Ultimate Water Toys for Your Backyard

Mel and I love creating backyard spaces that our kids, friends, and family love spending time enjoying. We both like hosting backyard parties and having a few water toys for everyone to enjoy is a must! There is nothing better than hanging out with your besties, sipping beverages, while your kids play with their friends. Mel and I came up with our top 10 recommended water toys that will keep your kids entertained all summer long!

1. 7ft Mister Monster, HearthSong: If this doesn't scream summer and backyard parties, what does? The 7ft monster mister is huge and perfect for keeping kids cool this summer. We love the bright colors and durability. Water sprays out of the monster's mouth and belly. The legs fill with water which is great because it helps keep the monster stable. It doesn't include a pump, so make sure you have one on hand. If you want to add a water toy to your backyard but aren't ready to commit to a pool or inflatable bounce house, this monster mister is perfect.

2. Jumbo Water Beads: We love water beads but these jumbo water beads make sensory play even more fun! They are great to add to an outdoor water table or mud kitchen. If you haven't used water beads before, you simply put them in a bowl full of water and wait a few hours while they grow. We love pairing a lemon squeezer tool with these. Kids love to put the beads in the squeezer and watch them get smashed.

3. Playsink, Cute Stone: In January I purchased a similar play sink for my kids. I was actually surprised how much they loved the practical play toy. This sink has a few more features than mine and comes highly rated on Amazon. The play sink comes with cutting food, utensils, and table accessories. The play sink circulates running water from the faucet and the pots/pans even release "steam". Your kids will love using this water toy inside or outside. This is the type of toy that will get played with from ages 1-7 and teaches real life skills.

4. Bunch O Balloons: This is the only way to fill balloons. I can't even imagine having to hand tie balloons. Every year we stock up on bunch of balloons. We use them during parties or when friends come over to play! It only takes a few minutes to fill the balloons. You can often find these at Costco. When you see them, grab two packs and you can thank us later. Over the summer these balloons sell out fast at Costco and Amazon.

5. Splash pad, Jasonwell: Over 11,000 Amazon reviews on this splashpad sprinkler. It's 68'' and great for toddlers and little kids. Dogs will also enjoy this toy too! All you need is a garden house to hook up and you can adjust the water pressure with with the spout knob. Some water toys require a lot of set up. We love that the splash pad can be put up quickly and easily stored. You could even turn this splash pad into a sensory water pad by adding some water beads, water tools, and ocean figurines.

6. Mud kitchen, WoodNPoppy: This mud kitchen is an investment, but it's something that will last and get used all of the time. WoodNPoppy lets you select your wood type and finish. You can even customize how many sinks you want and if you would like a water hand pump! This toy is perfect for sensory and imaginative play. The outdoor mud kitchen can be used in so many ways. Plus, it keeps the dirt, water beads, sand, and liquids outside. There are more affordable mud tables on the market for around $150. The downside is they won't last as long due to material quality. If your kids love to explore, create, and spend time outside, this is your mud table!

7. Water table, Step2: I bought this water table in the spring of 2020 because I was desperate to entertain my kids. This is our favorite water table because there is enough space for many kids to play and enjoy at the same time! It comes with a variety of water tools for sensory play. You can even turn this into a sensory table. We love putting water beads in ours and also using it as a car wash station.

8. Inflatable water bounce house, Banzai: Mel and I both have inflatable water bounce houses. Our versions aren't available online anymore but we have a great alternative. Both of our hubbies were skeptical when we first purchased but they have admitted they were wrong! We absolutely love this water toy and it gets used at least once a week. It's great for kids of all ages and an excellent alternative to heading to the pool. Pro Tip! We highly recommend purchasing a water pump. This allows you to circulate the water and pump the water out when finished. If you dump the water on your grass instead of using a pump, it will scorch the grass and ruin your lawn.

9. Water blasters, Max Liquidator: We opt for these water blasters over water guns any day. They are made out of pool noodle material and come in a 6pack. You don't have to have a pool to use them. Fill a few coolers with water and let your kids load them by pulling back the handle. For around $20, these are a steal and an essential to any water fight.

