27 Things To Help Tire Out Your Kids And/Or Pets While Spending Time Outdoors
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Because a little sunshine, a little fresh air, and a lot of happy exhaustion is a great recipe for wearing out all of your kids (furry or not).
1.
A Green Toys pull-behind wagon that is made from recycled plastic (yay environment!), dishwasher-safe (yay easy cleaning!), and will hold up to all manner of small-person abuses such as mud hauling, staircase dropping, and “what if I attach this to my tricycle and pull it behind me at breakneck speed over concrete?” Ask me how I know.
amazon.com
My son is approaching 5, and we *still* have this thing because he loves to haul his rock and acorn collection around outside.Â
Promising review: “Love these products. This wagon is great for indoors, on the sidewalk, and trimmed lawns. My kiddo loves to swing it around like she’s on a medieval battlefield, which is why the wagon is currently on top of our hutch. However, I highly recommend this toy as it is as durable as can be and it’s made from recycled plastic!” âWhiskey Dad
Get it from Amazon for $29.95.
2.
A colorful pop-up play tunnel all creatures great and small will LOVE for the endless adventure opportunities: Fill with balls, pet toys, or just sunshiny outdoor vibes and watch the playful mayhem ensue.
Amazon
Promising review:Â “Our one-year-old son, cats, and dog all love this. We got it for our son to play in, and it quickly became a favorite for all. I love that it came with a storage bag, too. Very easy to use and durable. Weâve used it inside and outside.” âCaitlin
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in five styles).
3.
A heavy-duty metal seesaw if your kids want to teeter totter but you don’t want to dish out cash for a new one year after year. This has a heavy-duty metal frame and each seat can hold up to 66 pounds! So even if your pets think the new toy ~is for them~ it won’t go kaput the minute your four-legged child sits on it, either.
Amazon
“But if not pup-friendly, why pup-shaped?” âYour dog, probably.
(It’s not, y’all. Don’t let your pets on here. đ )
Promising review: “This seesaw is a delightful addition to any backyard playground, offering hours of fun for children. My granddaughters love it. This two-person seesaw is constructed with heavy-duty metal, ensuring durability and stability. One of the best features of this teeter-totter is that it rotates 360 degrees, not only the traditional up-and-down motion but also the added thrill of spinning in circles.” âc’est la vie
Get it from Amazon for $110.49+ (available in two colors).
4.
A pair of John Deere sandbox construction toys your resident truck enthusiast and your wallet will appreciate because these will â and I’m going to touch your hand gently when I say this â last longer than your kid’s obsession with large moving vehicles.
amazon.com
Promising reviews:Â “They are sturdy and durable. The kids love playing in the dirt with them.” âPaula K.Â
“These trucks are much more durable than I imagined they would be. Our 17-month-old baby boy loves playing with them.” âBC
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
5.
Or a Big Dig rotating excavator for kids who have upgraded from “vroom vrooming” the trucks in the sandbox and now want to be the excavator. It’s also made of metal, so you don’t have to worry about the shovel breaking on at the first sign of rocky soil when they hangout on this thing for HOURS.
amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: “Very sturdy and durable. I bought it for my 9-year-old daughter, and she absolutely loves it; we have a hole all around our sandbox now!! My 13-year-old daughter is also able to use it, so it outdoes the 110-pound weight limit, which I am very happy with. Grandsons can’t wait to come play on it with their aunties.” âTeresa
Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in orange and yellow).
6.
A non-slip splash pad to give your kids and pets a little water thrill. No slip grippers on the bottom means that it won’t unintentionally turn into a slip-‘n-slide, too.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising reviews: “I bought this for my yellow lab and she absolutely loves it! So easy to set up! All you have to do is lay it out and attach the hose. You can control how high the water squirts up with the water pressure of your hose. When done, just turn off your hose, and the water just drains right out. Great quality. Well worth the money.” âLayla
“This splash pad is amazing! The kids have so much fun! The water collects in the middle, and my kids have a blast jumping and creating an even bigger splash. Itâs not slippery, but my kids do run and slide (purposefully) on it. The material is very durable. I love that itâs so easy to set up and put away. It can even fold pretty small and be easy for travel.” âAmazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in seven styles and two colors).
7.
