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Perhaps you, too, are looking for ways to liven up the yard now that it functions as your family’s playground, beach, and outdoor living room—at least until parks are safe to visit again. Wirecutter has long reviewed gear for outdoor recreation, and we’ve spent dozens of hours researching and testing it all. (We once spent the better part of a summer evaluating water guns with a gaggle of kids in South Carolina.) And we have colleagues across the country whose personal green spaces range from “janky fire escape” to acres of farmland. Below are our staff’s recommendations for gear that will help keep kids of all ages happily occupied outdoors—with, of course, a dose of adult supervision.

MIU Color Blanket ($23 at the time of publication)

The relative rigidity and spill-proof-ness of the MIU Color Blanket, an also-great pick in our guide to the best picnic blanket, make it particularly well suited for use with young kids. We’ve used it as a toy-car racetrack, a drop cloth for molding-clay play, and for al fresco snacks and mealtimes. When this blanket has been parked on particularly flat surfaces, we’ve even played certain card and board games on it. The MIU blanket is not as easily packable as Wirecutter’s top pick, but this 61-by-79-inch blanket does fold into a tight, 12-by-9-by-5-inch bundle that wedges easily into the storage baskets of most standard-size strollers (something that may be useful when parks reopen).

1 by One Naturalife Automatic Bubble Blower for Kids ($45 at the time of publication) Gazillion Bubbles 1-Liter Solution ($11 at the time of publication)

There’s nothing quite like chasing bubbles around, especially when the breeze is just right. For the biggest bubble payoff (and so you can run around, too), consider a bubble machine. Fill it with the best bubble solution you can buy, or make your own with dish soap and glycerin.

Step2 Infant To Toddler Swing ($37 at the time of publication) Little Tikes 2-in-1 Snug and Secure Swing ($27 at the time of publication) HearthSong Deluxe Platform Tree Swing ($130, including a $10 shipping surcharge, at the time of publication) We’ve noticed stock issues with this item. We’ll update this article once it’s available again.

The high backs on most infant-to-toddler swings can help support babies as young as 9 months old, and the adjustable straps and plastic T-bar restraints remain comfortable for preschoolers under 50 pounds. After trying two best-selling models and finding them nearly identical, we’d recommend the Step2 Infant To Toddler Swing for its easier-to-operate clasps (standard side-release buckles that are hidden beneath a lip of plastic, out of most children’s reach) and versatile fasteners (pear-shape carabiners). The Little Tikes 2-in-1 Snug and Secure Swing, no less beloved in customer reviews (and by our 19-month-old tester), generally costs about $10 less. The tradeoffs are that the clasps on its T-bar are a bit trickier to release—we caught our fingers more than a few times—and the fasteners are pelican-style hooks, which may limit your options for securely attaching additional rope or straps. (Note, though, that both Step2 and Little Tikes say their swings are meant for hanging only from swing sets.)

For bigger kids, we like HearthSong’s Deluxe Platform Swing (pictured above), which can hold up to 250 pounds and be safely hung from a tree, stand, or porch. “We’ve fit entire birthday parties on this thing,” says senior staff writer Doug Mahoney, who has owned two of them. (His family left the first for the buyers of its last home.) Doug says the second swing has held up well over four years, apart from some minor tears in the foam that covers the frame, and he notes that it requires height readjustment once or twice a year. “It’s been really durable.”

Melnor XT4200M Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler ($45 at the time of publication) Melnor 5-Pattern Watering Nozzle 301-416 ($5 at the time of publication)

Wirecutter’s top-pick sprinkler, the oscillating Melnor XT4200M, connects to any standard garden hose (no adapter needed) and can power hours of water play. Its watering pattern and flow controls are easily adjusted, so you can dampen or boost the arc or spritz, covering anywhere from approximately 8 square feet to 4,000 square feet. The XT4200M’s sturdy metal base helps keep it in place, but—as with most sprinklers—don’t expect all of its components to survive a thorough trampling by overzealous kids. Also great: the mist setting on our hose nozzle pick.

