80 Outdoor Gift Ideas For Kids

Last Updated on November 28, 2025 by Audrey

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I don’t know how it’s possible, but I feel like Christmas comes earlier every year! That means it’s already time for this year’s list of outdoor gift ideas for kids! Because if you’re anything like me, you might be a bit weary of adding even more indoor toys to your kids already overflowing stash.

I mean, how many more toys do I have to buy these munchkins that they’ll barely ever play with? Seriously, they seem perfectly content playing with our Amazon boxes that come in the mail. So when it comes to thinking of gift ideas, I’ve developed a few guidelines to help me choose.

First, I want gifts that promote getting outdoors! There is plenty of data (and some common sense) to suggest that playing outside is hugely beneficial for children. Which is why I’ll do whatever I can to help my little ones in that direction!

I also want outdoor gift ideas that promote activity and movement while they’re outside. I look for items that make it easy for them to run, climb, swing, etc. without me necessarily needing to be involved!

Other great outdoor gift ideas are those that promote outdoor hobbies. For example, bird watching, archery, rock collecting, kayaking, and so on. Anything that can help develop a newfound interest to pursue while outdoors!

Lastly, and my favorite of all outdoor gift ideas, are gifts that promote experiences. These are usually bigger investments, but they can be purchased as a gift for the whole family to share! For example, family passes to a historic village or botanical garden, rock climbing, winter sports park, or even a family trip.

Some more options that promote experiences and togetherness would be camping and outdoor gear like a fire pit, tent, kayak, or paddle board.

And the best part is that these gifts keep on giving year-round and will help you create special family memories together! With all that said, here are my top picks for THE BEST outdoor gift ideas for kids:

Nature Exploration

Nature exploration gifts are some of the most engaging outdoor gift ideas you can choose for kids, because they encourage curiosity, hands-on learning, and independent discovery. These items help children observe the world around them—bugs, plants, rocks, weather, and wildlife—while building confidence and a genuine love for being outside. Whether it’s simple tools for spotting backyard creatures or gear that supports bigger adventures, nature exploration gifts spark imagination and make outdoor time feel like a real-life adventure.

Backyard Toys

Backyard toys are some of the most versatile outdoor gift ideas because they keep kids active, creative, and entertained right at home. These gifts turn any yard—big or small—into a space for imagination, movement, and open-ended play. From classic favorites like swings to more adventurous options like climbers and slacklines, backyard toys encourage physical activity and independent fun. They’re perfect for families who want everyday outdoor play without needing to leave the house.

Nature Craft Kits

Nature craft gifts are beautifully creative outdoor gift ideas because they help kids turn sticks, leaves, rocks, flowers, and other natural materials into art. These gifts inspire imagination, hands-on exploration, and a deeper connection to the outdoors. Nature craft kits like these make it easy to get started!

Outdoor Toys

Outdoor toys are some of the most classic and exciting outdoor gift ideas, giving kids endless ways to move, explore, and play in fresh air. These gifts encourage active play, build coordination and confidence, and help kids burn energy while having fun. Whether a child prefers speed, adventure, or imaginative outdoor challenges, outdoor toys offer something for every kind of play style.

Toddler & Baby Outdoor Gift Ideas

Don’t forget about the littlest ones! Toddler and baby gifts make some of the sweetest outdoor gift ideas because they encourage little ones to explore the world safely and joyfully. These gifts focus on sensory play, early movement, and gentle outdoor experiences. They help build coordination, curiosity, and confidence while giving babies and toddlers a fun way to enjoy fresh air with their families. Perfect for everyday backyard play or simple outdoor adventures, these gifts make outdoor time feel magical for the youngest explorers.

Sports

I’ve found that as my son gets older, sports equipment is key for him to get lots of active time outdoors! Older kids who are aging out of imaginative play benefit from these sporty outdoor gift ideas, giving them a fun way to practice skills and get some exercise outside in the fresh air. They’re perfect for kids who love movement and challenge—and for families who want easy, go-to activities that keep everyone outside and engaged. I kid you not when I say we own every piece of equipment below and have gotten hours of use out of each one!

