Getting outside is so important for little ones to get fresh air and run off some energy, not to mention it’s great for mama too! This is our list of the best outdoor toys for on year old that kids and moms both love.
We’ve put together a list of our toddlers‘ favorite outdoor toys for one year old and others highly rated by moms on Amazon so you can have some picture-perfect outdoor time with the littlest ones.
(Heads up parents. Links included here are affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission on any products purchased at NO extra charge to you.)
Splash Pads one of the must-have outdoor toys for 1 year old
If you are only going to get one outdoor toys for a one year old, a splash pad has to be a the top of the list.
Kids love water play. It’s such a fun sensory experience for kids of all ages, but especially one year olds. Plus, it’s a great way to cool off from the heat in the middle of summer so you can get some time outdoors even when the temperatures are high.
Both of the options featured below are great choices. They are the same size, both have excellent reviews on Amazon, and they’re comparable in price. So just go with whichever one you like the look of better.
These are seriously amazing for kids of all ages. My twins were just about 8 months old when we got our first one and they loved crawling around in it, and now that they are bigger toddlers they STILL love it. A splash pad is definitely a must-have outdoor toy for babies and toddlers and outdoor toys for one year old. (Click images to shop Splash Pads on Amazon.)
Sandboxes for outdoor toys for toddlers
There’s nothing that says summer and the outdoors more than sand between your toes. My kids can’t get enough of their sandbox and it’s a big treat whenever I make their dad haul a big bag of new sand out for them. If you need a bit of relaxing parenting time, putting your kid in the sandbox is a perfect way to get some space while keeping the kids entertained guilt-free.
I’ve included a few examples of some awesome sandboxes that would be perfect outdoor toys for one year old boys and girls.
(Click on images to shop sandboxes on Amazon)
Tierra Garden G31001 Large Covered Children’s Wooden Sandbox
This sandbox is a bit pricier than others, but for good reason. It is like the ultimate outdoor toy for 1 year olds. It’s wooden with benches, an area for sand, and even a retractable canopy to protect sand when you’re not playing with then keep kids shady during outdoor playtime. Kids of all ages will love this but especially is perfect as an outdoor toys for one year old.
Step2 Naturally Playful Sand Table
If your toddler is standing easily, then a sand table might be perfect outdoor fun for 1 year old. In the cold months, you could even dump the sand and bring it inside for sensory play. It even doubles as a water table too! Step 2 outdoors toys are always a fan favorite and this one is no exception.
Alvantor Sandbox Sandpit Outdoor Backyard Kids Pool Foldable
A sandpit, bath tub, and dog washing station, and it’s all foldable! This sandbox is one of the best baby toys for outside and also on the go since you can fold it down to just 15×19 inches. There are so many outdoor play ideas for 1 year old you could come up with using this as your inspiration.
Get a Water Table for 1 Year Old!
These are seriously amazing for kids of all ages. My twins were just about 8 months old when we got our first one and they loved crawling around in it, and now that they are bigger toddlers they STILL love it. A water table is definitely a must-have outdoor toy for babies and toddlers. (Click images to shop Water Tables on Amazon.)
Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table
This sucha cool water table for a 1 year old. It would be a very well used outdoor toys for one year old. Technically it is rated for 24 months and up so use your own judgement on whether your toddler is ready for this, but how much fun would they have playing in the water and watching the balls spiral down? Reading through the reviews on Amazon and you’ll see this makes for hours and hours of outdoor fun.
Little Tikes Fish ‘n Splash Water Table
One of the most used toys in my house is a pretend fishing rod. The kids just looove reeling in the fishies. It’s no wonder this is one of many highly rated Little Tikes outdoor toys. Like the one above, this is rated for age 24 months and above, but parents in the reviews say their 1 year olds love it too.
Gardening for kids One of the Best Outdoor Play Ideas for a 1-Year-Old
When I am planning activities, I try to find something my toddlers AND bigger kids will love. Gardening fits that bill perfectly. They love digging in the dirt, making mudpies, planting seeds, and watering the garden. Shop gardening for kids on Amazon here.
NNOCHEER Kids Gardening Tools with STEM Learning Guide
Just add soil and seeds. This kids gardening kit has nearly everything your little one needs to get started in the garden. Even if you don’t actually plant anything you could use it for fun pretend or sensory play inside, and it would make a wonderful summer gift for a 1 year old.
Melissa & Doug Pretty Petals Watering Can & Giddy Buggy Watering Can
How adorable are these watering cans? If there is just one job a toddler would love to help with outside, it is watering the plants! But these watering cans would also be awesome outdoor fun for 1 year olds with a baby pool or water table.
Tiny bikes for toddlers.
Even the littles members of the family can get in on bike riding. There are a ton of options for bikes and trikes that work for one-year-olds, and some can grow with them so you can use them for years. Shop bikes for toddlers on Amazon here.
