Best Outdoor Toys for 6 to 8-Year-Olds
Contents
Five outdoor toys for 6-year-olds, 7-year-olds, and 8-year-olds, grouped by what your child actually does: climbing, aiming and hitting, or throwing. Three picks suit a 6-year-old, and two are rated 8 and up, so you can match the right toy to your child's age before you buy.
Every pick on this list is played outside in a yard or park. They cover three play types: climbing (Little Primates Prime Climbing Set), aiming and hitting (Junior Golfer Training Machine and Dino Blast LCD Target Challenge), and throwing (Aerodynamic Football and Wild West Throw Competition). If you are shopping for a 6 or 7-year-old, the first three picks are your starting point. The Aerodynamic Football and Wild West Throw Competition are both rated 8 and up. All five double as backyard toys for 6 to 8-year-olds that work well as birthday and holiday gifts, and they make solid outdoor gift ideas for kids ages 6 to 8. If you want more ideas beyond outdoor play, our guide to best gifts for 6-year-olds is a good next read. For more ways to keep things moving after school, see our list of after-school activities without screens.
Our picks at a glance
- Little Primates Prime Climbing Set: Ages 3+, $50 to $100
- Junior Golfer Training Machine: Ages 3-12, $50 to $100
- Dino Blast LCD Target Challenge for Kids Air Pump Shooting Game with 24 Foam Balls Ages 6+: Ages 6+, $50 to $100
- Aerodynamic Football: Ages 8+, Under $50
- Wild West Throw Competition: Ages 8+, $50 to $100
Climbing: Outdoor Climbing Toys for Kids
Little Primates Prime Climbing Set
$50 to $100
Your child straps 12 climbing holds to a tree using the six included ratchet straps, then works across the holds like a real climbing wall. The holds come in three shapes, and you can fasten them at varying distances depending on how closely or widely you space them apart. Find a tree in your garden or local park, secure the holds tightly, and let your child channel their inner primate.
The listing gives a weight limit of 230 pounds. At $50 to $100, it is an outdoor climbing toy for kids that turns a tree you already have into the climb.
Recommended Age: 3 years and up.
Who it suits: The climbing pick for a 6-year-old who already heads for the nearest tree.
Aiming and Hitting: Outdoor Toys for 7-Year-Olds Who Want to Keep Score
Both picks in this group reward focus and accuracy, and either one works in a yard or park. The Junior Golfer Training Machine suits 6 and 7-year-olds well, while the Dino Blast LCD Target Challenge is rated 6 years and up.
Junior Golfer Training Machine
$50 to $100
Your child sets up the Ball-to-Tee Trainer, picks a club head, and swings to send golf balls across the yard. The set includes one Ball-to-Tee Trainer, 15 golf balls, one club, and three interchangeable club heads: one putter, one left driver head, and one right driver head. Because the set includes both a left and a right driver head, it suits left-handed and right-handed children equally. The listing calls it a parent-child activity, so this is an outdoor kids golf set the two of you can play together in the backyard. Keep the club head off hard surfaces to protect it.
Price band: $50 to $100.
Age line: 3 to 12 years.
Who it suits: The golf pick for a 6 or 7-year-old who wants to play alongside a parent.
Dino Blast LCD Target Challenge for Kids Air Pump Shooting Game with 24 Foam Balls Ages 6+
$50 to $100
Your child pumps the air pump blaster, aims at the dinosaur target, and launches soft EVA foam balls at it. Every successful hit is tracked on the interactive LCD score counter, complete with realistic dinosaur sound effects. The set includes one dinosaur target, one air pump blaster, and 24 reusable EVA foam balls. The foam ball popper launches up to 33 feet, giving your child plenty of range for backyard competitions. It is a foam ball target game for kids who love a challenge with a score to chase.
The manual air pump blaster means your child powers every shot themselves, which encourages hand-eye coordination, concentration, and reaction speed. It is also the one pick on this list that works indoors on a rainy day.
Price band: $50 to $100.
Age line: 6 years and up.
