Our Favorite Outdoor Play Gear
With six kids, the best days are the ones where everyone is outside until dinner. The one we'd buy again first is the Giro Scamp II kids helmet: it's the piece of gear that gets used every single day, it's what makes bikes and scooters possible at all, and it's an easy rule for everyone to follow. Here's the one we'd buy again first, plus the rest of the list.
Giro Scamp II Youth Bike Helmet
This is the helmet we'd buy first. It comes in kid sizes with a fit dial that adjusts in seconds, it's light enough that kids actually keep it on, and it makes the no-helmet-no-ride rule easy to follow.
Check price on AmazonA spot on this list has to earn it. It needs to get the kids outside for more than a week, hold up to sun, sand and siblings, and be safe enough that we’re not hovering the whole time. Bonus points if more than one age can use it at once.
For the toddlers, there’s a water table, a sandbox and a three-wheel scooter that keep little ones busy. For the big kids, a trampoline with an enclosure net and a 24V ride-on burn real energy. For the whole group, a stomp rocket and a big box of sidewalk chalk get every sibling outside at once. And for everyone on wheels, the helmet comes first.
The Giro Scamp II helmet at the top is the one we’d buy again first. The rest of the list is below.
What else we considered
Also considered
Step2 Tropical Rainforest Kids Water Tables
The Step2 Rainforest water table has multiple levels and an umbrella for shade. A great pick for toddlers and preschoolers who love pouring and splashing in the yard.
Check price
Also considered
Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket Launcher, 4 Rockets
No batteries, no screens: kids stomp the pad and the foam rocket flies. It keeps a whole group of siblings busy in the backyard.
Check price
Also considered
JUMPZYLLA Trampoline Outdoor 8FT 10FT 12FT 14FT 15FT 16FT
A backyard trampoline with an enclosure net, offered in several sizes. A good fit for families with big kids who need somewhere to burn energy at home.
Check price
Also considered
Micro Kickboard Mini 3-Wheel Toddler Scooter
The lean-to-steer scooter preschoolers can handle on day one. Three wheels keep it stable, and it lasts until they're ready for two.
Check price
Also considered
Crayola Ultimate Washable Sidewalk Chalk, 64 Count
The cheapest hour of outdoor play there is. Sixty-four colors means nobody fights over the pink, and it washes off the patio with a hose.
Check price
Also considered
Best Choice Products Large Outdoor Octagon Wooden Sand Box
The Best Choice Products octagon wooden sandbox gives toddlers a defined spot to dig. A classic backyard pick for little kids who could play in sand for hours.
Check price
Also considered
First Ride On 24V Ride on Toys for Big Kids
A 24V ride-on built for big kids, with more power than toddler-size ride-ons. A fun pick for older kids with a driveway or a flat yard to cruise around.
Check priceMore from our house
GAMES
Our Favorite Family Board Games
After a lot of family game nights, the board game we chose is CATAN — it gets the whole crew trash-talking over sheep… Read the guide
TOYS
Our Kids' Favorite Building Blocks
After watching every age gravitate to the same bin, the building set we chose is MAGNA-TILES Classic — they keep all… Read the guide
School
Best Lunch Boxes for Elementary School Kids (2026): The One We Chose
We pack a lot of school lunches, and the box matters more than you’d think: a kid has to open it alone, the yogurt… Read the guide