10. Slip n Slide: Last year I hosted a massive backyard party for family and wanted to have a water toy that would be fun for teens and adults too. I purchased my slip n slide from Costco but it is no longer available. This slide is great because it includes the racing bodyboards and is 31ft. This slide has a spray curtain so it keeps the slide wet and littles can even enjoy sitting and running through the water.

Outdoor Toys for Your Backyard

It's starting to warm up in Utah which means we are getting excited about moving our indoor play outside! We love outdoor play because it means fresh air and vitamin D. Just don't forget to keep your favorite sunscreen within reach. Many backyards include the "standard" outdoor toys: trampolines, basketball hoops, and swing sets. The toys listed in this guide are unique and can be enjoyed by many ages!

1. Jumbo Soccer Ball, 4Fun: This giant soccer ball is HUGE! We dig the low price point and that it can be used by many ages. Littles can kick and roll on the ball. Big kids can play soccer and jackpot. Teens can even get a fun game of kickball or dodge ball going!

2. Jumparoo: You know our deep passion for Jungle Jumparoo. This is an indoor and outdoor toy and you can even purchase the water attachment and transform it into a water toy too! Because you can't bounce people off the Jumparoo, you eliminate the injuries that can occur from tramps. We love that it also includes a climbing feature so kids can jump, climb, swing, and cool off!

3. Gazillon Bubble Machine: Thousands of bubbles for kids of all ages. This blower does all the work so you don't have to. Have you ever almost passed out from blowing bubbles? We have.... Don't be caught in that situation again and invest in a bubble blower. You can thank me later.

4. The Swurfer: This is the original stand up surf board swing. These boards totally live up to the hype. Kids love to experience swinging in a whole new way. Master your balance and get a good workout while enjoying this toy.

5. Activ Life Flying Rings: These are the next generation frisbees. This company essentially upgraded the traditional frisbee and here we are. They fly much easier and with more accuracy than ever before.

6. Boomabandz: This toy is brand new this year and is coming in HOT! Made of polyester and spandex this is essentially a child slingshot. Hours of fun running from end to end to see who can handle the speed and resistance of this fun stretchy band.

7. Chalkscapes, HearthSong: These chalk stencils are so fun to use when sidewalk chalk gets a little boring. A pro tip of ours is to wet your chalk before use. Stick the chalk into a bucket of water and the colors will glide a lot more easily and using these stencils will up your chalk art game.

8. Ninja Set, Fofana: Who doesn't want an outdoor Ninja set? This set is awesome because it can work for kids all the way up to teens. It's easy to install and has a variety of attachments for the slack line. Charlie and Caroline are obsessed with their kit. We also love that this set is manufactured in the United States.

9. Outdoor Hammock: Tons of good reviews on Amazon and so much fun to gift an older kiddo who loves to be outdoors. These can be used to hang essentially anywhere the space allows. It also comes in a million different colors and the hanging kit is included.

10. Two Bros Bows: At first Mandy was skeptical that this archery set would really work! Wow, was she wrong! The foam tipped arrows are soft making it safe for kids to play with. The quality is excellent and the product design makes it easy for kids to place the arrow in the correct spot! It is suggested for 6+ but a 5-year old should be able to enjoy too!

11. Rollercoaster: Outdoor rollercoasters are a total blast. Inventory on these types of toys is really low right now. Here is a great, in-stock, option. Rollercoasters are awesome because they really work for ages 1-7! Littles love to ride and big kids love to ride too. Both of us have coasters and can attest that thing purchase will get used. You can even bring it inside for the winter months.

12. Spider Swing: This swing is perfect for a big tree but can be also used on a traditional swing set. Mel's love this and the weight limit is over 700LBS! Endless laughs with lots and lots of friends swinging together on this big spider swing.

13. Tree climbers: These tree climbers are really fun if you're not wanting to do something permanent. They can be wrapped around the tree without any damage.

14. Garden Kit, Kinderific: So much open-ended play can happen with this toy. It include a tote bag, spade, watering can, rake, fork, trowel, and gloves! Love it that it can organized with the tote. This would be such a fun addition to your outdoor sensory play tools!