Who it suits: The pick for a 6-year-old who likes keeping score, and the one that also works indoors when the weather turns.
Throwing: Outdoor Toys for 8-Year-Olds Who Want to Go the Distance
Both picks in this group are rated 8 and up. They are the right choice when you are buying for an 8-year-old who is ready for longer throws and competitive yard games.
Aerodynamic Football
Under $50
Your child grips the 9.75-inch football, adjusts the plastic fins, and throws. The adjustable fins increase the spin rate for tighter spirals, and the hollow gyroscopic design creates lift that carries the ball up to 100 yards (90 meters). A customizable calibration ring lets right-handed and left-handed throwers use it.
The set includes one 9.75-inch football. Price band: under $50.
Age line: Manufacturer recommended age 8 and above.
Who it suits: The lowest-priced pick, for an 8-year-old who wants to throw farther than a regular ball allows.
Wild West Throw Competition
$50 to $100
Your child sticks two pegs into the ground, steps back, and starts tossing rubber horseshoes. The player who lands the most horseshoes on the pegs wins. Set-up is easy and quick. The set includes four rubber horseshoes, two rubber mats with center pegs, and two plastic dowels. Everything is rubber and plastic, making it a safe version of the real thing that is perfect for parties and outdoor play. It is a horseshoe throwing game for kids that the whole family or a group of friends can join in the yard.
Price band: $50 to $100.
Age line: Recommended Age: 8 years and up.
Who it suits: The party pick for an 8-year-old who wants a game everyone in the yard can play.
Your Questions Answered
What are good outdoor toys for a 6-year-old? Three of the five picks on this list are rated for 6-year-olds. The Little Primates Prime Climbing Set is rated 3 years and up, the Junior Golfer Training Machine covers 3 to 12 years, and the Dino Blast LCD Target Challenge is rated 6 years and up. The Aerodynamic Football and Wild West Throw Competition are both rated 8 and up, so save those for an older child.
What outdoor toys suit an 8-year-old? All five picks work for an 8-year-old. The two that are specifically rated 8 and up are the Aerodynamic Football and the Wild West Throw Competition. Those two are designed for the kind of longer-distance throwing and competitive play that an 8-year-old is ready for, while the climbing set, golf set, and target challenge remain fun at that age too.
Which outdoor toys can two or more kids play together? Three of the five picks are built around playing together. The listing for the Junior Golfer Training Machine calls it a parent-child activity. The Dino Blast LCD Target Challenge keeps score on its LCD counter, so children can take turns competing for the high score. The Wild West Throw Competition is a head-to-head horseshoe toss where the player who lands the most wins.
Are there outdoor toys that also work indoors on a rainy day? The Dino Blast LCD Target Challenge is the one pick on this list designed for both. The air pump blaster launches foam balls up to 33 feet, and the listing says it is perfect for indoor play on rainy days or outdoor backyard competitions. Set it up in a hallway or living room when the weather keeps everyone inside.
What is a good outdoor gift for a 6 to 8-year-old? Start with the age line. For a 6 or 7-year-old, the three to choose from are the Little Primates Prime Climbing Set (3 years and up, with 12 climbing holds and 6 ratchet straps), the Junior Golfer Training Machine (3 to 12 years, with 15 golf balls and three club heads) and the Dino Blast LCD Target Challenge (6 years and up, with 24 reusable EVA foam balls). For an 8-year-old, the Aerodynamic Football is the lowest-priced pick, and the Wild West Throw Competition is the one to choose when the gift is for a family or a group of friends to play together. The listing for the Junior Golfer Training Machine calls it a great outdoor gift for parties or holidays.
Find the Right Pick for Your Child
Scan the age lines: the Little Primates Prime Climbing Set, Junior Golfer Training Machine, and Dino Blast LCD Target Challenge all cover 6-year-olds and up. The Aerodynamic Football and Wild West Throw Competition are rated 8 and up. Go straight to the pick that matches your child's age. If two children of different ages will share the gift, the Junior Golfer Training Machine has the widest age line on this page, 3 to 12 years. Any of these five also work as outdoor birthday gifts for kids.
