The best garden and outdoor toys for babies and toddlers

The Plum My First Play Centre provides hours of fun! Made from high quality materials, it's perfect for helping little ones to develop skills, such as gross and fine motor, and they are encouraged to use their imaginations. With a climbing frame, ladder, climbing rock wall and hidden den, the fun is endless.

One reviewer loved the climbing frame, saying, "The natural wood looks lovely in the garden, it’s hard wearing and good quality." Their kids loved it too, of course, and they said it provided the right amount of challenge for their three-year-old, and was still fun for their six-year-old! The kids' favourite thing was the den underneath. Reviewers found the Plum My First Play Centre to be good quality in general, saying it felt solid. Some mentioned it was tricky to assemble, with one reviewer saying, "The majority of the screw holes needed drilling and it would be helpful to have clamps which most households do not have." Others have said the instructions were clear.

Encouraging sensory outdoor play and hours of natural creativity, the Plum Store-it Wooden Sand Pit comes with a handy storage box for toys and a protective cover. It's ideal for building, digging and playing while enjoying an afternoon outdoors.

We like the practical design a lot, and one reviewer agrees saying, "It looks nicer than the plastic ones in the garden. Seems sturdy and the little seats and storage are great for allowing him to sit and play and also store sandy toys neatly once playtime is over." We also like that with the protective cover and storage box there's no need to empty the pit and refill it next time your kids want to play. Just put the toys into the storage box and cover the sandpit, and it's ready to go next time.

One reviewer does point out that the only downside to this sandpit is that there isn't a solid base as part of the frame, instead there's a base mat, which this reviewer describes as "thin" and says, "the frame can move easily meaning your sand goes everywhere, it would be so much better if this sandpit had a base."

Babies will love crawling through the play tunnel or laying in the play tent to keep cool. The Kids Play Tent and Tunnel set is easy to assemble and pop away - you can even use it in your house for indoor fun on those rainy days. We like that each component can be used together or separately, so you can adapt the size to suit your space. The variety also makes it a great option if your little one gets bored easily, and it's fun to take to the beach too, with one customer saying, "It’s amazing to see it all fits back in the small carry bag." There's also a section you can add balls to for extra play, which could be a great otion for indoors or in the garden.

One reviewer said: "What a lovely and huge toy for our baby. He loves it. He is so excited when sitting inside. Also, my dogs like to play in the tent. Very big. When it's summer, I will put the tent in our garden. Lovely colours. Perfect for small adventures." Overall, customers think it's good value for money, and appreciate the collapsible structure, which makes it super easy to assemble, with istructions that come in the bag. However, opinions are mixed when it comes to folding it back up again. One customer said, "It takes a while to put it away and is a bit fiddly, no instructions for this!"

If your little one loves mud and some messy fun, then this TP Toys Junior Chef Wooden Mud Kitchen might just be the perfect thing to keep them entertained. We like the removable splash tub, which is ideal for mixing mud during play and then taking to the garden hose tap to wash out afterwards. It also has a dry area where little ones can cook up a (muddy) storm.

One customer who purchased this for their five and two year olds said, "they both love it! It has had a lot of use already. Great quality." Another reviewer said, "This was a great build. Could feel the good quality as it was being built. Took around a hour to complete. Lovely smart looking kitchen. Bigger than we thought."

Overall, buyers are impressed by the quality and found it easy to assemble, saying it's well made and straightforward to put together with easy to follow instructions. One reviewers points out that it's much easier to assemble with two people. Customers especially like how the playstation looks in the garden and think it's well worth the money.

If your little one loves climbing, they will love this traditional climbing rope ladder with 6 wooden rungs. It is 2.1m long with weight limit of 60kg and ideal for climbing frames, tree houses, dens & play houses. It can be used indoors and outdoors and will help improve climbing skills and balance.

One reviewer who bought this for their kids who were two and seven years at the time, and are now four and nine, says; "Hours for fun, builds core strength, my boys are not allowed to sit watching TV often so I have to constantly find new activities to keep them interested in being physically active." They have found it to be extremely versatile, attaching it to all the tress in their garden, laying it on the ground fo the kids to walk over and stringing it from tree to tree to use as monkey bars. They say, "If you want healthy children buy this. It encourages natural play."

