7 Outdoor Games For Toddlers And Preschoolers
What’s a parent to do when the weather outside (finally) turns warm? Take their kids out on the playground and enjoy it, of course!
The thing is, though, that sometimes your toddler or preschooler might get bored with the same old swings and slides. Luckily, there are plenty of fun outdoor activities that’ll let you play together and give your little ones some exercise
You don’t need a lot of space for a kid to have fun, but the right activities can make all the difference! Here are some great outdoor games for playing in small spaces.
Simon Says
Simon Says is a fun game for young kids to play. It’s also great for older kids and even adults, too! This game is perfect if you want your child to listen carefully or follow directions.
It’s easy to learn how to play Simon Says, too! To start, pick out an object that everyone can see (like a toy). Now tell the person you’re playing with what they should do next.
“Simon says walk around.” If they do this correctly without repeating themselves or saying “Simon says,” then they get a point. If not, no point is awarded! The first person who gets five points wins!
Duck! Duck? Goose!
Duck! Duck? Goose! is a simple game that children can play with just six items: two people, one ball, and four sticks. The game is played in a circle.
one player stands in the middle as the Moose (or moose), while another person plays as the duck. The Moose chases after the duck, who tries to tag his partner (which will make them both ducks).
If he tags his partner before they’ve reached safety (the outside of your circle), then they switch roles from “duck” to “moose” or vice versa; if he doesn’t reach them in time but finds another person instead—that person becomes their new buddy.
Walking Obstacle Course
Set up a course with obstacles for the kids to walk through, using chairs or other objects as barriers. Have the kids use a ball or other toy to go back and forth through the course and around in circles (or any shape you want!).
- Set up an obstacle course.
- Use chairs, small tables, or other objects for the kids to walk around and over.
- Have them roll a ball through the course.
- Have the kids take turns walking through the obstacle course with you leading them one at a time.
Have them walk back and forth through it as if they’re crossing an imaginary street (you can use sidewalk chalk or tape on the floor). Or have them walk in a circle around you!
Follow the Leader
This game is great for teaching kids to follow directions, rules, and the leader. You can also use it to teach them to follow your rules!
To play: Select one child to be the leader. The other children will line up behind him or her, following closely as best they can. The leader will walk around in a circle, then point to one of the children and say,
You’re it! That child must chase after the other players (while still following), tagging each one with his or her index finger until he or she catches them all. Once caught by this new “it” player, each victim becomes an active chaser rather than a passive taggee.
if someone else gets tagged before being caught himself/herself, he/she takes over as “it” until someone else tags him/her success with another finger touch and takes over as chaser again.
Hopscotch
Hopscotch is a fun game that helps kids develop their coordination, balance, and motor skills. To play hopscotch, you’ll need to make a hopscotch board. You can use chalk or paint to draw the board on the sidewalk or yard.
Then, choose your squares; they should be large enough for toddlers to step in comfortably without stepping on the lines (about 6 inches by 6 inches).
Next comes teaching how to play! If your child is young and still learning how to skip count, begin with 1-2-3-4 and then start adding additional numbers as they’re able until you get up into single digits like 7s and 8s. When they’re ready for more challenges, start jumping mid-square instead of waiting at each corner before hopping over again—this will help develop spatial awareness in young minds!
Ball Toss
Ball toss is a simple game that can be played at home, in the backyard, or at the park. The objective of ball toss is to have one person throw a ball (or other objects) to another person and then have that person throw it back.
The game encourages your child to get into shape while having fun! It will also help with their motor skills by teaching them how to catch the ball and throw it back accurately.
This game is great for little ones because they don’t have to worry about hitting anything or anyone during playtime – just make sure there are no glass windows nearby when playing inside!
Hula Hoop Relay Race
This game is great for teaching kids about teamwork, physical fitness, and fun. To play Hula Hoop Relay Race. Gather your supplies (hula hoops) and set up an obstacle course.
You can make it as challenging or easy as you like by setting up some obstacles to maneuver around, but the main thing is that everyone has a hula hoop they must pass through at some point in their relay race.
Have each player stand at one end of the course with a hula hoop in hand. Take turns giving them instructions on what to do next: run forward with the hula hoop until you reach the cone, then pass it on to another person; jog backward toward me (without letting go!), then hand off your hula hoop when you get close enough; walk sideways around this log until somebody catches up with you so they can take over running forward again—and so on!
To make it more challenging: Give each child two hulas hoops instead of one; tell them that they have to pass all four hoops before reaching the finish line; increase the distance between the starting point and finish line so players need multiple trips through obstacles before getting back again
These outdoor activities make getting outside fun again, for you and your kids.
The benefits of getting outside are many, but for the sake of this article, we’ll only talk about a few.
First, it’s good for your health. Playing outside is great exercise and helps to keep you in shape.
Second, it’s good for your kids’ health too! Playing outdoors helps them learn how to interact with others and encourages them to try new things while keeping them active in fresh air and sunshine.
Thirdly, spending time together as a family encourages bonding which makes everyone happier overall.
Conclusion
Outdoor games for toddlers and preschoolers are the perfect way to keep your kids active, especially during the summer. Whether you’re in a park, backyard, or anywhere else with some grassy space, these outdoor games are a great way to get moving.
