7 Outdoor Games For Young Child
There’s a reason we tell our kids not to sit too close to the TV.
While computers can be educational, research suggests that simply sitting in front of a computer or TV for hours at a time is not healthy for young children. Instead, get your kids out of the house and away from the computer screens by playing fun outdoor games with them!
Water Balloon Pinata
This is a classic game that can be played with any number of children. All you need is a large water balloon pinata and a bat.
Place the pinata in the middle of a field and fill it with balloons. Have each kid take turns hitting the pinata with the bat until one break open, then count up how many balloons fell out and let that child take home the water balloon pinata!
Tip. If you want to make things more interesting, use different types of bats—a baseball bat, tennis racket or even just something like an old tree branch would work great!
Water Balloon Flower
Place a flower pot in the middle of the table (or on top of a tablecloth, if you want to avoid broken glass).
Fill with water balloons and tie them to the pot with rubber bands or string so that they don’t fall out when you blow them up!
Blow up your balloons, then toss them into the flowerpot one at a time. You may have to adjust their position as you go so that they all land in different areas of the flowerpot and don’t just roll around together like peas in a pod
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are a fun way to get kids (and adults!) out of the house and exploring.
They can be played inside or outside, with one or more people, with a group of kids or adults, and even in groups that include children and adults.
The basic idea is simple: give everyone an envelope with clues on it, then send them off to find those things. The first group back wins! You can use any old object as your clue—you don’t need fancy props or equipment for this game!
Catch the Flag
The flag is a big sheet of material that has been tied to a pole. The flag should be 6-8 feet off the ground and easy to reach for both teams. This is normally done with rope or twine, but any similar piece of string will work just as well.
Depending on where you are playing, there are many variations in how to set up your “flag”. For example:
If you’re playing in an urban area (such as a playground), you can use a soccer goal post and attach your rope/twine from it – this gives a nice distance between each team’s baseline so they aren’t too close together when they begin to play! Just make sure you have enough room around the goal post so no one gets hurt while trying out these new games 😉
Mean Teacher
- Divide the students into two teams.
- Blindfold the teacher and have her stand in one corner of the room.
- The teams will stand on opposite sides of the room, near their team’s designated area.
- The teacher calls out a word and both teams need to guess what that word is before time runs out (usually 1 minute).
The teacher can only say yes or no! She cannot repeat any words already said by either team nor can she use any other words besides yes or no!
Water Balloons
This is a game your kids will love. Fill up water balloons and put on a blindfold, then try to pop as many balloons as you can in one minute.
The person who pops the most balloons wins! If you want to make this activity more competitive, keep score and have a winner at the end of each round.
If playing with water isn’t your child’s cup of tea, feel free to skip this section altogether—there are plenty of other outdoor games for young children that don’t involve water at all!
Shaving Cream Balloon Toss
First, get together a group of kids and give each one two balloons. Then, you’ll need some shaving cream and a hose.
Set up the game by squirting shaving cream on the ground in a circle about 5 feet in diameter. Have the kids stand in the center of the circle while they toss their balloons back and forth (remember to remove their strings before playing).
If you want to make this game more challenging, put an object like a ball or beanbag that has been covered in shaving cream into one of your kid’s balloons so they have to try to throw it around without popping it first!
Keep your kids away from their computer screens for a little while with these super fun outdoor games.
Does your child spend too much time at the computer? Here are some great ideas for keeping them active and entertained during the summer break.
Golf – might not be a sport that strikes fear into the hearts of their opponents, but it’s a great way for kids to learn about sportsmanship and have fun.
Hiking – is another outdoor activity that can be done with family members or friends, hiking is a perfect way to explore nature while getting some exercise. It also helps promote an appreciation for nature, which is an important part of being an environmentally conscious citizen!
Soccer – playing soccer is a great way to get some exercise while having fun at the same time! This game can be played indoors or outdoors depending on what kind of weather we’re having this month (and make sure everyone wears sunscreen!).
There are so many ways you can keep your child active without spending money on expensive equipment; these four activities will allow them plenty of opportunities for both physical activity as well as socialization with other children their age.”
Conclusion
As you can see, a lot goes into planning a great outdoor game for children. The best part is that the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity and fun! You can be sure your child will love whichever one they play, but remember to keep safety in mind at all times.
