[Ad- gifted products] We are lucky to have a large backyard, one that can hold lots of toys! Though it is uneven, we have been enjoying the time we spend out the in yard and slowly collecting a range of toys and activities for the children to play with. We wanted to share some of our discoveries and best toys with you as the days are getting warmer and time outside needs to be taken advantage of!
Sprinkler Splash Mat
As previously mentioned, our yard is on a bit of a slope. This can be a problem when it comes to smaller paddling pools, so we wanted something that could work with what we had. We also wanted an option that didn’t require blowing up, but that would be soft and fun. This mat is like a sprinkler, as the edges do spray out water, and all you need to do is plug in a hose and wait for it to charge up. Over time, the sprays will get higher – and if you’ve got slightly older or just more adventurous children, they will have fun stepping on the edge to make the mat spray higher, before allowing it to charge back up again. These mats work great on a slope too.
You can pick up a Sprinkler Splash Mat on Amazon.
Sunny Patch Turtle Target Game
When it comes to something fun to play with, we really love bean bag games! The best one, we have found, is the Sunny Patch Turtle Target Game from Bright Minds. This game stands on it’s own, allowing individuals to throw Velcro sacks at the turtle, aiming for numbers. There are loads of games that can be played with this, from having to call out the number first to trying to get higher numbers than your opponent, to trying to hit on top of their bag (as each side has Velcro on it). We found that this specific set up is also great for those learning numbers, as an educational tool that seems fun.
You can grab yours from Bright Minds.
Bubble Machines & Bubble Wands
We have always had bubble wands dotted around – you can get quite a few multi-packs that can then be set up on a table to keep children entertained for ages. Bubbles are fun, easy to refill, and are something that often can be played alone or in groups. Bubble machines kick this up to the next level – we got a small frog bubble machine so that we could set them up in the backyard and allow everyone to just pop away. Play some music along with it and it’s a bubble party!
You can find multi-packs of Bubble Wands on Amazon, as well as bubble machines.
Chad Valley Dinosaur Play Tent
Setting up a tent and letting kids pretend can keep them outdoors for longer, as they make plant potions, knock on each other’s doors, run around, and rest inside their tent. We got a Chad Valley Dinosaur Play Tent which has held up well to the year and a bit of love it’s had indoors and outdoors. It’s a long tent, due to the theme of being a dinosaur, so we found it fit well on the grass so that everyone can enjoy it and take a break out of the sun.
You can grab one from Argos.