Hey girl, today let’s chat about all the top outdoor summer birthday gifts for kids 8 and under.
If you are on the hunt for summer birthday gifts for kids that will get used, you are not alone. With any birthday gift I buy, I want it to get used!
As a mom of 4 kids (ages 12 and under) who all get invited to summer birthday parties, I know which outdoor birthday presents are a complete success for kids.
There is something for every birthday boy and girl on this list no matter what they are interested in. And you know what else, these make great Christmas gift ideas too!
Let’s get into all of these amazing outdoor summer birthday gifts that you will be glad you spent your money on starting with gifts for the youngest birthday.
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Best Summer Birthday Gifts
1. Playset
I know that this is the biggest of the summer birthday gifts out there but a playset is my top gift!
It is best to put in a playset when your kiddo is young so they can get the most use out of it. Hours and hours of fun on it!
And don’t be afraid to go a little bigger than you think you will need for it. Your kiddo will grow into it.
2. Little Tikes Playhouse
If you think the playset just isn’t for you, or you don’t have the room for it, go for something smaller like a Little Tikes Playhouse.
My kids were nuts over this house when they were younger but now, they are a bit big to fit inside.
3. Little Tikes Cozy Truck
This is another hot-ticket birthday gift, the Little Tikes cozy truck.
I can’t believe how sturdy this thing is and kids love it!
4. Bubble Lawn Mower
My kids used this bubble lawn mower so much that the bubble part wore out. But they didn’t care and pushed it around the yard every day.
I just wish it would have actually cut the grass for me😉.
5. Bubbles
With the number of bubbles we have gone through here, I feel like I am kind of an expert on which kind is best.
6. Sidewalk Chalk
Boys and girls love sidewalk chalk! I love it too.
We have a fenced-in backyard and my husband painted wood with chalk paint to create an outdoor chalkboard. And girl, my kids are obsessed.
Let me know in the comments below if you need more info on that.
7. T-Ball Set
Your little one will love hitting balls off this durable t-ball stand.
I am embarrassed to say this, but it took me a super long time to realize that the balls could be stored on the bottom of the tee.
8. Radio Flyer Tricycle
This Radio Flyer tricycle is a rockstar.
We gave it to my son when he was 3, he is 10 now, and it still gets heavy use by his younger 2 brothers.
It still looks as good as the day we bought it. We do keep it stored inside.
9. Bug Catcher Kit
My kids mostly use it for caterpillars, frogs, and toads.
10. Grow Butterfly Kit
You have to check out this butterfly kit. Your birthday kiddo can grow butterflies at home and then release them.
We have not done this at home but my 6-year-old just did it at school and his class was crazy over it.
11. Sports Balls
I love giving fun sports stuff as birthday gifts. It encourages kids to get outside and play more.
The ones that get played with the most are basketballs, footballs (the Nerf ones are awesome), and catch with a baseball/softball glove.
My youngest still uses this Little Tikes adjustable basketball hoop.
This thing has been around for a long time (a cousin hand me down) and it is still amazing.
12. Skip It
If you have a daughter, then oh yeah girl, you have to get her a skip ball.
When my daughter got one, she was like – Mom, what is this?
I was pumped and was all, stand back girl, and let me show you how it's done. She was dually impressed.
13. Kids Bicycle
A bike makes such a fantastic gift for boys and girls of any age.
We have gone through a few different bikes around here since my kids keep getting bigger. These are the best.
14. Soccer Ball
Whether soccer is a big thing in your town or not (it is not here), your kiddo is going to love kicking around this soccer ball.
I can’t even count the hours my kids have spent kicking a soccer ball around the yard. It seems to be out whenever my kids are outside.
Don’t be shy about getting out there with them. They love spending time with you!
15. Stomp Rocket
All of the neighborhood kids will be over wanting to take a turn with this stomp rocket.
It is a fan favorite around here, so much so that most of our neighbors have bought one too.
We have also gifted it as summer birthday gifts many times now.
16. Kites
Kids love flying kites!
We are lucky to live next to our elementary school so we go fly kites there many times during the summer.
17. Swim Gear
One birthday, my daughter got swim goggles and a beach towel. And here she is, 6 years later, and she still uses that towel and goggles.
I thought it was such a fun and useful gift that we just gave it as a summer birthday gift a few weeks ago.18. Remote Control Car
Remote control vehicles are mostly considered birthday gifts for boys but don’t put it past girls to be interested too.
Just yesterday, I watched 5 boys and 2 dads stop in their tracks to watch the neighbor, who is a grown man by the way, drive a remote control car around his yard.
Remote control vehicles are a blast. This one is made to be used inside and out.
All 3 of my boys have their own.
19. Airplane Launcher Toy
My kids do not have this airplane launcher but it is on my 6-year-old's list. He loves all things airplanes.
All my boys enjoy doing paper airplanes from this book and having a competition to see whose can go the farthest, so I know this would be a hit.
20. Binoculars
To better enjoy and explore the outdoors, give these binoculars as a birthday gift.
They would go great with that bug catch I was talking about before.
We go hiking a lot and my kids like to take their binoculars along to get a closer look at everything.
They also like to use them in the backyard for birds and squirrels.
21. Walkie Talkies
Boys and girls go crazy over playing with walkie-talkies, and these are the best.
I know they are grown-up ones but just get them. They are worth your money!
We were disappointed 3 times with kid's walkie-talkies before we gave up and went for these. I just wish we would have gone with these from the start.
22. Laser Tag
Playing laser tag outside, especially when it is dark outside, is so much fun for kids (and adults).
My son has this set of laser tag and it is so good. You can wear the vests or skip them because the guns have sensors on them too.
23. Camping Gear
Does your birthday kiddo do any camping? We are a camping-in-a-tent family and getting gear for that works great as birthday presents.
The top 3 camping items that my kids went nuts over are a lantern, headlamp, and sleeping bag.
We got them all adult sleeping bags. I know that they don’t fit into them yet but they will and they are better quality than the kid ones that are only meant for camping on the living room floor.
24. Fishing Gear
If your birthday kiddo has any interest in fishing, start building up a tackle box. Fishing gear is perfect for birthday gifts.
My daughter and oldest son have a tackle bag and my younger 2 boys have a tackle box.
You should see my daughter’s tackle box. My dad says it is the most colorful tackle box he has ever seen, and I love it!
We fish for Northern Pike, Crappies, and Panfish. This tackle is amazing for these fish.
This post was all about the best summer birthday gifts for kids 8 and under.
Let me know in the comments below what is on your family’s summer bucket list. We plan to go swimming, camping, boating, fishing, a trip or 2 to the zoo, and toss in some sports as well.
I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for stopping by.