Don't Waste Your Money is supported by our readers. When you purchase an item through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Outdoor Kids’ Toy

Last updated on September 1, 2021

We looked at the top 6 Outdoor Kids' Toys and dug through the reviews from 6 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Outdoor Kids' Toys.

Best Outdoor Kids Toy

Why Trust The DWYM Score?

DWYM is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to.Learn more.

Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in a category.

Our Picks For The Top Outdoor Kids' Toys

Show Contents
Our Take
Experts Included
Pros
Cons
  We Also Like

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Junior Adjustable Metal Detector

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Junior Adjustable Metal Detector

Overall Take

Adventure in Any WeatherSuitable for exploring the garden, beach or forest for hidden treasure, this tool will delight any young wanderer and scientist.

Experts Included
DWYM Baby and Kids Experts plus America’s State Parks, The Toy Zone. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" There is an all-metal mode, as well as an all-metal mode excluding aluminum and iron, and a no-iron mode too."
Cons
"Could come with accompanying headphones"
  Strong Contender

PGXT Tangle Free Parachute Toy

PGXT

Tangle-Free Parachute Toy

Overall Take

Colorful SetThis outdoor kids' toy is designed to remain tangle-free, reducing frustration and allowing for repeated use.

Experts Included
DWYM Baby and Kids Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
  Also Great

Meland Kids Outdoor Camping Gear Set, 24-Piece

Meland

Kids Outdoor Camping Gear Set, 24-Piece

Overall Take

Share Love of WildernessFoster independence and share your love of camping with this diverse playset.

Experts Included
DWYM Baby and Kids Experts plus Best Reviews Guide. Along with user reviews from Amazon.

Melissa & Doug Bella Butterfly Outdoor Chair

Melissa & Doug

Bella Butterfly Outdoor Chair

Overall Take

Fun, Reliable Camping SeatWhether your travels take you to the beach, forest or just the backyard, this chair will make your child feel like they’re in the front row.

Experts Included
DWYM Baby and Kids Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon, Walmart and Target.
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
13

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the outdoor kids' toys available to purchase.
6

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

6

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Outside Modern, Asher & Lyric, Best Reviews Guide, America's State Parks and The Toy Zone.

42,011

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 6 Outdoor Kids' Toys and also dug through the reviews from 6 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Outdoor Kids' Toys.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval
Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Overall

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Junior Adjustable Metal Detector


Our Expert Score

10.0
2 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

8.8
6,923 user reviews

Our Take

You'll love this lightweight, waterproof metal detector. The outdoor kids' toy can locate items up to 1 foot down, assuming proper conditions. This device comes with an education guide, detailing the history of metal detectors and how they work.

What other experts liked

There is an all-metal mode, as well as an all-metal mode excluding aluminum and iron, and a no-iron mode too.
- America's State Parks
The handle is adjustable to help ensure kids can continue to use it
- The Toy Zone

What other experts didn't like

If you do not mind spending a little bit more for a quality product, this will be the best child’s metal detector for you
- America's State Parks
Could come with accompanying headphones
- The Toy Zone

Overall Product Rankings

1. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Junior Adjustable Metal Detector

Overall Score: 9.3
Reviews Included: 4

2. PGXT Tangle Free Parachute Toy

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 1

3. Meland Kids Outdoor Camping Gear Set, 24-Piece

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 2

4. Melissa & Doug Bella Butterfly Outdoor Chair

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 5

5. OUTREE Kids Pod Swing Seat Hammock

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 4

6. Step2 Sun & Shade Picnic Table With Umbrella

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 3

Our Outdoor Kids' Toy Findings

222296 218314


NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Junior Adjustable Metal Detector

What We Liked: You’ll love this lightweight, waterproof metal detector. The outdoor kids’ toy can locate items up to 1 foot down, assuming proper conditions. This device comes with an education guide, detailing the history of metal detectors and how they work.


PGXT Tangle Free Parachute Toy

What We Liked: Get your little ones excited about spending time in the backyard with this fun outdoor kids’ toy. The set includes four parachutes, each of which has a man attached to the bottom. Kids can throw the parachutes high up into the air and watch in amazement as the toy glides effortlessly to the ground.


Meland Kids Outdoor Camping Gear Set, 24-Piece

What We Liked: This outdoor kids’ toy set includes 20 pieces of toddler-sized camping gear for playing pretend. From a tent and lamp to a multitool and plastic insects, this play set offers a wide variety of fun and engaging toys.

Our Outdoor Kids' Toy Buying Guide

The best outdoor toy for kids is whatever will engage little minds and provide hours of fun-filled play. Consider your child’s preferences when making a purchase. Also, think about what might get the most use in your yard.

Be aware that many outdoor children’s toys are not necessarily intended to be functional. As adorable as a toy umbrella  is, it will have limited ability to keep your little one dry. On that note, if an item does not specifically promote that it’s waterproof, it’s best to assume it isn’t. Similarly, miniature versions of adult outdoor items may or may not be functional; they may just be intended for play.

Consider making more expensive purchases than you might initially plan for, based on product ratings and reviews. While higher costs do not inherently entail higher quality, lower costs sometimes do imply a lack of quality. As the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” When it comes to outdoor toys for little ones, which must be long-lasting, durable, safe and sturdy, there’s little room for poorly made items.

DWYM Fun Fact

Harvard Health Publishing has released research that showed children should spend more time playing outside for a variety of reasons beyond simply getting some sunshine and exercise. By playing outdoors, children learn to exercise executive function, making choices independently of their parents, which ties into another benefit: learning to take risks.

While we discourage our children from risky behavior, if they never take any risks, it can hamper later development. This is because they never learn how to process and recover from failure. Not taking risks while young can also skew realistic expectations of the consequences of their actions.

The Outdoor Kids' Toy Tips and Advice

  • When getting your child a toy to encourage going outside, consider their personality and energy levels.
  • Kids who like to investigate trees and rocks and are always asking questions might enjoy educational toys or scientific ones.
  • Children who prefer to enjoy the outdoors in shade and comfort will appreciate toys that allow them to do just that.
  • Think about the height of your child, as well as their weight, when buying items like chairs, slides or play sets.

About The Author

Danielle Smyth 

Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketing expert based in New York. She has been writing on business and finance, home and garden, DIY, travel and tourism, and a variety of other topics for over a decade, and she holds a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University. Danielle loves working on product reviews and helping others find the highest quality items and the best values. As a parent, she appreciates the importance of choosing the right kid and baby items at the right price, and hopes to help other parents do the same.