The garden toys EVERY family needs: From a badminton set to a unicorn sprinkler, FEMAIL reveals the best buys to keep kids entertained if a summer holiday isn’t on the cards (and prices start at just £12)
- Femail has selected a range of must-buy garden games for all ages with prices starting from £12
- They offer a wide range of fun activities for families to do during the summer holidays with partial lockdown
- On the list are a badminton set than can be assembled in 60 seconds and a BMW motorbike for toddlers
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Finding ways to keep little ones entertained – especially during lockdown – has been a challenge for every parent.
Although restrictions have been partially lifted, life isn’t back to business as usual, so now’s the time to make the most of the garden.
Here, FEMAIL has selected a range of must-buy garden games for all ages – from den kits and drones, to climbing frames and slides.
What’s more, they don’t have to break the bank – with fun toys on offer from just £12 that might just keep them quiet for an hour or two.
For Under five-year-olds
It’s a toy that’s stood the test of time – space hoppers will get little ones bouncing, hopping and laughing around the garden for hours. As well as a great way to perfect their balancing, these bouncy inflatables are great for races, too – and are easy to hold thanks to grippy handles. It includes a foot pump so parents don’t get out of breath blowing it up
3+
Get the little ones honing their cooking skills in the garden this summer with this pretty wooden BBQ set that’s perfect for imaginative play. The toy set comes with food, plates, cutlery, tongs and even skewers to thread on the tasty morsels.
3+
At 6ft tall, this giant unicorn is definitely a talking point in the garden! It’s fun for kids to play with, and dart in and out of the water that sprays from its hose. It is also easy to deflate and store away for next time.
1+
This is a modern twist on a classic garden seesaw. As well as bouncing up and down, toddlers can spin round and round for a whole new world of fun. Watch little ones play together for hours – and they will be comfortable – as the inflatable cushioned seats make bouncing soft and enjoyable
3+
Every kid’s garden needs a slide. This giant version is simple to put together – and closes down when you need the space. It has a gentle slope and a wide base for stability. Hours of fun for kids up to the age of six.
2 – 6 years
This battery-powered ride-on BMW motorcycle for kids combines the sporty flair and sleek luxury. The rider twists the right handlebar to get the vehicle up to 2.5MPH. Featuring a working LED headlight, a clear windshield, light-up dashboard, and engine revving sound effects, this is the perfect introduction to biking!
Not just any sandpit, this wooden playboat is perfect for fuelling children’s imaginations. Discover the secret, hidden sandpit and help little ones dig for buried treasure. This adventurous garden accessory comes with a captain’s wheel, blackboard, splash bowl, sunshade and a storage area. Featuring two play modes, the garden toy is perfect for imaginative, sand and water play.
2+
This versatile set can be used to create an obstacle course using the stepping stones, logs, stumps and leaves – perfect for little ones to practice their balance and coordination skills. Begin by organising the stumps, trails and leaves in a straight line then move on to curves and more challenging courses. Another that grows with the child.
18months+
It’s a climbing frame, a slide and a ramp all in one that opens the possibilities for myriad garden activities. Babies can use it to pull themselves up, while older kids will love climbing over it, turning it into a den, and bringing their toys into play with it. One that grows with your child.
6months+
This might be on the pricey side, but with no springs and no hard edges (not to mention the space you’ll reclaim compared to others) these trampolines – known as the world’s safest – are a no brainer. Parents have peace of mind for parents while kids bounce away having fun.
All ages
This is such a simple concept but makes for lots of fun. The Joey Jump challenges kids to see how high they can make the beanbags soar into the sky. Children learn to stomp on the board and catch the bean bags while building hand-eye coordination skills.
3+
For Over Five-year-olds
Little nature experts can embark on a safari in their own garden and discover bugs that lurk in the undergrowth. The kit includes easy to use equipment to enable them to catch, study and identify common mini-beasts. It includes a booklet by wildlife expert Nick Baker on how to use the equipment, and charts to help identify the creatures caught.
5+
A great one for when the sun is shining. The five-metre-long slide comes with more than 100 fast-filling water balloons. Gather the recyclable balloons at the end of the slide for a fun-filled wipeout, or throw them at whoever’s sliding through the slide’s sprinklers. Lots of fun!
5+
Budding adventurers can take to the skies with this drone, which comes with a handy beginner’s mode. It’s ideal for safer navigating and is designed with strong materials, limiting damage and allowing kids to get back in the air with minimal fuss after crashes. You can also ask it to ‘return home’ at the click of a button
8-11
Combine garden fun with learning with this award-winning measuring stick. Kids can cover it in the supplied stickers, then get to work. The versatile tool teaches children to explore and experiment with measurements, and includes a measure, callipers, a trundle wheel, spirit level and measuring stick.
4 – 8
Fore! This golf game set comes with two clubs, balls (wooden, so quite hard) and obstacles to navigate around including a ramp, seesaw, a tunnel and a humpback slope as well as two separate holes for scoring zones. It’s a fantastic garden game for all ages to enjoy. Tidy away after the game by storing the items in the net bag.
5+
One for the kids – and mum and dad will want to play too. Everything is put to use, including the handy container which doubles as the base for this sporty set. With two rackets, two shuttles and a net, it can be set up and ready to play in less than 60 seconds. Perfect for a beach trip too.
5+
A garden essential. Older children can master their skateboarding skills in lockdown. The retro cruisers have a neo chrome metallic finish and feature jazzy light up wheels. Three Boys Rock also does a great Sohi Bundle of super-bouncy balls.
7-15
One that parents will love too! This swingball has a real tennis ball, two competition power bats and an all-surface base which doubles as a handy carry case. Take the activity into the garden to play the high energy and hard-hitting game.
6+
Every child loves a den! And this kit has everything you’ll need for an adventure. Packed with real tools, the kit includes a functional wooden mallet, a drawstring, cotton tent peg bag, 10 metres of rope, eight holdfast steel tent pegs, a set up guide to get started, bunting to decorate and a pirate eye patch, of course.
6+
Budding scientists can learn about space while having fun with this powerful, lightweight telescope that gives clear, close-up images at 20x, 40x and 80x magnifications. Let them learn about the night skies, meteor showers, shooting stars and the moon.
8 -12
A great device for garden battles. It comes with 23 darts – and can shoot up to 36 metres. Lots of fun. There’s also an on-board dart storage for quick reloading.
8 – 15
Perfect for beginners, this scotter helps kids stay active and ican be folded when not used, limiting clutter. It provides both stability and stopping power for a smooth, controllable ride.
5+
There are 21 games in this easy-to-swap table. Choose between pool, foosball, table tennis, basketball, hockey and much more and enjoy an afternoon of fun family tournaments in the sun. Simply lift on the tabletop to change the game, while the foosball top has a basketball net and backboard attached to it and the table’s legs become a goal mouth too.
8+