Outdoor Gear

Outdoor gear makes some of the most practical and adventure-ready outdoor gift ideas, helping kids feel prepared and excited for time outside. From backpacks and water bottles to kid-sized rain boots, these items give children the tools they need for real outdoor adventures. Whether they’re heading to the backyard, a local park, or a weekend camping trip, outdoor gear is essential to help your kids be prepared for their next outdoor excursion!

Camping

Camping gifts are some of the most memorable and experience-driven outdoor gift ideas, giving kids the chance to feel like true explorers. From cozy sleeping bags and headlamps to kid-friendly camp chairs, these items make nights under the stars comfortable, exciting, and fun. Camping gifts help children build independence, learn new outdoor skills, and create family memories that last for years. Whether it’s backyard camping or a full weekend getaway, these gifts inspire a love for adventure.

Outdoor Hobbies

Outdoor hobbies make some of the most enriching outdoor gift ideas, giving kids fun ways to develop new skills and long-term interests outside. Whether it’s gardening, birdwatching, or fishing, these hobbies encourage curiosity, patience, and hands-on learning. They’re perfect for kids who love exploring, creating, and trying new things—and they offer endless opportunities for family bonding and fresh-air fun.

Tech Outdoor Gift Ideas

Outdoor tech gifts are some of the most exciting and modern outdoor gift ideas, blending screen-free exploration with cool, kid-friendly gadgets. From walkie-talkies and kid-safe cameras to GPS trackers, these tools make outdoor play feel like an adventure mission. They encourage curiosity, problem-solving, and imaginative exploration while helping kids connect with the outdoors in new, interactive ways. Perfect for tech-loving kids who still crave fresh air and hands-on fun.

There you have it! If you’re tired of unused toys piling up inside, this is our tried and true list of kids outdoor gift ideas! These gifts don’t just sit around inside your house. They promote getting outdoors, being active, trying new hobbies, having adventures, and creating new experiences together! No matter the child’s age or interests, there’s something on this list that can spark curiosity, inspire movement an activity, and create countless moments of fresh-air fun!

1. Outdoor Explorer Kit

This is one of our go-to’s when we head outside and need a quick activity idea! It’s one of my favorite outdoor gift ideas because it’s literally a bag already stocked and full of open-ended ideas for play and exploring. This is a great option for play in your own yard!

2. Gemstone Dig Kit

Perfect for little rock collectors or any curious kid who likes to explore and discover new things! It basically feels like a treasure hunt in a box.

3. Portable Microscope

I love outdoor gift ideas that can be used for educational purposes as well, and this microscope is perfect! We wandered around the house and backyard with ours to get a close-up view of everyday objects and the results are sure to fascinate kids and adults alike.

4. National Geographic Geode Kit

This one makes the list of outdoorsy gift ideas because it promotes learning about nature (rocks and geology), could inspire a new hobby, AND you’ll definitely want to do it outside due to the mess 🤣 Plus you can display the geodes afterwards or use them to start (or add to) your own rock collection!

5. Go Find It Scavenger Hunt

This is one of the easiest outdoor activities and it travels well, making it ideal for a neighborhood adventure or to bring along on a hike.

6. Exploring Nature book

I love this book! It has some of the coolest nature activity ideas and plenty of prompts for outdoor play and exploration. (It would also make a great addition to that outdoor explorer kit I mentioned in idea #1.) If you want another easy go-to for outdoor activities and learning, this is one of the best outdoor gift ideas!

7. Craft-Tastic Scavenger Hunt Journal

8. Butterfly Kit

We had so much fun growing watching our caterpillars turn into butterflies with this kit and then releasing them into our backyard! If you’re looking for outdoor gift ideas that offer educational value, this one is perfect.

