My kids love being outside. Swimming, climbing, hiking, swinging, biking – you name it, they love any and all outdoor adventures.

When I start thinking about Christmas gifts for them (or birthday gifts or any time gifts) I often find myself looking for new things for them to do outside. For kids who love being outside what’s better than something to extend, encourage, or deepen their outdoor adventures.

affiliate links are included below.

10 Gifts for Kids Who Love Being Outdoors

Below are the gifts my kids have loved the most over the years. The highest rated, most loved, most used again and again gifts.

1. Bug Kit

Our twins got one of these bug kits a couple years ago and it is one of our most used outdoor materials. Kids who love being outside love looking closely at bugs, gathering samples, looking at compasses, etc. This is a great gift for kids ages 3 and up.

Tip: I made copies of the “FIELD NOTES” page on the clipboard and kept the original so I could keep making copies for them. We’ve written a LOT of Field Notes in the past couple of years. 

ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS

Want to go a step further for kids who are a little bit older? My son absolutely loves this Bug Catcher Vacuum.

2. Kid Binoculars

We got a couple pairs of these binoculars when our twins were 5 and they have accompanied us on many adventures since. I love kid binoculars for encouraging our twins to slow down and look more closely at the world around them. These are great for hikes, but we’ve also used them at airshows, boating, and at the zoo.

ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS

Also Read: 10 Best Gifts for Family Who Love to Travel

3. Kid Telescope

My kids are obsessed with the moon and the stars – really all things outer space – so a telescope is a natural gift idea. They love being able to look up at the moon and stars at night. A great starter telescope.

ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS

4. Kid Kayak

Those of you that follow me on Instagram have probably seen our kayaks a million times. These are durable, easy to transport, well balanced kayaks that are perfect for kids. If your kids love water sports as much as mine do then these are an awesome gift. The kayaks come in 5 different colors and with the paddle included.

ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS

For those of you with older kids, my daughter recently upgraded to a Stand Up Paddleboard. They do make them in shorter sizes that are perfect for kids around age 10 and up. If you live in a beachy area, I would check your local resell sporting goods stores first, but otherwise there are inflatable ones on Amazon. If you’re willing to spend more and have an even older kid, I absolutely love my ISLE paddleboard.

5. Keen Shoes

For kids who love being outside these are amazing shoes. They are breathable and comfortable with a durable bottom, toe protection and best of all for parents – machine washable.

ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS

6. Outdoor Adventure Book

I think you could pair any of the items on this list with a book about adventures or the great outdoors. There are tons of picture books about such adventures, but here is a list of my favorites: Best Picture Books about Adventure.

On the other hand, you could also get a book for your family to inspire a year of adventure:

For little kids I will put a shameless plug for my book – LITTLE WALKS BIG ADVENTURES here. It is full of ideas for field trips and adventures to have with toddlers and preschoolers.

For older kids, I highly recommend THE KIDS’ OUTDOOR ADVENTURE BOOK which is full of ideas for older kids to enjoy the great outdoors.

ORDER FOR LITTLE KIDS or ORDER FOR BIG KIDS

7. Snorkel

Snorkeling is a newer obsession in our family. My seven year olds can’t get enough. These full face snorkel masks are also newer, but having tried both with our kids I like these better. They make snorkeling easier with kids – fewer pieces, less fogging up, just less issues.

ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS

8. Lessons for a New Activity

If your kid likes outdoor activities then they will likely love to try something new – rock climbing, sailing, surfing, etc. You name it, there is a huge range of outdoor activities for which you can get lessons. Pair with a new swim suit or some gear and you have a great Christmas gift for a kid who loves being outdoors.

9. Zoo Membership

One of the things our kids love most about the outdoors are the animals that are everywhere. They also love the zoo. A Zoo Membership is an obvious gift for kids who love outside and animals. We have one for the San Diego Zoo and have absolutely gotten our money’s worth in afternoon trip to the zoo and weekend days at the Safari Park. For Christmas or a Birthday I would pair this with a book and/or stuffed animal.

Also Read: Top 10 Gift Ideas for Kids Who Love Animals

10. Snow Shoes, Pool Toys, or Other Fun Gear

My last gift giving advice is to pick the outdoor activity that your kid loves the most and get them something new to do. If they love the snow – try a pair of snow shoes or a new sled. If they love the pool – gift some new pool toys.

ORDER: POOL TOYS or SNOW SHOES

More Gift Ideas

Rad Gifts for Tween Girls from The Moments at Home

Gifts for Teen Girls from KimspiredDIY

Best Train Set for Toddlers from Play Trains!

