The first year of life is full of growing and exploring. In one year, a newborn goes from a tiny little thing to almost walking. Babies first start to realize they have fingers and toes, and by twelve months, they are crawling and on their way to walking. It is an exciting time for parents to watch the amazing transformation of the first year. At one year old, babies are starting to interact more with their environment and play. This is a great time for toddlers to enjoy toys and outdoor activities. Outdoor toys for this age are designed to develop motor skills, cognitive development, hand-eye coordination, and creative play. Here is a list of the best outdoor toys for one-year-olds.
Why Kids Need Time Outside
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Children, even as young as one-year-old, benefit from time spent outdoors. Some parents may be wary of taking their one-year-old outdoors to play due to concerns over sun exposure, insects, or other safety concerns, but the truth is that all children, even one-year-olds, benefit from spending time outdoors. Time outside in fresh air and nature helps kids develop creative minds and healthy bodies.
How to Keep Kids Safe Outside
Before heading outside in the backyard or to the park, there are always a few safety precautions to make sure the time outside is safe and fun for everyone. There are some things that parents should keep in mind when heading outside.
- Always apply sunscreen even on cloudy days, and use a sunhat.
- Bring water bottles and keep hydrated.
- Stay out of direct sun during peak temperatures 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Never leave a child alone by water, even just for a second.
Best Educational Toys for One-Year-Olds
All of these toys were created to help one-year-olds meet important milestones and have fun. These toys are engaging and stimulate the imagination of little ones.
1. JUMELLA Automatic Lawn Mower Bubble Machine
Kids love bubbles, and this cute bubble-making lawn mower is the perfect push toy for outside fun. It will delight a one-year-old with all of the bubbles and help them get a jump start on walking. Pushing the bubble mower helps develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination, too. The bubble mower comes with accessories to make different-shaped bubbles. The soapy bubble solution won't irritate little eyes and is a mild soap.
2. Duckura Octopus Bubble Machine
What is better than bubbles? More bubbles, of course. This octopus bubble machine makes eight bubbles at a time with the eight tentacles, so it's a real bubble party. Bubbles are a great way to get kids outside and playing. Little ones will love watching all the bubbles.
3. SplashEZ 3-in-1 Splash Pad
When the days are long and hot, you know summer is in full swing, and this three-in-one splash pad is an excellent way for kids to cool off. The splash pad has a shallow wading pool safe for kids twelve months and older. Plus, the sprinklers surround the outside, so it is like being in a pool with the sprinklers on. Little ones can soak up the sun and have fun outdoors. Plus, the learning mat has a cute design designed to engage curious minds. This is one of the best outdoor toys for one-year-olds, especially if you live in a year-round warm climate.
4. Liberry Toddler Golf Set
It is never too early to introduce kids to sports. And this cute toddler golf set is the perfect introduction to golfing. The set comes with a golf caddy, four golf clubs (putter, wood, and iron), two tees, six balls, two flags, and two practice holes. If you love golf and want your child to share the same interest, this is the perfect golf club set for ages one to five. The durable set will last as kids get better and hone their golf skills.
5. Swim School Infant Baby Pool
You can take this infant baby pool with a built-in toy to the park, backyard, beach, or any place you want to get your toddler outdoors and playing under the sun. The inflatable pool is shallow, making it safe for small ones with a built-in canopy shade to protect them from the sun while they cool off and play with the built-in stacking toy and rings. The design is cute and engaging. It is a great way to introduce water play to a one-year-old. When your baby is too small for swim lessons, they can play in this outdoor inflatable pool, which will keep them busy outdoors.
6. LeapFrog Shapes & Sharing Picnic Basket
Take your little one on a picnic with this LeapFrog picnic basket. It comes with fifteen fun play pieces, including food and utensils. The basket has a shape sorter and a butterfly button that plays music and asks for picnic foods. Anytime you take your toddler outside to play, they will love bringing their special picnic basket.
7. Playskool Bounce and Ride Active Toy Ride
One-year-olds are just starting to move from crawling to scooting to walking, and with this toy, they can bounce and ride, too. The ride-on toy can move or be stationary so kids can decide how they want to use it. Both ways strengthen leg muscles and balance while engaging kids in hours of active playtime.
8. UAHAPY Baby Montessori Toddlers
This wooden farm toy includes one bunny, eight carrots, ten wiggle worms, and twelve fruit toys. Everything goes on the little cart where small hands can grasp carrots and ull them out. The educational toy promotes cognitive development and is great for hand-eye coordination. Get kids ready to play in the garden with this cute outdoor garden toy.
9. Simplay3 Young Explorers Activity Climber
This small activity climber is perfect for kids who are still a little too small for the big kid toys at the park. It is designed for younger kids, starting at one year old, who are learning to climb and move their bodies. There is a small slide, and the climber has two options with crawl-through spaces and a climbing wall with hand and foot grips. The inside has a steering wheel and helps develop gross motor skills. Set this up in the backyard and let the kids play the day away.
10. Step2 Waterfall Discovery Wall
Water is always fun outside, and with all of its accessories, this waterfall is a fun and educational way for kids to get their hands wet and play. The small grip accessories can be moved around on the waterfall to create different streams with a thirteen-piece set that includes two water wheels, four maze ramps, four water buckets, and a water tray. This STEM toy develops motor skills, cognitive learning, and sensory exploration. The waterfall wall is double-sided for play on both sides.
11. Kiddey Play Tunnel for Kids
Take this mesh crawl tunnel outside and let kids crawl and play. The colorful tunnel provides a safe place for crawling and playing. It is excellent for building core strength and sensory skills and improves hand-eye coordination. Plus, it folds down easily for storage, and you can throw it in the car and take it to the park, beach, or grandma’s backyard for lots of fun.
12. VTech Walk and Woof Puppy
Kids love animals and will love taking this toy walk-and-woof puppy out for walks or just playing outside. Having a toy puppy is good practice for when they are older and ready for a real puppy. This toy puppy comes with music buttons that play the alphabet song, letters, site words, and fun phrases about the puppy. The pull-cord leash is perfect for small hands. Teach kids about animal safety and care with this toy puppy. A one-year-old may be too little to have a real dog, but this puppy can help them learn about dogs and compassion for animals.
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