Overall customers are impressed by the quality and strength of the ladder strength, saying it's durability and well-made, with some reporting it to have lasted for a couple of years. One reviewer said they has to adjust the spacing of the rungs a bit, but that it was fairly easy to do so by moving the knots. However, they do point out; "My main criticism is that the wood appears to be plain pine, without any dip or pressure treatment. I suspect it will rot pretty quickly if left outdoors for long (which is surely the point of it). I've treated mine with a coat of outdoor varnish, which I'm hoping will make it last a bit longer."

The Little Tikes Fountain Factory Water Table provides hours of fun. It's easy to assemble, and we like that it even has a convenient plug that helps to empty the water after use. It has loads of features that little ones can keep discovering, including adjustable plumbing pipes, different water filter spray settings and even a pump water fountain that splashes!

Our Mother and Baby Senior Digital Writer and mum of two, Samantha, tested this product and said; "This water table was really easy to build, my six year old pretty much took over the whole assembly of it! The only tricky part was adding in the plug, but using plyers (as mentioned in the instructions) made it easier." She found this to be a great feature as she didn't have to tip the table over to empty the water, and said, "It literally provided hours of fun and kept discovering new features, such as the tap filter positions."

This giant wooden 4 in a row puzzle is not only great for children to play with, but the whole family can get involved with playing too. It's easy to use and helps children develop their critical thinking skills as they play the game. Our Mother and Baby Writer said, "This four in a row game provided a lot of fun for my son. It helped us to encourage him on how to think tactfully and not rush. It's a lovely design and is not too big either, so it's easy to store away. You can also sit it on the floor or on a table to play." One reviewer points out, "Kept 4 of them entertained for a good part of the day with shouts of ‘get it out’ when all the pieces were in as they can’t tip them out themselves."

This My Living Ant World is a great garden activity for younger children! Not only will it provide hours of fun, it's also an educational toy. Once the ant home is set up, all you need to do is find and add in the ants and you can watch them build their little homes and embrace nature.

One reviewer said: "This product is definitely child friendly. It’s easy to assemble and comes with a little booklet to tell you exactly what to do and how to do it. The book has basic instructions and then instructions in more detail which really helped. My ants and my tiny human love it, the other half who is 28 years old loves it too. It’s a nice kit for a beginner!"

Overall customers found it easy to construct, with clear instructions and everything you need included in the kit. One buyer says,"It can be a bit hard to get the ants in if you put them in the top but if you use the little dish that’s connected to the tube it’s a bit easier." Another customer advises you to collect ants from the same colony, saying, "warning here if you don't want your kids to be traumatised by carnage.... COLLECT THE ANTS FROM THE SAME COLONY! A lesson learnt here after what we witnessed to be an ant version of game of thrones! It wasn't pretty, there were heads flying off all over the place, and little bodies laying still whilst being trampled on.. it was an event we will relive forever !"

This Little Tikes Splash Beach Water Table lays flat on the ground so it's easy for little ones to get in and out, plus, it's even big enough for a child to sit in, so you don't need to worry about a paddling pool! It has lots of features that can be moved, and has a hose attachment so that you can make a water fountain.

Our Mother and Baby Writer says, "My kids love anything to do with water. This water play table is absolutely brilliant because it lays completely flat on the floor, meaning they can sit or stand on the tray as well as play next to it! My daughter absolutely loved standing and splashing in the tray, and my son loved using all the accessories, and rolling the boat down the slide."

Others like that it's sturdy with the kids jumping in and out of it. They also like how it folds up easily for storage, and said it's easy to assemble, with one customer saying; "Takes up about as much space as a suitcase once folded up. It's two pieces, so you could just use the one piece if you wanted. "

With the adorable Smoby Nature Playhouse with Kitchen, little ones will love using their imaginations to play at house and kitchens. They can also stay sheltered from the sun when they're playing and it's made from sturdy plastic, so it won't blow over in the wind and get damaged, lasting summer after summer.

