Outdoor Toys for 2 Year Olds: Keeping Toddlers Active while Having Fun!

Are you asking yourself “What can I do with my 2 year old outside”? Well, I was too!  Then, we put together a space in our backyard that is a toddler’s dream play place! We did this by purchasing some of the best outdoor toys for 2 year olds!

The outside toys recommended are the best outdoor toys for toddlers ages 18 months up to 5 years old! You will definitely find a great gift for a toddler that will fit your budget and the type of outdoor toy you are looking for whether it is a swing, slide, sports toy, water toy, sand, exploring the outdoors, and more! 

Choosing outdoor toys for toddlers can be overwhelming with so many options! Let me help you narrow it down!

If it is hot outside you will want to invest in some water toys like an inflatable pool, sprinkler, or a splash pad! Or if you want to tire your toddler out, I’d recommend toys that will keep your 2 year old active including swings, a slide, or a bounce house. But outside toys for toddlers aren’t always limited to big objects. There are plenty of busy toddler outdoor toys that are small too, like sidewalk chalk, nature sets, and bubbles!

Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship

Your 2 year old will love splashing around in this water table! It has a plug underneath to drain out the water and comes with accessories like water cups and pirate figurines! 

Ginormous Inflatable Dinosaur Yard Sprinkler, Stands Over 6 Feet Tall

My son loves this sprinkler! Just inflate it and hook it to your garden hose! They have different animal options like a unicorn, dog, snake, and more! This outdoor toy is over 6 feet tall and will keep your toddler cool on those hot Summer days! 

Intex Jungle Play Center Inflatable Pool with Sprayer

This is one of my favorite outdoor toys for 2-year-olds because the inflatable pool has a slide AND a sprayer over the slide. Most slides don’t have water that comes down on the slide which can make it difficult for toddlers to slide easily. You can always unhook the water to keep it from spraying too. 

3-in-1 Sprinkler for Kids, Splash Pad, and Wading Pool for Learning 

Another one of the best outside water toys is a splash pad! Attach your hose to it and listen to your child squeal as the water shoots up from the mat. It’s like having a mini water park in your yard! 

Foam Water Shooter,5 Pack Water Gun Blaster

These water blasters are so easy for our toddler to use. A lot of water guns can be hard for little hands to manage, but our little one does great with these. His older brother loves using them as well! 

Bunch O Balloons – 420 Rapid-Fill Water Balloons (12 Pack), Multi-Colored

My kids LOVE water balloons. These are so easy to fill up and you don’t have to tie a single balloon! You just connect them to your hose and a bunch of them fill up all at once. Then there are these tiny rubberbands that help seal it closed. The only part I don’t love is having to pick up all the tiny popped balloons everywhere afterward. So we designated a water balloon popping section in our yard! 

Bobor Trampoline Sprinkler for Kids, Outdoor Trampoline Backyard Water Park Sprinkler Fun Summer Outdoor Water Toys 

I was nervous about getting a trampoline but our 2 year old loves it. We only let him jump on it under our supervision and never with bigger kids that could bounce too much and make it dangerous for our toddler. We are definitely investing in one of these trampoline sprinklers this summer. This one has thousands of great reviews. The past few Summers we stuck a sprinkler underneath the trampoline, but this is a much better idea! 

Little Tikes FFP 2-in-1 Snug ‘N Secure Swing

This swing makes sure your toddler is secure with the T-bar that comes down to make getting your child in and out of the swing easy. Your toddler will love being pushed in this swing and feeling the wind on their face as they go back and forth! 

Hey! Play! Saucer Swing – 40” Diameter Hanging Tree or Swing Set Outdoor Playground or Backyard Play

My toddler and 4-year-old both love this saucer swing. They swing on it together where they each are holding on to a side or even laying down and holding on to the edge while they lay on their stomach. They pretend they are superheroes flying and it’s adorable. 

Little Tikes First Slide (Red/Blue) – Indoor / Outdoor Toddler Toy

Every 2-year-old needs this slide! Ours is currently in our living room because it’s been raining outside. It is the perfect height for a toddler so they can independently climb up and go down it without help. Such a classic and timeless toy! 

Best Outdoor Play Cedar Sandbox w/Sand Screen

This sandbox has the BEST features! The seats that you see in the picture FOLD DOWN and function as the sandbox’s lid. This way it doesn’t get wet in the rain and will keep bugs and critters out when you aren’t using it. I love that it has seats so your toddler doesn’t have to sit directly in the sand. You do have to buy sand separately. 

Kidzlane Bubble Machine – Bubble Machine for Toddler and Kids Outdoors – Automatic

We have used our bubble machine many, many times. It has even lasted well despite constantly getting left out in the rain. No more getting out of breath or having your arms hurt from blowing bubbles over and over again. Pour the bubbles in the fish’s mouth, press a button, and you’ve got tons of bubbles for your 2 year old to enjoy! 

Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set, Blue, 3 Balls – Amazon Exclusive

This outdoor activity for toddlers is another classic! The toddler basketball goal is so much fun and gets them introduced to sports! You can alter the goal for height too! 

Best Toddler Motorized Vehicle: Manuel or Remote Control

We bought the red version of this car when my son was 1. The car can be driven by remote control and then when your toddler can drive themselves, you just flip a switch and they can steer themselves. The car has 2 speeds and you can download music for them to listen on their radio. 

Step2 Whisper Ride II Ride On Push Car, Blue

We bought this push car for our toddler for Christmas and it’s been one of my favorite purchases. Our two-year-old loves it! I even pack this car in the back of our minivan and take it to sporting events. We went to our friend’s soccer game and several other kids wanted to take turns being pushed around in the car while we watched the soccer game, it was a big hit.

