Best Gifts for Outdoor Kids

Published by Cassie on 09/12/202209/12/2022

Whether your kids are already outdoorsy kids or whether you’re hoping to encourage them to become more adventurous, this list of the best gifts for outdoor kids is sure to contain something for them. My kids are adventurous kids so I sat down with them to create this list of gift ideas for kids who love to be outside.

Best Adventure Equipment – Gifts for Outdoor Kids

If your kids love to go on family adventures then it stands to reason that they’ll want their own kit. Why not start them off with a few useful items of kit such as a compass, knife or their own flashlight?

There are affiliate links in this article. If you click and make a purchase then at no extra cost to you I may make a small sum that allows me to keep my blog going (and my kids in adventure gear!)

Compass – yes, we all have maps on our phones but don’t you remember when we didn’t? Wasn’t it fun to figure out where you had to go just using a map and your compass? We can’t let this skill die out. Get your kids their own compass and ensure they’re never lost.

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Flashlight – whether you’re camping, taking night hikes or just hanging out in the garden, every kid needs their own flashlight or six. Yeah, we’re HUGE flashlight fans in this house so we all own multiple different styles. Some people have a bag for every occasion, we have flashlights for every occasion.

Below is a small selection of the types of flashlights you’ll find in my house and car (we stash them everywhere. Never know when you’ll be out on an adventure and need one).

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Pocketknife – We started teaching our kids to use pocketknives when they were four and six and we recently bought them their own knives. The rule is that the knives live with our knives and are never taken by the kids without permission. If we’re going on an adventure then an adult will pack them. We bought knives that have cutlery attached as it gives the kids more opportunity to use them safely.

We provide supervised knife time when we go out on adventures.

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Binoculars – have you ever taken the kids birding? Having their own binoculars makes such a difference since you won’t have to spend ages adjusting and readjusting for them every time you spot a bird. Trust me on this. Of course, with kids, you need to get something suitable for their age both for weight and complexity so don’t go wild here. Look for something compact but that definitely isn’t a toy either. I recommend something like this pair since it has large eyepieces, isn’t too heavy and folds nicely.

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Walkie-talkies – old-school technology can be the most fun. My kids love their walkie-talkies and play with them in the house as well as when we go camping. Some sets even come with more than two handsets these days so everyone can get in on the action.

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Backpack – if we’re asking kids to carry their own stuff then let’s be sure they’re comfortable. From an early age, my kids have had proper hiking backpacks. They use them on hikes, camping trips and when we take flights too. They’re expected to carry an age-appropriate amount of equipment: water bottle, sweater, and small snack. When we fly they carry all their own hand luggage whether it’s in their backpack or in their own carry-on suitcase (yes, they have these too).

I recommend looking for something lightweight, durable and breathable. Adjustable straps and back are advisable.

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Hammock – Having grown up in Mexico, my kids are all about the hammock as a much-needed camping accessory. Sure, you can sleep in a hammock but you can also spend hours whiling away the day playing and chatting with friends in your hammock. For the bravest (or most Mexican) among the kids, they’ll also find hammock gymnastics an absolute blast.

For sleeping outside, consider getting a hammock with a built-in mosquito net to keep nighttime bugs away.

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Packed Wash Bag – Kids love to feel grown up and I find that things such as toothbrushes make weirdly popular gifts so why not take it and run with it? Give a kid their own wash bag and fill it with everything they’ll need for their next trip. You’ll be surprised what a popular gift this will be!

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Best Electronics – for Kids who Travel

I don’t know about your family but the reality for us is that the kids love electronics. Our electronics travel rule is that the kids are allowed to use their tablets on road journeys of more than two hours and on any flights we take. If we go hiking or camping they do not have permission to take electronics with them.

Kindle – If you aren’t keen on tablets for kids then how about a Kindle so they have access to all their books without having to carry too much weight? Because we live away from our home country, for us Kindle is a lifesaver since we don’t have access to so many English language books.

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Tablet – There are dozens of brands and models to choose from when you decide to buy a tablet. Our kids have Samsung Galaxies. We bought them tablets when school was online during the pandemic but find they are rarely used for school anymore. We chose Samsung as we love their phones and we like how easy and intuitive they are to use. They’re still going strong after two years. of course, we bought sturdy cases or it might not have been the same story!

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Headphones – If you’re buying a tablet, or anything that makes noise for that matter, please do yourself a favour and also buy your kid headphones! We got our kids their very first headphones aged two and four when we flew to Mexico. We knew that the in-ear headphones offered by airlines were never going to work for our tiny kids so we opted to buy them their own pairs. Now they’re so much older and spend a lot of time listening to their own music so they love having their own headphones.

When they’re little, it’s a good idea to look for something that has a volume limit (but do remember that aeroplane ambient noise can make this too low). In our house now we’re moving onto Bluetooth headphones so they can do chores while listening to music!).

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Go-Pro – A Go-Pro makes a great gift for active, older kids. My younger kids already use my Go-Pro and love taking photos with it. Let the older kids record their own adventures as they bike, ski, surf with this handy piece of equipment.

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Rock tumbler – Not something we have but something I’m tempted to get for my always-rock-collecting kids. We have pieces of interesting rock from all over the world that just lie around our house (yes, they move country with us). Please tell me we’re not the only family like this!

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Best Games – Gifts for Kids who Travel

There is always time to play, even when you’re having an adventure. We all need downtime so here are some ideas for downtime gifts for outdoor kids.

Kite – there’s little more fun than flying a kite on a windy day. Everyone loves flying kites, whether it’s on the beach or in a park.

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Card Games – If I’m honest, I’m not really into card games but everyone else in my family is. These are the games that come with us on every trip. We play games when waiting in restaurants, while travelling, at the end of the day whether we’re camping or in hotels.

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Slackline – Very much on my mind as the next great gift for my adventurous kids is a slackline. I see people taking them to the forest, the beach and parks all the time. I just know this is going to make a great gift for my adventurous kids.

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Best Books – Gifts for Adventurous Kids

Sadly not every day can be an adventure day so for those days when we can’t go out at least we can prepare for adventures.

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Journal – And of course, be sure to grab a journal for your outdoor kids. Everyone needs somewhere to jot down their experiences and memories of all the great adventures you’re finding for your family.

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Don’t forget, though, that adults like gifts too!

What do you think makes the best gift for an outdoor-loving kid?