11 Top Outdoor Toys for 6 - 8 Year Olds

Summer is here and now is a good time to start thinking about some good outdoor toys that will encourage kids to get outside and play. Playing outside is very important for children' of this age. As well as all the health benefits, its great for building confidence and self esteem. This article gives 11 ideas of the best outdoor toys for 6 to 8 year olds based on what my son and niece (both age 8 at the time of writing) have enjoyed playing with over the last few years.

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Swingball

I have fond memories of playing swingball when I was a child and I enjoy playing it with my son now too. Swingball involves hitting a ball with a bat so that it travels up or down a metal pole. Swingball helps develop hand and eye co-ordination which is great when learning to play other sports too like baseball. It's great fun and can be played on your own or with another person. 

We have this and we quite often have a game. My son enjoys playing it on his own too. 

Scooter

A scooter is one of the most used toys that my son has. He's 8 now but has had one since he was 4 year old and he uses it the most out of any of his outdoor toys. He scoots to school nearly everyday. We also use it in the park and he scoots around outside the house too. 

Trampoline

Trampolines are great fun to have in the backyard. When friends come over everybody wants to have a turn jumping. Its obviously very important to be aware of safety and make sure that the trampoline has a secure safety net. 
I also just encourage standard jumping up and down to avoid the risk of landing awkwardly. Other safety tips include just one using the trampoline at the time, keeping watch and no rough and tumble on the trampoline. This article has lots of tips for keeping safe on the trampoline. 

Before choosing a trampoline make sure you have space in your backyard. It will need to be placed on flat level ground too. 

Inflatable Pool 

In the hot weather, inflatable pools offer hours of fun. At Grandma's house, all the cousins spend hours playing in the inflatable pool.
You can get all kinds of inflatable pools with slides, squirters and other activities.
Check out my article on inflatable pools for kids for advice on what to look for when buying an inflatable pool. 

stomp rockets stunt planes

If you want something with a high fun factor, you can't go wrong with these stunt rocket. 

Get kids running and jumping around outdoors.

Run, jump and launch the stunt planes.

This would be a fab toy to play in a big open space. For example at the park. Adults will most definitely want a go at these too.

Razor MX350 Dirt Rocket Electric Motocross Bike

It's not for every kids, but little daredevils will have a blast on this mini motocross bike. 

No pedaling is needed. It's a super quiet, single speed, chain driven motor with a twist grip throttle control. 

Although it's recommended for older kids, reviewers agree that it's too small for the age recommendation and there are lots of reviews of younger kids using this. Obviously it's a parental decision as to whether it's suitable for their child. 

Jump Rope

Jump rope is a great skill to teach a 6 to 8 year olds. It's fun, great for hand and eye-co-ordination and cardiovascular health.

​It's inexpensive. It's a very portable activity and can be done anywhere there is a space big enough to swing a rope. 
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Read more about jump ropes for kids with advice on what to look for when buying a jump rope. 

The jump rope featured comes in different sizes for children and can be cut down and adjusted if it's too long. 

EzyRoller Classic Ride On

This is a unique ride on toy that's perfect for the 6 to 8 year old age group. 

Riders use right-left leg movements, pushing the footbar back and forth to move along. 

It's tons of fun and can be used indoors or outdoors. 

The classic ride on is extendable so it grows with your child. It's suitable for kids from 4 years but teens can use this ride on too!  

Ball

Playing ball is another cheap and inexpensive activity which is very portable. My son loves playing soccer, so we will quite often take a ball to the park and practise soccer skills (passing, tackling, dribbling and other skills). We set up goals and one of us will be the goalkeeper and the other will try to score. 
You can also play throw and catch games with a ball. 

Hoola Hoops

Hoola hooping is another inexpensive toy. There are lots of games you can play with a hoola hoop which help develop all kinds of skills from hand and eye co-ordination to developing fine and gross motor skills. Some ideas include:

Throwing he hoop up in the air and catch it. 
Place hoola hoops on the floor next to each other and jump in and out of the hoola hoops. 
Race two hoola hoops along the ground
Spin the hoop with your arm
Jump through a hoola hoop instead of jumping rope

Or of course you can hoola hoop with the hoop around your waist. Learning how to hoola hoop can be tricky but it's great for peserverance of how to learn a new skill. After a few minutes practice everyday kids should be able to pick it up. 

Bike

My son learned to ride his bike aged 6 and he really enjoys it. He rides on his bike at the park and outside the house. I am hoping to get myself a bike so we can go on bike rides together. 

