The 9 Best Backyard Playsets For Toddlers

video play icon

This wiki has been updated 16 times since it was first published in January of 2020. No matter the age, it is always a good idea to encourage a little outdoor playtime. Backyard playsets allow youngsters to get much-needed exercise, develop gross motor skills, and improve balance and coordination. The models selected here are for children between the ages of two and five. Some are simple, and others are elaborate, but each of them will provide children with hours of fun. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Simplay3 Young Explorers Discovery Playhouse

2. Costzon 4-in-1

3. Lazy Buddy

Editor's Notes

June 25, 2021:

Whenever looking for kids' toys, safety is always the number one priority. We were careful select models from dependable manufacturers, for that reason. Among our updated selections are the Step2 Naturally Playful Woodland Climber and Simplay3 Young Explorers Discovery Playhouse, both of which come from a trusted and respected company. We also added a minimalist option in the Step2 85314 Game Time which is about as simple and affordable as they get. The models we removed were generally unavailable or, in one case, too small and unstable for even more than one toddler at a time.

January 29, 2020:

Playsets offer tots the opportunity to burn off a little energy, develop motor skills, and engage in creative play. Still, they require careful assembly and a watchful eye when children are playing on them. Before setting up a playset, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends laying down protective material underneath the structure with at least a 6-foot perimeter for children to land since dirt and grass does not adequately protect a child from a fall. Also, perform frequent inspections to check for loose hardware and cracks in the structure.

That said, toddler playsets should be low to the ground to cushion the blow in the event of a fall, and have round edges to prevent snagging clothes like the Lazy Buddy and the ECR4Kids Activity Park.

To help children develop muscle strength and confidence, opt for structures with ladders and climbing walls such as the Little Tikes Rock Climber and the Simplay3 Young Explorers Adventure Climber.

The Creative Cedar Designs Sky View may cost a little more than our other picks, but it is worth every penny. With 10 different activities to play with, kids will never get bored. If you have space for the structure, this set is definitely worth the investment, as it will keep your children entertained from the age of three to ten years old.

4. Step2 Naturally Playful Woodland Climber

5. Little Tikes Rock Climber

6. Step2 85314 Game Time

7. Step2 Panda Activity Set

8. Little Tikes Clubhouse

9. Creative Cedar Designs Sky View


Christopher Thomas
Last updated by Christopher Thomas

Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.


Thanks for reading the fine print. About the Wiki: We don't accept sponsorships, free goods, samples, promotional products, or other benefits from any of the product brands featured on this page, except in cases where those brands are manufactured by the retailer to which we are linking. For more information on our rankings, please read about us, linked below. The Wiki is a participant in associate programs from Amazon, Walmart, Ebay, Target, and others, and may earn advertising fees when you use our links to these websites. These fees will not increase your purchase price, which will be the same as any direct visitor to the merchant’s website. If you believe that your product should be included in this review, you may contact us, but we cannot guarantee a response, even if you send us flowers.