A Radio Flyer Trike with an adjustable sliding seat that can grow with your kid for years. There’s a reason you see these everywhere: They are durable, perfectly designed to be a first set of wheels, and their vintage look is adorable no matter your aesthetic. (And they can peddle their little hearts out for miles.)
amazon.com
I actually held out on getting this one for my kid because I saw it everywhere, but I finally folded after reading great reviews, and it’s still his favorite thing two years in! Not sure there’s a better trike on the market, tbh.
Promising review: “There are lots of competitors for tricycles; however, this one is the best. It is durable, easier to assemble than others, and rides smoothly. The kids really enjoy riding this bike out of the other bikes that I bought.” âkyongsil k
Get it from Amazon for $64.50+ (available in red or pink).
8.
A glow-in-the-dark ball for your doggo to add some neon energy to the pet toy basket and make it easier to find when it inevitably rolls under the porch steps at dusk. Again.
Chewy
Promising review: “I set this ball under a bright light to charge the glow, and it’s the brightest glowing thing I’ve ever seen! Also, the texture of the ball is squishy cuz it’s hollow. My pitbull mix loves it! It’s a good weight to be able to throw it really far without being like a hard, solid rubber.” âHolly
Get it from Chewy for $6.99 (available in four sizes and multipacks).
9.
An enclosed outdoor cat playpen so your feline friends can enjoy some SAFE outdoor time, too! No fears about predators or ill-placed zoomies putting them in harm’s way with this handy pen. Just be ready for your human children to giggle A LOT about their fave fluffy friend getting to join in on the outdoor activities.
Chewy
Promising review:Â “Wasnât hard to assemble. We connected it to our existing doggie door, and the Babe can let herself in and out as she pleases during the day. She spends a lot of time watching the birds and enjoying the fresh air.” âPaula
Get it from Chewy for $179.99 (originally $218.01).Â
10.
And a glow-in-the-dark football set for your human child because there are only so many times you can go out at muggy summer dusk to dig around in bushes and beneath “scary” lawn furniture to find their ball that rolled away, too. Save them (and yourself!) the whining and get them a ball they’ll have just as much playing with as they will hunting down when they kick it into the neighbor’s yard. Again.
Ashley Schumacher/BuzzFeed
My son would want me to mention it comes with a kickoff tee, and my husband would want me to mention it comes with an air pump, so *you* don’t have to go to the scary shadow part of the garage to find your old one.Â
Get it from Amazon for $34.95.Â
11.
A Melissa & Doug pretend window-cleaning set because sometimes the best games are the ones where kids can help you knock some outside chores off your list. They’ll feel like part of the team and bonus points: you can totally give them a squirt bottle of water and they can go to town on their new Radio Flyer Trike.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising review: “This product is durable for a 2-year-old and looks like the real deal! Thick plastic carrying case and the bottles are also well-made! The sponge, wash cloth, and scrubbing brush could really be used to clean if needed to!! All it is missing is actual cleaning solution!” âChrissy Turner
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
12.
Some outdoor agility equipment that’ll have your dog leaping for joy. (And let’s be honest, your two-legged children will also want to test their skills, too!) Just set up the course and watch their collective energy meters BURN.
Wayfair
Happy bedtime to you and yours after they tire themselves out on the included tunnel, hurdle, weave poles, and square pause box.Â
Promising reviews:Â “Absolutely the best $60 I have spent on my mini Australian Shepherd. You can’t beat the price, and it is constructed much better than I was expecting.” âGrace
“Our puppy had been in need of outdoor fun, and he’s a fast learner…this was perfect for him. He even gets the rest of the family (including his older sibling) to join in using his equipment. As always, the price was perfect.” âTrudy
Get it from Wayfair for $56.99Â (originally $70.99)
13.
A gardening tools set if you have an aspiring garden enthusiast who wants to help you in the yard and you’re tired of replacing broken all-plastic shovels. Tire your kiddo out without exhausting your wallet with these long-lasting workhorses.
amazon.com, Amazon
Alexa: Play the Holes soundtrack.
Promising review: “This set is great for my 6-year-old daughter! I love how durable it is. I also impressed it came with extra center attachments! Great product. đ” âCrystal
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
14.