Scool Baby Balance Bike, Balance Bike for Toddlers Baby Bicycles Perfect First Bike for 1 Years to 2 Years Old
This balance bike is a perfect outdoor toy for a one year old to begin learning balance and gross motor skills, and it can even grow with them from 10-24 months! Great news for grown ups, it assembles in just three steps.
Radio Flyer Deluxe EZ Fold 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike
A trike that grows with your toddler for years to come. There are four different configurations kids can use up to five years old! Plus, it folds up for easy storage or to take on the go.
Slides, Swings and More for Outdoor Toys for One Year Old
There are so many amazing little pieces of playground equipment that are affordable and perfect for tiny toddlers. Shop these on Amazon here.
Little Tikes First Slide Toddler Slide
A simple slide. Adventurous and fun enough for little ones, but low enough to the ground for parents to not have to helicopter over them. This basic slide is rated for ages 18 months all the way to six years! So you’ll get years of use out of this affordable slide.
Little Tikes 2 -in- 1 Snug ‘n Secure Grow With Me Swing
I’ve spent countless hours pushing toddlers on swings, and they can never get enough! This little swing is totally worth the low cost for years of fun for kids from nine months to four years!
Little Baby Bum Wheels on the Bus Climber and Slide with Interactive Musical Dashboard by Little Tikes
My kids went through a big Baby Bum phase and they would have totally flipped over this slide/bus combo. But even without the branding, it is still super cool and would be well loved by toddlers and be one of their favorite outdoor toys for one year old.
Push and Pull Busy Toddler Outdoor Toys for One Year Old
My toddlers can’t get enough of cars, wagons, and anything they can push around. Perfect for toddlers starting to walk, these are favs of so many little ones outdoors. Shop all the wheels on Amazon here.
Radio Flyer Little Red Toy Wagon
Toddlers can pull around all their favorite things outdoors and love it. This simple and classic red wagon is so sweet, and the perfect size for little ones, rated for age 18 months and up. A great place to start for outdoor play for 18 month olds.
Tonka Classic Mighty Dump Truck a Classic Choice of Outdoor Toys for One Year Old
Another one of the beloved classic outdoor toys for one year olds. Most of us can remember playing with a big Tonka truck at some point in our childhoods, right? They don’t get old, and would pair nicely with a sandbox as a summer gifts for a 1 year old.
Sunny Days Entertainment Bubble-N-Go Deluxe Toy Lawn Mower with 4 oz Bubble Solution
The hits keep coming with this classic outdoor toy for busy toddlers. Let them run off some energy pushing this all around the yard and bonus if they have a sibling they can follow along in the trail of bubbles htey leave!
How much time should a 1 year old spend outside?
Some experts say children should really be getting 4-6 hours of outdoor time every single day! That might be a big goal, but it just goes to show that kids of all ages are more likely to get too little time outside than too much time outside. Outdoor toys for one year old can really help get them out more!
How much time a 1 year old should spend outside will really vary depending on where you live and what your weather is like. If you live in weather that is extreme then it might be hard to safely spend a lot of time outside with a 1 year old. Though there are ways to get outside even when the weather is tough, like a good rainsuit or snowsuit. Also use common sense like keeping your baby protected from the sun with sunscreen and SPF hats/clothing.
What can a 1 year old do outside?
At this age kids can be all over the developmental spectrum. Some might be running around, some still crawling, and others just learning to walk. So the appropriate activities will vary quite a bit. For example, a 12-month-old may not be able to do as much as a 20-month-old. But don’t worry, there are plenty of great outdoor activities for 1-year-olds no matter their stage of development.
Some of our favorite activities:
- Water play and sand play
- Gardening
- Swinging and sliding
- Hiking/nature walks
- Picnics
- Just laying down a blanket and playing with our favorite toys
What toys should a 1 year old play with?
At this age, toddlers will mostly be walking, saying a few words, and will really be exploring their world since they are finally more mobile! The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has made an awesome list of toys that one year olds would benefit from playing with developmentally, and here are their suggestions. Plenty of outdoor toys for one year old would make the list.
- Board books with simple illustrations or photographs of real objects
- Recordings with songs, rhymes, simple stories, and pictures
- Items to create with—wide non-toxic, washable markers, crayons, and large paper
- Toys to pretend with—toy phones, dolls and doll beds, baby carriages and strollers, dress-up accessories (scarves, purses), puppets, stuffed toys, plastic animals, and plastic and wood “realistic” vehicles
- Objects to build with—cardboard and wood blocks (can be smaller than those used by infants—2 to 4 inches)
- Things for using their large and small muscles—puzzles, large pegboards, toys with parts that do things (dials, switches, knobs, lids), and large and small balls
Pretty much all of the toys on that list can be taken outside, or you can find something similar that is suitable for outside. There are lots of outdoor toys for one year old that meet this criteria.
Outdoor toys for one year old are such a good investment because getting outside is super important for little kids, and getting some outdoor toys for one year old can help you do that!