We use it whenever we are playing outside and especially when we walk over to say hi to our neighbors. It has a cup holder for you and for your little one, and a buckle so they can’t get out until unbuckled. And you can’t forget about the cute little squeaky horn and the front has a compartment that my boys like to store their nature finds in! 

Kids Cleaning Set and Gardening Tools 24pcs Garden and Housekeeping Toys 

CUTE STONE Kids Gardening Tool Set, Garden Toys 

These little housekeeping and gardening sets are precious. It has the perfect sized gardening tools for your toddler to pretend to garden alongside you. We have the second one that comes with the wheelbarrow. My 2-year-old loves taking the shovel and putting things into the wheelbarrow and pushing it around the yard while my husband is working in the yard. He wants to be just like his dad! 

Timy 6-in-1 Outdoor Kids Explorer Kit, Adventure Kit with Binoculars, Flashlight, Compass, etc

This is one of my favorite outdoor toys for 2 year olds because toddlers are SO curious! Give them these tools to explore the world around them. Your toddler will love to catch and examine the nature and bugs you find together! 

Step2 Sun & Shade Umbrella Kids Picnic Table, Multiple

When your toddler is covered in sand, water, or dirt and it is time for lunch, you’re not going to want to bring that mess inside. This picnic table is perfect for your child to eat their lunch or snack outside. They will love it and you won’t have a mess to sweep up! It has an umbrella to keep your little one cool while they eat! 

Crayola Sidewalk Chalk 16 

Thick sidewalk chalk is great for little hands and fingers to draw with. We use it at our house and don’t even have a concrete driveway. My toddler draws on our wooden deck and the rain washes it away just like it does on concrete! 

Backyard Discovery Timberlake All Cedar Wood Playhouse

Your toddler will love playing pretend in this little playhouse. It comes with a play kitchen, play phone, and working door. My son loves pretending the playhouse is his home and inviting others to come inside where everything is just his size! 

Backyard Discovery Buckley Hill Wooden Swing Set

This is the most expensive outdoor toy I recommend. It is a playground that is going to last for years and years. Your toddler will need some assistance climbing up to the top of the slide but will be able to do it all by themselves before you know it! This is a very affordable option compared to other playgrounds and the quality is still great. 

Here are some great options for outdoor games for 2 year olds and toddlers! Get them involved in the family game night using some of these toys that can include them! 

Paddle Catch Ball and Toss Game Set Disc Toss and Catch Paddle

 Bean Bag Toss Game Toy for Toddlers

Hungry Toss Shark Toys – Kids Dart Board 

If you haven’t found something that you think your 2 year old will enjoy from the list above, I’ve saved my family’s best overall outside pick for last. The inflatable Toddler Bounce House! 

Inflatable Bounce House, Castle Jump and Slide Bouncer with Oxford Mesh Wall

Little Tikes Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer – Inflatable Jumper Bounce House 

A bounce house has been THE BEST investment. These bounce houses come with a storage bag and blower. It inflates in a matter of minutes. We’ve taken it to other people’s houses because it is so easy to set up.

This bounce house is a huge hit with all the toddlers that use it. If I had to choose just one thing from this list, the bounce house would be my choice! When it is cold and rainy outside, we inflate it in our basement or garage. It also saves our sanity on the rainy days when the kids need to run around but can’t get outdoors. 

We’ve had ours for years and my oldest still loves it. We have several friends who have bought one too after using it at our house. GREAT OUTDOOR TOY INVESTMENT. 

 Frequently Asked Questions About 

Outside Toys for 2 Year Old:

“How Do I Entertain my 2 Year Old Outside?” or

“What do Toddlers like to Play with Outside?”

You don’t always have to get the newest outside toys to entertain your children. Go on a nature walk and observe all the things outside. Ask your toddler, “What sounds do you hear?”. You can even get a bag and collect leaves, rocks, sticks, etc. 

Another great way to entertain your 2-year-old outside is anything to do with water on a hot day. Just give them the water hose or fill a container with water for them to splash around in. You could give them drinking cups or measuring cups to fill too. You don’t have to own a fancy water table, but those are great too. 

Let your children be kids, let them make a mess. Let them feel the mud in between their toes or soak themselves with the water hose. Then just hose them off before you go inside to give them a bath. They will love it!

“What are Some Good Outdoor Toys for Toddlers?”

The list above has great outdoor toys for 2 year olds including budget-friendly to more expensive items. There are water toys, toys that incorporate exercise, and nature toys!

“What Toys Should My 2-Year-Old be Playing with?” 

The toys your 2-year-old should be playing with should be age-appropriate, spark their curiosity, and keep them busy! It doesn’t even have to always be toys. Let them stack plastic cups or stick pipe cleaners through your spaghetti strainer. Try to stay away from electronics, although we use them too…but hands-on toys that engage their imagination are usually the best choice. 

“How Much Outdoor Time Should a 2 Year Old Have?”

Children need to spend 60-90 minutes outdoors everyday. Some experts recommend at least 3 hours of outdoor time each day. If the weather does not allow your child to be outside, try to get creative with indoor exercise. 

“What Can I do with My 2 Year Old When We Can’t Go Outside?”

This is a great question. I have several posts that touch on this subject. Here is a list of great activities to do with your toddler and also some of my toddler hacks are great for indoor exercise.  Busytoddler is also a great resource for indoor acitivities. 

 All About Amazon Prime 

All of the outdoor toys for toddlers listed above are found on Amazon! If you don’t have an Amazon Prime account, sign up for a 30-day free trial here and get unlimited free 2-day shipping with no minimum order size!

For more gifts ideas or other information on toddlers, check out some of my other blog posts!

• 10+ Toddler Activities with Easy Setup & Long Lasting!
• Toddler Gift Ideas
• Toddler Discipline: Where to Begin on Day 1

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