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With these "summer summer summertime" activities, you'll definitely be able to sit back and unwind.
1. A comprehensive swing set so fun, your littles will want to play outside all the time. If you've been on the fence about getting a swing set, now is definitely the time. This set has everything — swings, monkey bars, a slide, climbing features, AND a covered playhouse. You genuinely deserve to be the hero of the season.
2. A freestanding saucer swing for those of us who don't have a strong tree in the backyard. This set solves the problem of finding something to swing on and has a weight limit of 440 pounds, meaning your kids will get some major play out of it for a long time.
3. A large trampoline that needs no explanation — it's a childhood classic for a reason! Complete with a safety net, this trampoline will provide hours — nay, YEARS — of blessed outdoor fun.
4. Or — if you have younger kids — a small trampoline to encourage getting some energy out. This trampoline can fit two energetic kids or even an adult who will probably find out about three minutes in that no *gasp* amount *gasp* of cardio *gasp* has prepared them for the energy needed to trampoline as an adult.
5. A climbing dome because if they're going to turn into wild monkeys in the summer, they might as well have something to climb on.
Christine / Wayfair
6. A shaded play set that they can use for pretend play, as a mud kitchen, or a sensory station. This awesome play set comes with a small grill and sink, and a spot for sand or water! They'll love the canopy for shade (or rain play in the cooler months) for extending play and durability!
Wayfair
My mom — grandma extraordinaire and daytime caregiver for my nieces — bought one of these six years ago when my niece and nephew were toddlers. It still gets a ton of play with all ages of her grandkids and is something my kids run to immediately when we visit. I love toys that have years of use and this play set has really held up through both weather and various stages of child development. A double win in my book!
Promising review:"Love this outdoor activity center! My kids are busy with it for a while. Wasn’t hard at all to put together. Durable and sturdy material. Would 10/10 recommend!" —Julea
Price:$189.99 (originally $219.99)
7. An adorable playhouse that can provide hours of imaginative play. My kids use theirs as a cottage, a restaurant, or pair it with a Cozy Coupe for an instant drive-thru Starbucks. The possibilities are endless, even if they make you reevaluate how many trips through the drive-thru you've taken lately...
8. A covered sandbox with a foldable cover that turns into seating and will have your kids outside having fun without the dreaded sand in the pants — maybe. Sand is such a great sensory experience, and the cover will help keep critters out at night — a win for everyone.
Kate / Wayfair
Sand isn't included, but you can pick it up in the same order here!
Promising review:"Perfect for my 3-year-old son. 24 hours in and it’s filled with dinosaurs and construction trucks! Entertained for hours and looks great in our backyard. Love the canopy that gives him partial shade." —Kristi
Price:$160.99
9. An always reliable water table — your basic bread and butter of outdoor toys for littles. From toddlers to bigger kids, your kids will find some way to use the water table. It's also an awesome option for some water play where you don't have to bring out swimsuits or a ton of gear if you're not feeling it. Just send them out and let the magic of the water table work.
Wayfair
Promising review:"My son love this water table. He wants to play in the water every day since he got it. It was easy to put together — like a total of 15–20 minutes. I wanted him to have something fun for the summer and this was perfect. Comes with toys to play with." —Wayfair Custmer
Price:$79.99 (originally $89.99)
10. A picnic table because in summer, all meals should have the option to be eaten outside. This table fits a few kids, includes an umbrella, and is the perfect place to send a sticky-fingered kid with a rapidly melting ice cream cone.
11. A car wash splash center for when you want to combine water play with imaginative play. And when they're done, just send 'em outside to give it a go on your car, too.
Wayfair
Promising review:"Love love love! My daughter was 2.5-years-old when she got this (now 3) and used this daily during the summer outside. Big hit for all the little friends as well. Even now when we go out on our covered patio in the colder weather my daughter will sit in it and play with it like a car. I’m sure this will be used for a number of years." —Sandrine
Price: $112.97 (originally $159.99)
12. A spinning teeter totter that levels up the typical seesaw experience for even more fun. It bounces, it spins, it provides plenty of time for you to sit down and call out "Yes, I saw!" as you sip your bevvy of choice.
