Parenting

11 Best Toys for Helping Imaginations Run Wild

ParentingPublished Feb 8, 2021
By Megan Zander
Imagination child running in superhero outfitiStock

Spring is a great time for letting your kids run around and get some fresh air. But without the right toys, you might find yourself hearing, "Mom, I'm bored," faster than it takes an ice cream cone to melt. These 11 outdoor toys that will unleash your child's imagination so they can learn and develop their creativity as they play!

The best toys don't always need batteries. These simple outdoor toys will unlock your child's imagination for endless hours of fun. 

toys kids imaginations

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Wagon, Ho!-placeholder
Wagon, Ho!
Twenty20

Wagon, Ho!

Whether your child pulls their wagon as a cart to hold their treasures or hops in it to create their own personal chariot, this tried-and-true toy is a must for outdoor fun.

More from Cafemom: 11 Ways to Raise a More Creative Kid

2/11
Bubbling Over With Excitement-placeholder
Bubbling Over With Excitement
Mila Supinskaya/Shutterstock

Bubbling Over With Excitement

Small as a coin or as big as your child's head, bubbles let your child explore all their senses at once. They can pretend to have an underwater adventure or just try to pop them before they float away. Have them make them on their own or treat them to an electric bubble machine. Either way, it will keep them entertained for hours!

3/11
The Box Is the Best Part-placeholder
The Box Is the Best Part
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The Box Is the Best Part

A leftover cardboard box is one of the least expensive and yet greatest ways to give your kids the gift of play. A box can be anything—from a giant canvas on which to sketch out their dreams to a rocketship about to blast off.

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Sand Toys-placeholder
Sand Toys
Darya Prokapalo/Shutterstock

Sand Toys

A bucket and pail are must-have toys for playing in the sand. They're the tools to build an entire fortress and then can become a helmet and sword to defend the kingdom. 

5/11
child exploring with magnifying glass-placeholder
child exploring with magnifying glass
Twenty20

Magnifying Glass

A magnifying glass isn't just for playing detective. Even the smallest patch of grass can become an entire jungle for your child to explore. Ask your kids to draw their findings, like what a leaf looks like up close or how that flower is attached to its stem.

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Let's Go Fly a Kite!-placeholder
Let's Go Fly a Kite!
EpicStockMedia/Shutterstock

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

Every child dreams about what it would feel like to fly. Seeing a kite soar high into the air will help them envision being among the clouds themselves.

7/11
child playing with rubber ball-placeholder
child playing with rubber ball
iStock

Have a Ball!

An ordinary rubber ball becomes extraordinary when a child uses their imagination. Not only can you throw it, kick it, or chase it, your child can pretend a ball is anything from a giant boulder about to crush them to a precious treasure they must keep safe!

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What's the Secret Password?-placeholder
What's the Secret Password?
BlueOrange Studio/Shutterstock

What's the Secret Password?

Drag out your camping gear or use some old bed linens to create a fort where your child can play house or just hide away and daydream.

More from Cafemom: 20 Wonders of Summer That Will Make Your Kid's Childhood Complete

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Draw Me a Picture-placeholder
Draw Me a Picture
Halfpoint/Shutterstock

Draw Me a Picture

Sidewalk chalk can be used in so many ways. Your child can add to the garden with a mural of colorful flowers, create a game of hopscotch, draw a life-sized self-portrait, or practice writing out the alphabet all with this one amazing toy.

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Do the Hula!-placeholder
Do the Hula!
Carlos Horta/Shutterstock

Do the Hula!

A Hula-Hoop becomes so much more than a great way to get some exercise when you use your imagination. It can be a target, home base in tag, or even used as a clever jump rope.

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What's That I See?-placeholder
What's That I See?
Hatchapong Palurtchaivong/Shutterstock

What's That I See?

Binoculars bring the entire world to the tip of your child's nose. They can pretend they're on safari, or imagine a conversation between those two squirrels up in a tree.

More from Cafemom: 25 Things Every Kid Should Do Before Kindergarten

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