Outdoor toys for a CONCRETE patio??

[new_mom_mry]

We have an enclosed stamped concrete patio for our backyard...I am trying to make it more toddler friendly. So far it houses a sand/water table (we only use it as a water table though) and a climber. DS is 18 months old. The climber is sort of baby-ish (this one http://www.amazon.com/Step2-Naturally-Playful-Lookout-Treehouse/dp/B000QF7KMK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336494585&sr=8-2) though he likes it so far and can climb/go down the slide over and over.

What else would you add to our current setup as fun toy for a child this age given the fact that there is no grass whatsoever and it's ALL stamped concrete? I am ruling out a lawn mower which gets recommended a lot because I really don't know how fun it will be on a concrete surface.

Yesterday I was sweeping up the leaves with a broom and DS was eager to help. He grabbed the groom during the one moment when I sat it down and began "helping." Maybe I'll get him a kid size broom/scoop....but beyond that, is there a ride on that would be fun?? Something else? We have a cozy coupe inside the house, but since he hasn't quite grasped how to ride it without the removable floor, I am keeping it inside for now (don't want to use it both inside and outside since we have hardwood floors that will get scratched). I'd rather just buy some more toys that can just be his outdoor toys. Thanks in advance for any tips/advice!!

[candaceb]

I am ruling out a lawn mower which gets recommended a lot because I really don't know how fun it will be on a concrete surface.



We probably have a half acre of grass and DS is happy to push his mower up and down the driveway most of the time, so I wouldn't rule that out!

[MommyAllison]

Sidewalk chalk
Baby pool
Basketball hoop
Sandbox (with buckets, shovels, small rakes, etc)

[acmom]

We probably have a half acre of grass and DS is happy to push his mower up and down the driveway most of the time, so I wouldn't rule that out!

:yeahthat: We have 2 mowers bc my kids both like them so much and mostly they get used on the driveway or sidewalk even though we have a big yard. They are actually much harder to push on grass!

I would also second the basketball hoop recommendation of PP - my son is almost 2 and LOVES his! Concrete would be good for that bc the ball will bounce well on it. You could also move that inside for the winter if you wanted.

A ride-on would work well - my kids ride their plasma cars on the driveway/pavers and started riding them between 18 months and 2. Or you could go with one of the basic plastic Little Tikes ones (I think its called a push and ride racer?).

Some big trucks or a little wagon to fill and pull could be fun too.

[new_mom_mry]

thanks everyone. we already have a little tikes basketball hoop indoors. he loves it...how can you not love all the slam dunks :) I think for now I will keep it indoors since he still uses it quite a bit there and it might be too repetitive to buy one for outdoors. I like the plasma car recommendation. Is 18 months too young for the plasma car?? It says 3 years and up...please advise!

P.S. Should I get the gas n' go mower or the bubble mower??

[acmom]

My kids have used the plasma car from about that age on. For a while they just used their feet to make it go. Then as they got older and bigger, they figured out how to put their feet up and make it go by the moving the "steering wheel" thing back and forth. The nice thing about the plasma cars is that they seem to be used by a wide range of ages!

We have a gas n' go and popper mower - both work well and are liked! No personal experience with the bubble mowers, but I have heard from a friend or two that the bubble part eventually broke - kids still happily used the mower part though!

[elbenn]

A ride-on toy like the wheely bug (although you would need to store this inside)
Bubble mower (it would be just as much fun on concrete)
Bounce house (this would be something you wouldn't leave out but could use it when you wanted to)
Maybe something like these river stones: http://www.amazon.com/American-Educational-River-Stone-Set/dp/B000ANIVRG/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1336506211&sr=1-1

Bilibo http://www.amazon.com/ActivePeople-0004-Kid-Bilibo-Blue/dp/B000UEQI1G/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1336506355&sr=1-1

[new_mom_mry]

A ride-on toy like the wheely bug (although you would need to store this inside)
Bubble mower (it would be just as much fun on concrete)
Bounce house (this would be something you wouldn't leave out but could use it when you wanted to)
Maybe something like these river stones: http://www.amazon.com/American-Educational-River-Stone-Set/dp/B000ANIVRG/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1336506211&sr=1-1

Bilibo http://www.amazon.com/ActivePeople-0004-Kid-Bilibo-Blue/dp/B000UEQI1G/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1336506355&sr=1-1

we have a small bee wheely bug inside the house. he only knows how to ride it backwards for now...I ordered the plasma car based on PP's recommendation for outdoors so we shall see how he will like it!
I've been eyeing the bilibo...do you think it would be fun for outdoors (for stamped concrete, specifically)??

[marymoo86]

Would a plasma car and a strider be redundant? I just picked up a Strider from Target's awesome clearance sale. I would like to get another outside toy but DD has a Cozy coupe but for some reason doesn't like the floorboard removed to push herself just me pushing her. She also has a Step2 push car but shes been gravitating toward the neighbor kids scooter (trying to balance on it) and her trike (feet power).

[hellokitty]

I don't think you need anymore structures. I would just get him some trucks, balls, kid's water pot (my kids just love these, even my older ones, they like to water all the plants), toys for the water table. Also, if you think he will like it a butter fly net to catch bugs and one of those plastic containers with a magnified lid, so he can look at his new pet.

[elbenn]

I don't have a bilibo, so maybe someone with one can weigh in on how good they are. I just think they are neat and being plastic, they should weather okay as an outdoor toy.

How about a big magnifying glass for bug watching? We have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Carson-HU-20-5-BigEye-Magnifier/dp/B000JQ3A70/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336580375&sr=8-1

[vonfirmath]

I don't have a bilibo, so maybe someone with one can weigh in on how good they are. I just think they are neat and being plastic, they should weather okay as an outdoor toy.

How about a big magnifying glass for bug watching? We have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Carson-HU-20-5-BigEye-Magnifier/dp/B000JQ3A70/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336580375&sr=8-1

My son got a bilibo for his 2nd birthday. I was SO excited. He never played with it.
Maybe he's just not creative enough.

[KpbS]

I would get some sand toys, little plastic boats (for the water table) http://www.amazon.com/Schylling-Plastic-Sand-Water-Boat/dp/B004SCEPK2/ref=sr_1_6?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1336589202&sr=1-6, a hard sided pool (non-inflatable), a couple of balls, 1 larger truck like this dump truck from Green Toys http://www.amazon.com/Green-Toys-5512757-Dump-Truck/dp/B001Q3KU9Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1336589131&sr=8-3, and some bubbles :)