15. Tea Set, Green Toys: Another awesome toy from Green Toys! This set is perfect to add with a water table or outdoor mud kitchen. It can also be used indoors and is a blast to keep in the bathtub station. The quality is excellent and it's extremely durable.

16. Mud Kitchen: We spent a lot of time trying to find an affordable and functional mud kitchen. Many options on the market are really expensive and we weren't willing to pay the high ticket price. This option is $150 and comes with the features we wanted: cooking space, storage, water tub, and accessories. Mud kitchens are great because so much sensory and creative plan can happen. Think mud, sand, flowers, grass, slime, rice, jello!

17. Big Dig Excavator: If you have a sandbox, dirt, or rocks, or snow this digger is for you! This is great for a backyard or beach! This hands-on toy is awesome because it's great for all seasons, has a 360-degree swivel and 2-handed digging and dumping feature.

18. Large Slide, Little Tykes: This slide is the upgraded version of the indoor one that Little Tykes makes. It is more durable and a little bigger than the traditional red and blue version. This is perfect to add to your outdoor collection.

19. Bounce house, SMOL: These bounce houses by SMOL are esthetically pleasing and deliver hours of fun for you kiddos. SMOL has eliminated the obnoxious colors associated with outdoor toys! These can be used both inside and out.

20. Sandbox: Hours of fun with sand. This is the full sensory experience right in your backyard. Order some sand from your local hardware store and watch your kids go wild. We also love that this one has a cover to protect your little one from the sun.

Toys You Didn't Know You Need

Today we got to share with the viewers of Good Things Utah some of our favorite tried and true toys that many parents and grandparents don't know about. We love all of these items because they aren't one hit wonders and can grow with the child. These toys can also be enjoyed by a variety of ages.

1. Stairslide: This toy is so unique and gets used by all ages. It turns an ordinary set of stairs into a literal stair slide. Stairslide is damage-free for your stairs, can be used on hardwood and carpeted stairs, and nests together for easy storage. It's also really easy to assemble and disassemble. You can also adjust the thrill level by creating a high or low impact slide. This toy will keep your kids entertained for HOURS. Mandy’s 6 year old can set this up without any help. You can save 10% on a Stairslide by using the code TOYTESTING10.

2. Creative Learning Co.: If you are into sensory and open-ended-play, these toys are for you. All of their products fit inside an IKEA Trofast bin. We love that you don’t need a large area to create an incredible play space. Here are some of our favs from their product line.

Pro Tip! Check your local IKEA and see if they have the FLISAT table in stock. If they do, grab two! These don't stay in stock. If they are out of stock in your area, sign up for an in-stock reminder.

• Art easel: The board has pre-drilled holes for markers or colored pencils. It also includes placement for paint containers. The acrylic easel can be painted on directly or paper can be added and two kids can create at the same time. The coloring book paper we love to use on the easel is from Red Butterfly art.

• Potion board: Excellent for science experiments and filling with sensory materials.

• Cup board: Fill with paint, rice, small pieces, beans, and liquid. The little scoop is great for transferring dry material and the droppers are perfect for liquid.

3. GloPals: These are really fun to use in a sensory table or in the bath. You buy these little “pals” and insert the cubes in the back of the character. They are water activated, and light up once they are placed in the water. These are super fun bath toys and your collection of characters can grow with your child.

4. Sarah’s Silks: Don’t ask us how many we have! These silks are beautiful and can be used in so many ways! They also come in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs. Our kids love to put in the water, play dress-up, build forts, and fly in the sky. If you want to add silks to your playroom, start by purchasing a few of the classic sized silks and either a giant or double silk.

5. BluTrack: We can’t stand car tracks that require so many pieces and are usually pre-designed. This 18ft track can be laid out the way you want. My kids love racing down the stairs or using the window attachment. I love that they can experiment with different track options and use their imagination. The track rolls up for easy storage.

6. Airfort: This fort is awesome because it blows up in a matter of seconds and stores in a small pouch—no poles or having to designate a large space for this toy. Kids just lift up to enter! So much open-ended fun with the Airfort. All you need is a box fan to start using the Airfort. There are so many designs to pick from. Mel has pink and I have the starry night fort.