An iFetch ball launcher reviewers love almost as much as their fetch-obsessed pets because it means they don’t have to wreck their arms throwing the ball over and over again.
iFetch
iFetch is a small family business out of Austin, Texas born from the need to entertain the Hamill family’s dog while their kiddo was busy doing homework.Â
Promising reviews:Â “My dog loves it!!! By far the best toy my dog has ever played with. After very little training, he does it all by himself. He is obsessed!! Customer service is also 10/10. Great product, great company!” âMichael Juliano
“Out tea cup yorkie absolutely loves it! Awesome customer service as well.” âRyan Mitchell
Get it from iFetch for $129.99 (also available in an iFetch Too version for bigger balls and farther throws).Â
15.
Some reusable water bomb balloons because they are eco-friendly and also won’t bust on you 100 times while you’re trying to fill them. (Also, bonus points that you won’t have to pick up sad, deflated balloon bits around your yard for all eternity.)
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising reviews: “These are so fun for summer or even just bath time fun! They are easy to fill, even my 2-year-old was able to open them and fill them without a problem. They are a little pricey, to begin with, but once I thought about how much I was spending on the one-time use water balloons this felt like a drop in the bucket given that you can use these over and over again.” âNikki
“After seeing several Instagram accounts I follow recommend these for a while, I finally decided to try them, and I’m so glad I did. The magnets are strong, and I appreciate that they are fully covered, so they don’t pose a choking hazard for my baby. My big kids have had a blast throwing them at each other, and no one has gotten hurt. Filling and cleanup are so much easier than regular water balloons. We’ve had kids from ages 3â8 using them, and they all had so much fun.” âGwen
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99.
16.
A Step2 Push Car perfect for pushing your kiddo while you take your pup for a walk! If it just seems too much effort to get out the stroller, grab one of these instead so your kid can “steer” on the pretend wheel. (AND it has cupholders for snacks and kiddie bevies!)
amazon.com
Promising reviews: “This is a very good car for a youngster and its long handle makes it easy for an adult to push. It’s also very stable as I live in a fairly hilly neighborhood and occasionally let my daughter roll down without my control. Even if the car rides up on or near the side, it does not topple over. It has a cup holder, which is good for a cellphone and you can also walk your dogs while pushing it.” âE Hickey
“My daughter loves the Whisper Ride Buggy! It rides smooth and is easy to take her and the dog outside for walks. I love the cute storage in the front for whatever she deems worthy of a trip and the cup holder is perfect for her sippy cup. I would highly recommend this product for ages 12â28 months.” âLeslie
Get it from Amazon for $79 (available in two colors).
17.
A National Geographic bug catcher to turn a regular ol’ walk into a scavenger hunt. This one is loved by reviewers for its longevity, so you know this will hold up for several bug hunt seasons.
amazon.com
Promising review: “Great product! My 3-year-old loves this and so do I! We both go outside and see what bugs we can find. We get to learn about what we find and explore nature in the open! Very sturdy product and the magnifying glass is amazing!” âMadison
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
18.
And a personalized nature hunt board so they have the perfect place to display all their findings and encourage them to find *more* cool outdoor stuff for their collection.
Hilltop Wood Shop Co/Etsy
Promising review:Â “Colors are very vibrant! It is such a neat idea and gift, and it came exactly as ordered!” âTori
Get it from Hilltop Wood Shop Co on Etsy for $16.80+ (originally $24+; available with or without paint).Â
19.
A Little Tikes T-Ball Set basically ~designed~ for you kid-kids and your pet-kids because one can thwap it and the other can fetch it! At least two tired out for the price of one is a pretty sweet deal in parent world, tbh.
amazon.com
Promising review: “Good for kids up to 3 years old, maybe a lot more. My grandson loves it! My dog runs for the balls. Win-win all around.” âJudy Skolnick
“Not only did my 2.5-year-old nephew and his dad love playing with this on Christmas, but both of my black Labs enjoyed retrieving the balls. :)” âJayCo
Get it from Amazon for $26.99.
20.
A plastic-free Awoo canvas dizzy flying disc so you can yeet the disc and their excess energy to the far edge of the yard where it all belongs. The canvas is gentle on their gums and teeth, too, so no worries about their chompers getting exhausted mid-play sess.
Awoo
Get it from Awoo for $15.Â
21.
A Huffy Disney princess bike (or Minnie Mouse!) if your little dog-walker-in-training could use a set of wheels to keep up with the fam walks. Plus, there’s a space especially made to fit a beloved doll or lovey, so the whole family can come along.
amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: “This was the big Santa gift for our 4-year-old granddaughter. She is over the moon happy! The bike is sturdy, was easy to put together, and very pretty! A little girl’s dream bike!” âCarol
Get it from Amazon for $179.99+ (available in two sizes and three styles).
