12 Fun Backyard Games and Activities to Get Your Kids Outdoors

12 Fun Backyard Games and Activities to Get Your Kids Outdoors

Soccer

Fisher Price Outdoor Soccer GoalIf you have more than one child, you can get your child to kick the soccer ball back and forth to each other. If they are playing in the backyard, you don’t have to worry about them kicking the ball into the street and chasing after it. Of course, they might accidentally kick it over the fence. If your child enjoys soccer, you can buy a small soccer goal and some cones for your child to practice and do drills in the backyard.

Side Walk Chalk

Grab a bucket of side walk chalk and let your kids use their imagination to draw pictures on the side walk. If you have enough space on your back patio, it is  a perfect place for them to let their imagination run wild and enjoy the fresh air.

Freeze Tag

This is a classic game outdoor game. The goal of the game is to chase your friends around the yard and tag each one. Once you tag your friend, they have to remain in the pose that they were tagged in. After everyone has been tagged, the last person who was tagged is now the person who is “it”. This game can keep them busy for hours or until everyone is exhausted.

Capture the Flag

This is another classic outdoor game and it is a favorite game that the youth at church play on a regular basis. Find two flags (it doesn’t have to be anything fancy). The goal of the game is to find the other team’s flag and to return it back to your zone safely. If you are tagged while trying to steal the flag, you have to go to a designated area (often called jail) until someone from your team frees you. The youth group loves to hide the flag but you can also play it where the flag is visible. Once the other teams flag is capture and brought back safely to your zone, the game is over and a winner is declared. Your kids can play until they are exhausted or ready to play another game.

Kick the Can

This is a popular game during the 60’s and has as each generation passes it is slowly fading away. Help keep this classic game alive and teach your children how to play kick the can. Grab a can from the recycling bin or trash can. Place the can on a safe spot. The person who is “it” has to close their eyes and count to 100 while the other’s go and hide. Once the counter has gotten to 100, they have to run and find the others. The goal of the game is to tag the others before they get a chance to sneak out of their hiding spot and run to kick the can. The first person who kicks over the can without being tagged is declared the winner.

Red Rover

I remember playing this game as a child and it was always so much fun. It does require at least 10 or more children to play this game. Divide the players up into two groups and then line up about 30 feet apart (an good distance so that they the called person has room to run). Then have the players hold hands.  Pick a person on your team to say: Red rover, red rover, let [name of player on opposite team] come over. The person that was called has to run over and try to break the hands of two players on the opposite team. If the runner fails to break the chain, then he or she has to join that team but if they broke the chain the runner gets to chose one person to join his/her team. Play this game until there is only one player left on either team, then the last one standing has to run and try to break the chain on the other team. If they break the chain, they are declared the winner. If not, the other team wins.

Hide and Seek

This game needs a bit of space so unless you have a backyard full of hiding spaces this game wouldn’t be as fun. If you take your kids to the park, then you can let them play hide and seek with other kids who are at the park. Parents can help you define the rules and where you are allowed to play hide and seek at. The person who is “it” has to close their eyes and count to 100. Once the time is up, they have to find their friends. The goal of the game is to reach base without being tagged by the person who is looking for you.

Duck Duck Goose

This is a great game for toddlers or younger children to play. Have the children sit in a circle and designate one of the kids as the “fox”. Then have them go around and gently tap each on the head while saying duck. Once the child picks out the “goose”, they will say “goose” and take off running around the circle. The one who was chosen as “goose” has to stand up and try to tag the fox before the fox sits down in the “goose’s” spot. If the fox is tagged, he has to go again and tag a new goose. If the “fox”, made it safely and sat down in the goose’s spot without being tagged then they are the new “fox”. What is your favorite game to play in the backyard?

Comments

12 responses to “12 Fun Backyard Games and Activities to Get Your Kids Outdoors”

  1. Scarlet Paolicchi Avatar

    Great list! It’s important to get kids outside and have some fun while doing it!

    1. Christy Avatar

      I agree most kids don’t get the recommended amount of exercise on a daily basis.

  2. Harleena Avatar

    Hi Christy,

    Nice list of games indeed 🙂

    It’s become tough nowadays to make kids go outside and play games. They are either glued to their mobiles, computers or all the indoor games online mostly. Your post reminded me of the time when we as kids were given so many options to play such games – basketball and badminton were all time favorites.

    Thanks for sharing. Have a nice week ahead 🙂

    1. Christy Avatar

      I agree Harleena, even my kids would rather stay inside and play video games. I like for them to go outside and play for a little bit in the evening time when it is cooler outside. I want them to burn off their energy and get some exercise.

  3. Kristi Campbell Avatar

    I love this list – my son LOVES being outside, no matter what. I do, too, but some of his “fun” is less than my “fun” so I appreciate the tips on making it fun for me, too. Playing ball with him is definitely really rewarding, so much so.

    1. Christy Avatar

      I understand how you feel, I often don’t play with the boys outside because I am in pain. I do enjoy sitting outside and watching them play and have fun together.

  4. Mei Avatar

    Nice activities! Things we can do all year round in Singapore!

    1. Christy Avatar

      Thank you. 😉

  5. Jodi Avatar

    Very good list! We are just starting Soccer and at 4 it is both scary & fun to watch. My hubby is the coach. Hayden prefers to wander and run from bugs. Now Henry at 22 months is a fierce “wanna-be” player!

  6. Christy Avatar

    Yes, I remember when my oldest son started soccer. It was fun to watch them play. Its like herd ball the first few seasons.

  7. mya Avatar

    Hey thanks my kid dose not even want to go in side i think i should bathe him in sun screen …………………………….um do not do that it was a joke…………ha ha 🙂

  8. […] and play. They usually end up running around and playing some sort of game. Try some of these fun backyard games to help encourage your child to get out and […]