9. Platform Swing

What kid doesn’t loves swings? This one is great because there’s room for two! The only thing better than swinging… is swinging with a friend! And my husband and I can vouch for the fact that even the adults in the family will enjoy a large swing like this one. In my book, swings are timeless and are always great outdoor gift ideas!

10. Stomp Rockets

Simple yet so much fun! Perfect for an easy backyard activity.

11. Tunnel

Kids of all ages can appreciate this one, from babies who are just learning to crawl to older kids building an obstacle course.

12. Stepping Stones

This one is perfect for imaginative play or for obstacle course building!

13. Rope Ladder Swing

14. Mud Kitchen

Each of my kids has gotten so much use out of our mud kitchen that it’s well worth the price! Even my 17 month old spends hours in our little mud play area of the garden creating mud pies and soups.

15. Ninja Warrior Ropes Course

Let’s be honest, my husband and I want this slack line kit for ourselves as much as we want it for our kids. Although it would be hugely beneficial for their gross motor development and helping them stay active while we’re out in our yard! This is something that’s currently lacking in our outdoor space and we definitely plan on adding in the future.

16. Platform Ladder Swing

A classic to add to your backyard trees or playset.

17. Balance Beam

18. Fairy Garden

I’ve been wanting to build our own fairy garden for the longest time, and this kit would be the perfect starter! I love how enchanting little forest fairy worlds are, especially in the eyes of children. How fun would it be to create one of your own little whimsical worlds right in your own yard or garden and watch your kids play!

19. Rock Painting

Kids love rocks and painting! Why not combing the two?

20. Pressed Flower Art

I’m a fan of any outdoor gift ideas that combines nature and art! This kit comes with a small flower press along with an assortment of cards and encourages kids to get outside as well as sparking creativity along the way.

21. Build A Birdhouse

This birdhouse kit is one of the outdoor gift ideas that serves a couple different purposes, which I love! First, it provides a project for kids where they get to build and paint something of their own! Afterwards, it can provide hours of bird watching entertainment and perhaps inspire a new hobby.

22. Terrarium Kit

Kids will love creating their own little environment in a jar!

23. Scooter

This is one of the best outdoor gift ideas for outdoor entertainment at home and around the neighborhood. If you’re looking for a way to entertain your kids right there in the driveway, this is a great solution! It’s also a fun way for your kids to zip around while on family walks together.

24. Nerf Football

Classic for backyard games of catch.

25. Bow and Arrow

Archery is one of those hobbies that stands the test of time. And, as an added bonus, cool movie characters who happen to be splendid archers continue to appear onscreen and inspire children to pick up a bow and arrow.

Just make sure you lay down the law before handing these out willy nilly. I still distinctly remember being grazed on the ear by an arrow flung from the hand of my very own sibling. Take my word for it: even without a pointy tip, arrows can still inflict quite a bit of pain!

26. Fort Building Kit

My little guy absolutely LOVES building things. When we’re outside, he usually ends up taking sticks, pvc pipes, pool noodles, and pretty much anything he can get his hands on to build a fort. Instead of having to search for random pieces, a kit provides the pieces and connectors to make building a bit easier.

This fort building kit from KiwiCo is my favorite. We’ve tried a few different plastic ones from other companies, but this one is definitely the best! I love the sturdy wooden dowels and the flexible connecting pieces. We built some awesome forts in the backyard last summer that provided a place to play all day!

27. Velcro Toss and Catch Ball

Remember these from when you were a kid? That’s because this is one of those outdoor gift ideas that transcends time and will be loved by generations from now until probably forever! I was also pleasantly surprised to find that they still come in exactly the same colors and design as when I was young for some instant nostalgia.

28. Roller Blades

Another classic from my youth that my two oldest have come to love! Roller blades are also a great way for kids to work on balance and coordination.