You can get used kids bikes in good condition as kids tend to grow out of their bikes fairly quickly, so its worth looking on ebay or craigslist. Make sure you buy the right size bike for your child as the wrong size bike will make it more difficult for them to learn how to ride. 

A 20 inch bike is normally a good size for a 7 - 8 year old. 

Razor FlashRider 360 Caster Trike

Kids love the flash rider. If you want to get them outside, this really does have the fun factor. 

It can throw fast 360 degree spins and still keep on cruising. 
They also have spark cartridges so kids can get sparks flying as well.

​Just pull on the spark lever to set the sparks off. 

BAsketball

8 years old can be a nice age to get a first basketball. 

Buying a first basketball can provide hours of entertainment. 

Kids can learn to bounce, throw it and shoot hoops. Take it to the local park. 

8 year old will want the smallest size which is a size 5. 

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Basketball hoop

Basketball hoops and stand are a great way to get kids outdoors, moving around, practicing their hand/eye co-ordination, building their strength, stamina and burning off energy.

Look for a basketball hoop that can easily be height adjusted as it will grow with your child.

Also look for one which is weather and rust resistant. 

Water Squirters

Some of the most fun my son has in the summer is with a water gun. He loves having water fights and running around trying to get his friends wet and his friends try and get him back! Obviously, water fights have to be planned and organised as well as saved for hot summer days. 

However, water guns can also be used for target practice. Set up a target and try and squirt it with water. Water squirters are also great fun to be used in inflatable pools too. 

scooter

Being on a scooter is definitely one of my own son’s favorite activities.

He just rides in front of our house.

Scooters are great to take to the park and to scoot to and from school and friend’s houses.

They are fantastic exercise. As kids get older they may want to get a stunt scooter and learn a few tricks and jumps as well.

Laser taG

Have great fun running around outdoors (or indoors) with these lazer tag guns.

Great for 2 players or you can buy more guns to get more kids involved.

These are particularly good when friends come around to play, for family gatherings or for kids parties.

SLIP N SLIDE

Super fun way to keep kids cool on a hot day without having to fill up a big inflatable pool.

There are tons of fun water toys that kids will love in the hot, sunny weather.

Some examples include a water sprinkler for kids to run in and out of, water balloons and a water squirter.

Wham-O Trac Ball Racket Game

This is suitable to play with kids of all ages from around 6 years plus which makes it a great game to play with all generations. Kids, parents, uncles, aunties and grandparents can all join in. 

The set contains two rackets and two balls, rackets are jumbo-sized for easy catching but you'll have a lot of fun running and catching. 

Play in the backyard, at a picnic, camping, on the beach or wherever there is space. 

Unbeatable fun in the sun! 

TAnner tee

Batting tees are great for kids who want to try learning skills for baseball. 

The tee is adjustable so it will grow with your child as they get older. 

It has a one year warrantly. It's more expensive but should last kids years of use. 

Activ Flyer

An easy to catch flyer perfect for younger kids (the age recommendation is 3 to 12 years). 

The flyers are lightweight so won't hurt little fingers when they catch them. 

They are perfect for distances of between 15 and 30 feet but can soar up to 80 feet. 

pop up soccer goals

A pop up goal is great for kids to use on their own, have fun practicing soccer skills but with 2 in a set kids can easily set up a game wherever there is space. Use in the backyard, on the beach or at tha park.

The goals are well designed and should accommodate years of play. 

No assembly is required.  Just take out of the bag and unfold.  When you’re done just twist again to store completely flat in its carry bag The goals are lighweight, but firm, durable and easily portable.

RAzor powerwing castor scooter

The Powerwing castor scooter is a scooter with a difference. 

Kids power the scooter by shifting their weight from side to side. 
There's lots of tricks you can do on the scooter including  kick-outs, side drifts and spin-outs

Spin on it, glide on it, just have fun on it. 

It comes in different colors, pink and blue

rollerskates

Roller skates are an awesome toy to help build balance, strenght, endurance and overall fitness. 

The skates featured come in 2 different sizes. Each size is easily adjustable so you can make sure the skate fits properly and it will grow with your child as well. 

Beginners can start out indoors, even on carpet to get used to the feel of the boots. As they get older they will be whizzing around outside before you know it. 

Swings

Kids love swings and this heavy duty swing will be perfect for swinging in the backyard for now and years to come. 

Attach to an existing swing set. Or you can get straps or ropes to attach the swing to a suitable tree. 

The swing features 66" long chains, a safe, comfortable swing seat and snap hooks.