Best Board Games for Kids and Families from All Done Monkey

10 Gifts for Kids to Encourage New Reading Skills from My Storytime Corner

Best Games for Teens/Tweens from Nouveau Soccer Mom

The Best Toys and Games for Kids to Play Together from Mosswood Connections

Creative Books for Kids that Inspire from Thimble and Twig

The Most Magical Unicorn Gift Ideas for Kids from Projects with Kids

Gift Ideas for Teenage Boys from EverydaySavvy

Gifts for Messy Play from In Our Pond

15 Best Arts and Crafts Gifts for Kids from The Joy of Sharing

Girl Power Gifts for Girls of all Ages from Seaside Sundays

Gifts Siblings of Different Sexes will Love! from Heart of Deborah

Inquisitive Detective Gifts for Kids from Castleview Academy

Gifts for Kids that will Inspire Creativity from Creative K Kids

Robots, Rockets, & Tech Toys for Kids that ROCK! from Our Family Code

Seriously FUN Sensory Toys and Games from B-Inspired Mama

Gender Neutral Frozen-themed Gift Ideas from Fab Working Mom Life

Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls from What’s Up Fagans?

I waited (almost) patiently this morning while my daughter carefully arranged her outfit this morning.

Fox shirt.

Animal print leggings.

Owl boots and ear muffs.

Deer sweatshirt.

Polar bear mittens.

Animals from head to toe just in case it wasn’t already clear to me that she is obsessed. She threw on her panda bear backpack and was finally ready to go.

Like a lot of kids, she loves animals and I want to keep that in mind when I’m shopping for her Christmas gifts. If you are shopping for a kid who loves animals, this list is for you. It is a carefully curated list of ideas that your child will love all year long. Everything on the list is something we already have and love or something on the top of her wishlist.

affiliate links are included below.

Top 10 Gift Ideas for Kids Who Love Animals

1. Emolly Animal PJs

Part adorable costume, part comfy pajamas – these are great for animal fans. Giraffes, pandas, and everything in between. They come in a huge range of colors and animals and sizes (you can even get adult sized ones).

See the Full Range of Animal PJs HERE

2. Stuffed Animals

I often find my daughter’s stuffed animal collection overwhelming but they are her favorite things. You can find an adorable cuddly version of just about any animal. Make sure you invest in some sort of storage bin as well – we have tall baskets like this one.

3. Vet Set

A cute puppy or cat, a carrier, and simple animal care equipment, this vet set is a win for animal lovers. This was a birthday present this year for both of our twins and they have been their most played with toy for the past 6 months. These simple props helped to expand how our twins played with their animals.

Order the Dog Vet Kit Here

Order the Cat Vet Kit Here

You may also like: active toys for preschoolers

4. Miniature Play Animals

Another way to expand play about animals is to provide some small animals that work well with blocks, magnatiles, and loose parts. Our kids use this type of animal to build zoos, create elaborate play scenarios, and more. They also work well for counting and letter to object match learning games.

Find Zoo Animal Toys Here

Find Other Animal Toys for All Ages Here

5. Picture Books about Animals

When my daughter isn’t playing with pretend animals or pretending to be an animal (we were deer fawns this morning) then she is usually curled up with a book about animals. Animals are a common theme in my picture books. No matter what your child’s favorite animal is you can find a book – if you can’t let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction. Our favorite animal book collections are listed below to help but this National Geographic for Kids series is also a wonderful starting point.

Creaturepedia : Our New Favorite Animal Book This Year

10 Farm Books to Make Your Kids Quack, Cluck and Moo

Best Picture Books about Owls

6. How to Draw Animal Guides

If your animal lover enjoys art activities then a How to Draw guide might tickle their fancy. Drawing animals can be a fun way to explore their parts and details, as well as create stories about your favorite animals. There are a ton of options out there for various ability levels, but we love Ed Emberley’s books for young kids.

Browse Ed Emberley’s Drawing Books

You may also like: gift ideas for creative kids

7. Binoculars + Guide Book / Scavenger Hunts

It would hard to describe just how much my kids love their binoculars. We bring them on hikes and to places like the zoo. They would certainly work as a gift on their own, but for fun you could pair them with a guide book or a pack of printed scavenger hunts.

Find Our Favorite Kid Binoculars

Find a Kids Bird Guide

Collection of Scavenger Hunts

8. Animal Themed Board Game

There are so many inventive and games out there for kids now. We have quite the collection. For a kid that loves animals, there are also some animal themed board games that would make fun gifts for the whole family to use together.

Animal Upon Animal Ages 3+

Hoot Owl Cooperative Game Ages 3+

Snorta Ages 4+ (Looks like this might have been upgraded since we got it to the Snorta Deluxe version)

9. Animal Scene Kits

Being avid travellers, we have to have ways to bring our animals on the road with us as well. Below are two of our most beloved travel toys. We have a bunch of the Melissa and doug sticker scenes, but the animal one is a favorite. My kids also love the animal magnets that we pack with a small cookie sheet. Both are fun for creating scenes and telling stories in the car or on an airplane.

Buy Melissa and Doug Sticker Set

Buy Animal Magnets + Small Cookie Sheet

10. Zoo Membership

I believe firmly in the value of learning through adventure and experience. All the books and video clips and stuffed animals in the world could never compare to the value of seeing animals up close and personal. We have had a zoo membership in all 4 states in which we have lived and I have never once regretted it. If your child loves animals, add this to your list for year round fun.

