toys in their mouth. Are outdoor toys and outdoor play safe?

It’s normal for a toddler to explore the world by putting things in their mouth. Ensure the toys are made of non-toxic materials and are large enough to avoid being a choking hazard. Always supervise your child during playtime.

If your child is in this phase, you may want to hold off on a sand table and a mud kitchen.

• How can I encourage my one-year-old to play outside?

Having a variety of fun and engaging outdoor toys can encourage your child to spend more time outdoors.

Additionally, setting a routine for their outdoor activities and play can also be helpful. We head outside with kids every day of the year! Having appropriate rain gear and winter clothes can help keep them warm, dry, happy, and playing in all weather.

Give kids lots of unstructured time outside so that they can learn to engage and choose activities for themselves.

Finally, let kids get messy. Let them take their shoes off and play in the mud! Let them get paint all over! Let them splash in the water! Try to step back and only intervene when you truly need to (ie when it is a safety issue). This makes the outdoors fun and engaging for little ones.

• Are there any outdoor toys that can help my one-year-old learn to walk?

Yes, push toys and walkers are excellent for helping one-year-olds develop walking skills. They provide support and help improve balance and coordination.

In addition, climbing toys can encourage little ones to pull up to standing and aid in coordination and muscle development.

• How can I clean outdoor toys?

Most outdoor toys can be cleaned with warm soapy water or simply sprayed down with a hose. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for specific cleaning guidelines.

• Can I leave outdoor toys outside all the time?

Yes, many outdoor toys are designed to withstand the elements, though colors will fade with time. But extreme weather conditions can damage toys over time, so to increase their lifespan, you can store them in a covered area when not in use.

Final Thoughts on Outdoor Toys for One-Year-Olds

Investing in outdoor toys for one-year-olds can provide immense benefits for their growth and development. These toys are not only engaging and fun for toddlers but also improve motor skills, hand-eye coordination, balance, sensory awareness, focus, determination, and play! They can also nurture curiosity and a love for nature.

Remember, the best toy is the one your child enjoys and can use safely under your supervision. Happy playing!