One reviewer who bought it for their grandchildren to play with when they visit said, "The design is excellent, and they play with it happily. The assembly instructions are a little tricky to understand, but with a little patience and resolve, they can be followed. Overall, very happy with this purchase." Another customer shares that they wished the manufacturer made it easier to put together as "It took ages to assemble and is not for the fainthearted."

This lovely Chad Valley Numbers and Letters Foam Mats jigsaw is ideal for you to lay outside with your little ones as they enjoy tummy time or as a fun activity for toddlers. Help teach them the alphabet and numbers by fitting the letters in the correct position, then join the squares up.

One customer bought this prodict so that their daughter could play safely in the yard. They said, "Doubled up, it's perfect and protects her from banging her head or cutting herself." Another customer who bought it for their granddaughter said she loved helping her to assemble it and also used individual tiles to play run & stand still. "Lovely product for small ones" she said.

We like that this product is ideal for easy packing up and storage, but some warn that the individual pieces can also unlock and move udring play, which may be a safety concern and require some supervision.

Bring soft play home with this national treasure that has been enjoyed by children for generations. The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe will provide hours of fun and they'll get many years of use out of it - they’ll still be trying to squeeze into it aged seven! We are loving the nostalgia that this toy gives us.

One customer said their grandson loves his little Tykes car, but said, "a
After being driven by many other children the time came for changing to a newer model once the door fell off. We ordered one from Smyths Friday afternoon and it was very promptly delivered the following morning! Our grandson is absolutely thrilled with his new car, he loves it!"

There are loads of positive reviews from customers who describe it as their kids' favourite toy. There are mixed opinions on how easy it is to build, but most aghree that once assembled, the toy car is robust and great quality.

These Reusable Water Balloons really change the game! All you need is a bucket of water, drop your water ball in and close with the magnetic closure. No more picking up little plastic balloons from all over your garden! We like that these are better for the environment, not to mention suitable and easier for smaller children to use. One customer says, "These have been great fun and have held up to daily use the last few weeks. No tap needed, just a bucket of water. They are even fun to play with in a bath tub to trap/ catch toys. Would definitely buy again. So much better than water balloons!"

Overall customers like the quality and strength of the water balloons and say they are super easy to use and that the magnets are nice and strong. They also like the fact that these are less wasteful than water balloons, being reusable. One customer who was a bit nervous about whether they would actually work as advertised thought they were brilliant after trying them, confirming; "My four and six year olds mastered it very quickly. They don’t hurt when they hit you, they do break open when they hit something and make a good splash."

This amazing 4-in-1 Toddler Climber and Swing Set features a widened slide, safe swing, basketball hoop and easy-to-climb ladder. The set is interesting and fun for little ones and also helps with development. We like that it's also a non-slip design to help support little ones. One customer said, "Easy to assemble and quite sturdy for up to 24 months I would say. Haven’t tried to take it down but can’t imagine an issue. Would be better if it came with a cover for outside - would pay extra." Another customer thought the instrustcions weren't very clea, but agree that it was straightford to assemble.

While this can't be left outside, it's a great toy to let your child play with in the garden! They can use it as a bridge, a mini slide and can even practise their balancing skills. Alternatively, they can relax on it with their teddies. The Size M Balance and Motor Skills Board is such a simple toy, but we like that the play possibilities are only limite4d by the imagination. One customer who bought it for their three-year-ol and their five-year-old say they both love it and that it offers endless play opportunities with so many different ways to use it. However, one customer didn't recommend it for heavy-handed kids.

The Wooden Hoop Ring Toss is a fun fairground-inspired game that provides hours of fun for children, and is great at helping them to learn to aim. It meets the need of being able to throw, but gives them a target to work towards. It comes with a combination of rope and plastic rings to toss, and we like that it can be played independently or with other family members to make it extra fun – it's great entertainment for kids if you're having a BBQ!

One customer said "We got this as a garden game for visiting children to play - it's really sturdy and easy to put together, and quickly and easily goes away again in the plastic carry bag. The bag itself is waterproof so it should be fine to leave in the garden shed over winter when we won't use it." Another custoemr points out, "The only thing to mention is that there aren't instructions - but then the kids made up their own games and rules and had great fun anyway!"