Summer weather is here! We wait all winter long for the first day to play outside here in New England, and this Spring has felt especially long and cold. The chilly days didn’t break through all of April, but we’ve had a pretty beautiful month of May which means lots of time outside.
With this summer bringing more time than usual at home, I’ve rounded up our current favorites that are keeping the boys entertained in the backyard. I’ve also teamed up with Desiree who is sharing some of her favorites, too!
Water Table
If you have a baby, a toddler, a pre-schooler, an elementary school-aged child, you need a water table. We got this one last summer for TJ when he was about 16 months old and let me tell you, it’s worth its weight in gold. We even got a second one to keep at my parents’ house because he loves playing with it so much!
Now that Jacob is standing and learning to walk a bit, this is great for him to practice standing and reaching for the toys in the water. Plus, it keeps them nice and cool while they’re playing. Neither of the tables we have came with an umbrella, so we did buy this umbrella separately for the one we have at our house.
Splash Pad
This is another great water play option, especially for little ones who are a bit too young for a water table or a sprinkler. Jacob runs really warm – like, sweating in November, warm – so he absolutely loves this splash pad we got him for his first birthday. It doesn’t come with any accessories like the water tables do, but they’re interchangeable!
Wagon
This one really isn’t a toy but it’s something we use every single day. We, like everyone, have been going on lots of family walks and this wagon is a little less restricting than our double stroller. When we’re not using it for walks, TJ loves to pull Jacob around the yard in it, and it makes a really great rock collecting vessel…
This is something we’ll use for the long haul, too. The seats fold out to make a little table, and there are cup holders and snack containers in the wagon. Perfect for trips to the beach or park!
Water Balloons
I can’t take credit for these. My husband found these easy-to-fill water balloons and they were the biggest hit with both of our boys. They kept them entertained for a solid 45 minutes the first time we played with them and TJ has asked to play with them again every day since. They make a little bit of a mess since the popped pieces stick to the patio, but they are so worth it!
Sports Equipment
Our boys a little too young to start playing team sports, but they both love playing “catch” and trying to play different sports. This basketball hoop has been a favorite in our house since TJ was about 14 months old, and it lives outside during the summer months. This year, since TJ is a little older, we got this set to try and see how he does with the hockey stick because c’est la vie Boston childhood.
I’ve linked these items plus a few more in LIKEtoKNOW.it for you, and be sure to pin this post to save for later!
Happy Summer!
xo, Stephanie
Recent Comments