I’m a sucker for anything that gets kids up and moving,
especially if it takes them outdoors. I spent a ton of time outside when I was
younger, and I feel that I would be doing my son a disservice if I let him sit
inside and play inside things. Especially when those things sometimes can focus
around the TV or some form of video games. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti TV
or anti – videogames but I like it more when my son is up and moving around,
and playing things that encourage movement and imagination.
So I have compiled a list of things to play outside in honor
of Backyard Games Week.
1)
Freeze Tag – Kids love freeze tag…at least I
did, and I’m a horrible runner.
2)
Spotlight Tag – It just became apparent to me that
not everyone played this when they were kids. But the just of the game is tag
of course. But it’s played at night, with lights. You can use flashlights but
as kids we used the 4-wheelers. A couple
people would be it, and everyone else would run and hide or simply run around
waiting to be caught, and trying to not be touched with the light. If you are
either you become it, or you’re out. It was always super fun, and now as an
adult I’m thinking about doing it at our next family get together.
3)
Swimming – we are into the summer months now
that you can get outside and swim.
4)
Marco Polo – this is another thing we played a
lot as kids. I was blessed with many siblings. If you never played it before,
you play it in the pool. One person is it and they have to swim around to catch
the others- with their eyes closed. They have to listen for them. It says Marco
and the others say Polo and then get chased.
5)
Sandbox – I love the sandbox…even as an adult. I
know, I know – Grow up already. But no. I don’t want to become an old
fuddy-duddy and not have fun playing old fashioned games with my son.
6)
Water Guns – You could vamp up the games and put
some fabric die in them, watered down of course. Have everyone wear white
t-shirts and old clothes. Run around and spray each other like crazy. You play
a cool summer game and then get to have an awesomely designed t-shirt that no
one else will have.
7)
At home theater – outside! Put up a screen, get
a projector and project some favorite movies. Let everyone sit on blankets, or
whatever outside. And have awesome snacks like s’mores and other “campfire”
type of food.
8)
Catch Fireflies
9)
Go Fishing – I know this doesn’t really fall in
the backyard category but, since we live in the boonies, fishing was an
option.
10)
Star Gazing – maybe make sheets so you can find constellation,
or make it into a contest.
11)
Frisbee
12)
Horseshoes
13)
Croquet
14)
Make your own Mini Golf
15)
A slip and slide – I never had one growing up,
but a lot of my friends did. They were fun.
16)
Play catch.
17)
Wash the car – I don’t know why, but this is
always fun.
18)
Baseball
19)
Bug Hunting – My Mom bought this little bug hut
thing that also has a magnifying glass in it. Thomas loves it.
20)
Paint with Water Balloons – Ever since I saw
this on “The Princess Diaries” I’ve always wanted to do it.
21)
Climb something. I don’t allow Thomas to climb
the couch, or all over the beds…or up the ladder, or…you name it he tries to
climb it. But outside he can climb up and down his swing set, and there’s a
dirt pile out there, he LOVES climbing up that and throwing dirt clumps around
the yard.
22)
Make bird Feeders and do some bird watching
23)
Have a picnic
24)
Dig for worms
25)
Kick a ball around
26)
Read outside. Thomas loves this. We have some
water “bath time books” that we play with outside, and in the pool, and he
always makes us read them to him.
27)
Get artistic and graffiti with chalk. When done
wash it away
28)
Find shapes in the clouds.
29)
Watch for planes. Thomas loves this. He always
has to point them out when they fly over.
30)
Fly a Kite