Shayla / Wayfair
Promising review:"We have four boys who are rough as they come. When I first opened this, I was almost worried because the whole thing only weighs about 15 pounds. It took me only about 20 minutes to put it together. All the hardware and tools are included, so you don’t even need to break out the tool box. All the hardware is organized in a blister pack and labeled and the instructions are easy to follow. I am not handy at all and I had zero issues putting this teeter totter together. I like the bright colors. This teeter totter — it actually spins as well as teeter’s. I was so shocked when I read in the assembly instructions how much weight this thing can hold. It can totter with 110 pounds. My boys play with this every day and it is in perfect condition. They have put it through its paces. They tear everything up. This teeter totter is doing great." —Shellie
Price:$62.77 (originally $77.35)
13. A climber and slide that's great for younger kids who need to climb and slide, but who may be too little for a traditional swing set. Climbers are one of my favorite outdoor toys for young kids that also create play opportunities with older siblings.
Wayfair
Price:$399.99
14. A ride-on construction toy for any young construction enthusiast. The sit-and-scoot design means your kid can zoom around the patio with ease and it has a storage container built in for whatever it is they ~dig up~.
15. A miniature golf set that will get your young kids ready for Pebble Beach in no time. Even if your idea of golf includes a castle and at least one windmill, watching kids attempt to hit a golf ball with miniature clubs is adorable 100 percent of the time.
16. A backyard tent for outdoor exploring and pretend — or real! — camping. Nothing like a *rustic* shade structure to inspire your campers to stay outside all day.
17. A castle bounce house — aka the perfect summer splurge — because bounce houses are second-to-none for getting kid energy out and the perfect excuse for you to sit down and watch the fun. Plus, they tend to get their money's worth since they can be pulled out for parties or used inside if you have a large enough space.
18. A giant block stacking game for leveling up the game we all know and love and keeping it interesting enough for some high-stakes outdoor competition.
19. A set of inflatable bouncers because if they're going to fight anyway, might as well cover them in a bubble.
20. A tetherball set that's one of the most low-profile recess activities for the home. Tetherball is fun, easy, and can provide so much entertainment and this set installs cement-free, unlike others.
21. A UV-resistant pop up beach tent perfect for the beach, BBQs, or anywhere sunny. These tents provide the perfect place for a shaded nap or a way for your sand-resistant baby to enjoy the beach without crying, making all-day outdoor adventures so much more enjoyable — and possible!
22. An adjustable basketball hoop that is SUCH a fun toy even if you don't know the difference between a point guard and a tight end. This classic toy has been a fan-favorite for the toddler crowd for decades because honestly, it's just fun.
23. And a swimming pool basketball hoop because your older ones love a little competition, too. Make pool time last all summer because there is nothing more big kid than finding even a pool boring and uncool by midsummer.
Anonymous / Wayfair
Promising review:"Wow! So impressed with this. We really like it. My husband assembled it and it didn’t take him too long. He said it was easy except use your own tools. It has wheels so once you fill it up it can easily rotate around wherever you may need to store. Easy to move, arrived quickly, and safely packaged. We are happy! Five stars." —Anonymous
Price:$77.23 (originally $80.99)
24. An adorable ride-on float for the pool toy that little kids can float on and big kids can toss around, too.
25. A ring-toss game because there's no time like the present to work on those hand-eye coordination skills. Toss, hook, and repeat while you pat yourself on the back for providing yet another *brilliant* learning opportunity. Go, you.
26. A Ninja Warrior obstacle course for any kid who gets inspired by American Ninja Warrior every summer. This is an excellent set that includes more than 11 obstacles and reviewers love that kids of all ages — and adults, too! — can partake thanks to the adjustable difficulty levels. Now, if only you could find a warped wall and a buzzer.
Wayfair
Promising review:"I have had this for about three years and nothing has fallen apart. My husband is a wiz at putting anything together but still. I have three boys jumping on it almost daily and they range in ages 4–13 and it has never broken, fallen, or anything. Very nice and well-made. We have it between two trees of different sizes also and it is still holding up. Great investment for a backyard." —S
Price:$128.27 (originally $199.99)
27. A kid-favorite roller coaster to keep your kids occupied through the *ups and downs* of summer weather. 'Nuff said.
28. A two-seater push car to make walks significantly more enjoyable for everyone. Enjoy your summer morning or evening walks while your kids get to enjoy "steering." Let's just hope they haven't picked up *all* of the intricacies of communicating with other drivers.
Wayfair
If you only need space for one kid, check out this great single-rider option.
Price: $199
29. A backyard splash pad for fun water play without the need for a ton of space. This one comes complete with buckets and sprinklers and connects to a hose for an easy summer activity. It's like running in the sprinklers as a kid, but oh-so-much better.
30. An inflatable water slide that will keep them *swimmingly* occupied for hours of summer afternoon play. This combo has a slide, splash zone, AND a bounce house — need I say more?
Anonymous / Wayfair
Price:$339.99
You, finally able to embody your perfect summer vibe.
NBC
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