If you live in NYC: Learn more about the WCS Membership to all 5 zoos + aquarium here. 

Other Fun Gift Ideas:

10 Fun Gift Ideas for Kids Who Love Outdoor Adventures

10 Best Gifts for Families Who Love Travel

Or check out more carefully curated lists in the KBN Holiday Gift Guide.

What do you get for the travel enthusiasts on your Christmas list? Speaking as someone who fits this description, it can be hard for me to come up with things that I want.

The truth is I want experiences.

I want to hop on an airplane and travel somewhere new. This might not be helpful to someone looking for something they can wrap.

It is true that what we want is to travel. This is how our family chooses to spend our extra income and vacation days. We would likely be thrilled with money towards our next adventure or an invitation from you to join in on a trip.

However, if you are looking for something you can put under the Christmas tree you have come to the right place.

The following are ideas for parents, kids, or the whole family that will enhance or brighten their next trip!

*Affiliate links included. If you use one of our links to make a purchase we will get a small percentage of the profits. Thank you for supporting Bambini Travel.

Travel Gifts for the Whole Family

For the Kids:

Child Sized Backpack
Find it Online

Our kids both have the monkey backpack pictured, but there is a whole collection of bags in this line. They are the perfect size for young children. We got these when our kids turned 2 and they still work great. They are perfect for airplane travel, road trips, etc. This year we are updating because at 6 my kids are too tall for these adorable backpacks (sniff) but they lasted us 4 good years of heavy travel!

Amazon Kindle Fire Kid Edition
Find it Online

We have a great love for our Kindles. Our kids love the games and books that read to them. We love that they are happy, learning skills, and developing comfort with technology. We love the Kindle Fire in particular because they are durable, easy to use, have well planned parent controls, and are relatively inexpensive.

Travel Activity Books
Find it Online

We have been so impressed by the Usborne activity books. They are great for preschoolers and up. Word searches, dot to dot, mazes, etc. These keep our kids engaged for a long time.

You may also like: active toys for preschoolers

Kids Music for the Car
Find it Online

Playing music in the car is one of our favorite tricks for changing the mood. Active music when we have the wiggles. Calming music when our kids need to settle in a little. Sing a longs when we need to change things up. We will be listening to some Christmas tunes on our holiday travels.

Read Also: Quality, Engaging, and Creative Activity Books to Bring on Family Trips

World Map
Find it Online

There are several world maps for kids around but this is our favorite. It has a look and find game aspect built in that engages my kids much longer than a typical world map. Another interactive option is this quality world map puzzle. Either one brings a piece of the world and travel into the home for those in between family travel times.

Little Passports Subscription
Find it Online

At some point, even families that love to travel are going to be in one place for a while. Little Passports is a great subscription for kids to explore while they are in between adventures. Our kids have learned a ton about maps, world landmarks, and more from Little Passports.

you may also like: puzzles & games for 5-7 year olds

For the Parents:

The World is Our Classroom
by Cindy Ross

Find it Online

This is kind of like wrapping up inspiration for your loved one. This book is a thorough and inspiring account of parenting and educating children through travel and experiences. THE WORLD IS OUR CLASSROOM is a good blend of anecdotes and practical information. Ross shows through example how to learn about animals, history, other cultures, and more through travel. She offers resources, ideas and tips along the way that make you feel like ‘yes! I can take my kids on an adventure.’ You can’t help but be energized and awed by their family’s 3,100 miles on the backs of Llamas or canoe trip in the Everglades or even their more harrowing travel experiences. Great for parents who are curious about travel with kids, excited about the possibility of teaching kids through experience – full or part time, or want someone to show them little steps towards introducing the big world to children then this is an excellent gift.

FitBit or Accessories
Find it Online

FitBits are a wonderful way to track your health goals while you are on the go. This one was my gift last year and I’m still obsessed with it a year later. They come in a range of sizes and colors. People that love to travel tend to also be people that love to be active. The FitBit will be useful on the road and at home.

If you know someone who already has a fitbit, then consider getting them additional bands. The Alta (that I have) has a huge range of interchangeable and relatively inexpensive bands.

Fun Camera Strap
Find it Online

Travel and photography often go hand in hand. I love to capture places and experiences almost as much as I love having them. If your travel fan has the photography bug as well, a fun camera strap is a great gift idea. You can find a bunch of different options on Amazon or Etsy.

For Everyone:

Hydro Flask Waterbottles
Find it Online

Families on the go need to stay hydrated. Hydro Flasks are a recent obsession in our family. They are as durable as Nalgene bottles, which we also love, but they do a much better job of protecting your fluids from the elements. If you are someone who prefers your water cold then this is for you. We’re addicted and have a growing collection of different shapes, sizes, and colors. You can find one for every member of the family.

Other Fun Gift Ideas:

10 Fun Gift Ideas for Kids Who Love Outdoor Adventures

Top 10 Gift Ideas for Kids Who Love Animals

Or check out more carefully curated lists in the KBN Holiday Gift Guide.