Resourceful folks have long fashioned “pools” out of hard-sided basins, from coolers to stock tanks. Although you could buy a rigid kiddie pool from a hardware store or take your chances on an inflatable one, consider repurposing a container you already have. In no particular order, here are just some of the household drums Wirecutter staffers have successfully turned into aquatic play spaces: a storage container, a recycling bin, and a party-size ice bucket (the galvanized tub pictured above). Be sure to mind the temperature of the water and walls: Metal vessels, in particular, can overheat quickly. And use fresh water each time you fill your pool.

Nerf Super Soaker Squall Surge ($26 at the time of publication) ZEP 32 oz. Professional Spray Bottle ($4 at the time of publication)

For aquatic “combat,” we like a classic water gun that doesn’t necessitate keeping a giant bucket of water nearby (though access to a hose for quick refills is nice). The Nerf Super Soaker Squall Surge, a Wirecutter pick since 2015, can fire “a solid, if fairly thin, stream of water farther than 35 feet,” wrote contributor Chris Dixon, who has tested more than a dozen water guns with kids of all ages. The gun’s 16-ounce reservoir is sufficient for sustained play, but it’s not unwieldy when completely full.

Spray bottles with adjustable nozzles can also power friendly “fights.” Most hardware stores carry some version of this bottle, which, of course, is useful for other purposes, too.

PUGG Pop-Up Goals (starting at $42 at the time of publication) Melissa & Doug 8 Activity Cones ($14 at the time of publication)

We’ve found PUGG’s Pop-Up Goals (in 2½-, 4-, and 6-foot widths) useful for soccer practice or pick-up games in parks and on pavement. Sold in sets of two, these packable, portable goals slip into carrying bags with straps. The 6-foot goals fold down into a relatively flat 32-by-40-inch package that fits easily under a bed or in most closets. Spare stakes for grounding the goals in grass are included with the set.

For beginner players or indoor use, we like stackable cones, like these from Melissa & Doug. They’re not quite as hefty as the ones you likely encountered in physical education class, but they won’t blow around or crush easily.

Funsparks Easy Disk ($10 at the time of publication) Discraft UltraStar Sport Disc ($13 at the time of publication) Pro Kadima Beach Paddles ($13 at the time of publication) SC Cornhole Games Weather Resistant Cornhole Bags ($30 at the time of publication) Perfetta Club Pro Bocce Ball Set ($130 at the time of publication)

Once they’ve got some level of hand-eye coordination, even little kids can participate in several tried-and-true yard games—including many that don’t require a “yard”-size space at all.

Perhaps the simplest is throwing a Frisbee around. Younger children and those with smaller hands may find catching and tossing the soft Funsparks Easy Disk easier than playing with a flying disk made of hard plastic. For bigger kids and adults, we recommend Discraft’s classic UltraStar Sport Disc.

Another classic, lightweight wooden paddles and a PVC ball from Pro Kadima, can power two-or-more-player fun for older kids and adults. You could play by official paddle ball rules. But we prefer to break a sweat breaking our own volley count and distance records. (Either way, you’ll want to have a spare pack of balls on hand.)

We’ve found that a proper cornhole setup (pictured above) can require shelling out $200 or more. But you can spend a lot less on boards if you build them yourself. And if you’re playing with kids, our easy-to-handle, grippier-than-most budget-pick bags are likely your best bet.

If your family enjoys playing bocce, consider investing in a set that has weighty, made-to-last balls. Perfetta’s Club Pro Bocce Ball Set comes with a 15-year warranty. Even the youngest kids, who might not be able to roll or toss very far, can enjoy taking part in deciding the winners of each round.

ENO DoubleNest Hammock ($80 at the time of publication) Hammock Sky Brazilian Double Hammock ($65 at the time of publication) We’ve noticed stock issues with this item. We’ll update this article once it’s available again.

Whether hung between two trees or the poles of a stand on a patio, a hammock is hard to beat for lounging. We’ve enjoyed the two-person version of Wirecutter’s portable hammock pick for kicking back with our kids on campsites and in our own yards. If you plan to use a hammock mostly at home, you may find that a sturdier (but still packable) cotton one, like this hammock from Hammock Sky, better suits your style. For either option: If you don’t plan to use a dedicated stand, you’ll likely need straps and possibly other hanging accessories.

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