22.
Or an equally adorable Huffy Spiderman bike so the fam web-slinger isn’t left out of the fun.
amazon.com
Promising review:Â “Installation was easy, built to last, looks amazing, and it is sturdy for our trails! The size was perfect and the seat was adjustable. Itâs a good weight and great value for the money.” âNicholette Altamirano
Get it from Amazon for $157.14+ (available in two sizes and three styles).Â
23.
A Chuckit! dog ball launcher your kids will love launching and your dog will love chasing after. Next time the kids are arguing and the dog is barking, ~chuck ’em~ outside with love and this launcher to let them run off all that excess energy.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising reviews: “My dog is 9 years old and started to get very lethargic. She hasn’t chased a tennis ball in YEARS until now. I bought this because my kid was excited about it, and now they play in the backyard for long periods of time! She’s running and playing again, so now I’m buying more of these to keep at the house and in my car just in case we ever need one on the go.” âpatty santiago
“This thing is awesome! My kids love it! They’re between the ages of 3 and 5, and they can really launch the ball for their dog…tons of fun!” âJ. Mangum
Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in two sizes and three styles).
24.
Or a Nerf Dog squeaking football that squeaks for the dog and spirals for the kid. A true win-win for family game day.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising review: “My dog has yet to chew this to pieces, which is his specialty. The squeaker is still intact after months and he loves it. Kids also love to throw it around for him. Will be buying again whenever he finishes this one.” âlovebeingmom87
Get it from Amazon for $12.60+ (available in three styles).
25.
A John Deere Gator if they’ve grown out of their push-cars in both size and interest. Give them the ultimate late summer vroom-vroom toy and let them outrun the heat on their own while any excited pets trail happily behind. (While you watch from the porch with a cool drink, of course.)
amazon.com, amazon.com
I was sold when I saw two kids on this in my neighborhood driving around while their dad biked behind them. They had a STROLLER FAN attached to each side, so these kids were literally living their very best summer lives.
Promising reviews: “This was my sonâs favorite birthday gift! It has a long-lasting battery. The seatbelts are great for little ones riding in them. The tilt bed was fun to empty dirt when helping in the yard. Easy-to-follow instructions for assembly. No weather fading. Itâs still running strong.” âDCasey655
“It is a good resistant car for kids. My 2 boys use it outdoors to pick things up from the yard or build things. Their tires have a good grip on the grass, but on the floor, they slide a bit when they go fast. The battery lasts a good amount. My boys are 5 and 8, and they both use it. I added the hutch from John D and itâs useful when they have a friend over.” âjuliek
Get it from Amazon for $483.72.
26.
A Spikeball outdoor game: Basically what would happen if volleyball and four square had a baby and that baby came to your backyard to tire out your kids and your pups. (They’re totally going to chase the balls your kids don’t catch from the trampoline spike!)
Amazon
Recommended for 5 up to 105!Â
Promising reviews: “My kids love this game. We take it to the beach with us. I also bought one and sent it to my daughter in college. It’s a big hit with college kids.” âShelly
“Bought this for my husband’s birthday! He played spike ball in college a lot, so I knew he would love it. We have played so many times since getting it. Great family game. Perfect to travel with for vacation. Easy assembly.” âKirsten
Get it from Amazon for $69.97.
27.
And finally, a Step2 Up and Down Roller Coaster for those high-energy daredevils that already have a need for speed. (And what better way to get it out than on this nostalgic blast from the past?)
Sarah/Wayfair
Promising reviews: “My 1-year-old and 3-year-old grandson ride on this roller-coaster every day! They have so much fun. They even both ride on it together and just have the best time. Best purchase, hands down!” âTeresa
“I got this little roller-coaster for my twin nephews, who will be 3 soon. They love it! They are able to get on and off all by themselves and have big smiles on their faces when they ride it. At the top of the roller-coaster, the back wheels of the car have a little spot that it sits in, so they can safely get on it without it starting to go. They just have to do a little scoot forward, or I give them a push to get going. Great purchase. Great quality. It all comes apart easily for storage. I highly recommend this for kids.” âMegan
Get it from Wayfair for $131.99Â (originally $174.99).
Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.Â