29. Foxtail LED – Toss and Catch Game

This adds a twist to classic toss and catch games with the foxtail and glow-in-the-dark factor.

30. Kite

Even as I write this, my kids just spent hours flying our kite together outside. Younger ones may need a little help to avoid tangling the string and getting the kite airborne, but it’s well worth it!

31. Ice Skates

32. BB Gun

33. Sled

34. Go Kart

35. Bike

No explanation required.

36. Pogo Stick

37. Water Table

Here’s one of our outdoor gift ideas that’s suitable for toddlers! Do you know any little tyke who can resist getting soaking wet any time they’re even remotely near water? They’re irresistibly drawn to the stuff! That’s why this water play table is a great way to provide them with some endless hours of outdoor play once those warmer months hit. For us, it was honestly the best toy in our whole yard last summer for our two-year-old!

38. Baby Pull Sled

39. Slide

40. Bubble Blower

41. Swing

42. Outdoor Playhouse

43. Balance Bike

44. Outdoor Toddler Activity Book

45. Sand Box

46. Lawn Mower

47. Tricycle

48. Woodland Climber Playset

49. Little Tikes Push and Ride Racer

50. Little Tikes Ride-On Car

51. Little Tikes Basketball Hoop

52. Basketball

53. Basketball Hoop

54. Soccer Net Kit

55. Hockey Net Kit

56. Baseball and Bat

57. Sunglasses

58. Backpack

This is great practical gift idea! I’m a fan of anything that’s not a toy that my kids will use and love receiving. When our little guy was just two, we got him his first backpack and it was one of his favorite things! He was just so tickled to have “his very own backpack!”

A few years ago, we picked out this one for our daughter. I love the fun prints and thought they would really enjoy them as well (and I was correct). Who wouldn’t love little forest animals camping?

If you want one actually intended for some slightly more serious adventures, this one is a great option. The chest strap is super helpful if it’s going to be used as a hiking backpack (or for lugging heavy books home from school)!

59. Rain Boots

60. Rain Coat

61. Water Bottle

62. Fleece Jacket

63. Binoculars

64. Gardening Kit

Gardening is a great activity for kids! Getting their hands dirty and the benefits of seeing hard work pay off as you grow your own food is priceless. This is our favorite gardening tool that both of our kids have used.

They’ve gotten so much use out of it in the past years whether it’s helping rake leaves, plant seeds in the garden, or dig holes for pirate treasure hunts! This is definitely one of the outdoor gift ideas that will get plenty of use while you’re out in the yard!

small boy digging in garden with shovel - outdoor gift ideas for kids

65. Fishing Kit

This fishing pole is yet another one of our outdoor gift ideas that promotes a new hobby outdoors! And if you happen to enjoy fishing yourself, this is a great way for your little one to join in.

66. Kayak

This is a bit of a larger purchase, but a kayak would make a great gift that kids could get years of use out of! It’s a great outdoor hobby that the whole family can do together and create so many memorable experiences!

67. Skateboard

68. Instant Print Camera

69. Digital Camera

70. Compass

71. Kid’s Smart Watch with Tracker

72. Walkie Talkies

73. Fitness Tracking Watch

74. Drone with Camera

75. Metal Detector

77. Telescope

78. Hammock

Even if you don’t go camping a ton, your kids will love having their own hammock to hang out in…literally! (Ha…see what I did there?) Pop this up at a nearby park, beach, or in your yard!

79. Sleeping Bag

If you already plan on camping excursions with your littles, why not give a piece of gear as a gift? Like, a sleeping bag, for example. I love the practicality of giving kids something that you already planned on purchasing them anyway. (They’ll never know!)

My little guy loves playing and snuggling in the sleeping bag I already own for myself. And he loved having one of his own when we went on our backyard camping adventure last summer! I myself can still recall a Princess Jasmine sleeping bag that I received one Christmas!

80. Camp Chair

81. Camping Activities for Kids

82. Head Lamps

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