Things to Do with Kids -- Monthly and Weekend Events, Spring Festivals
Atlanta Boston Chicago Houston Los Angeles
New York City Philadelphia San Francisco Washington DC

HOME RECIPES HOME DECOR GARDEN IDEAS KIDS CRAFTS
5 Ingredient Crockpot Recipes

50 Outdoor Games and Activities for Kids

cc--bean-bag-toss--modpodgerocks.com.png

DIY Bean Bag Toss from Mod Podge Rocks

cc--ring-toss-game--momendeavors.com.png

Ring Toss Game from Mom Endeavors

cc--2--human-ring-toss--kidfriendlythingstodo.com.png

Human Ring Toss from Kid Friendly Things to Do

Water Knee Hockey Rink by Somewhat Simple

cc--blanket-run--journeywithjohnsons.com.png

Blanket Run by Journey with Johnsons

cc--yart-yahtzee--lifed=ewsavory.com.png

Yard Yahtzee by Life Sew Savory

cc--water-blastaers--momendeavors.com.png

DIY Water Blasters by Mom Endeavors

cc--ladder-game--homemadeheather.com.png

Ladder Golf from Homemade Heather

Tin Can Toss Game (source unknown)

cc--football-toss--cherishedbliss.com.png

Football Toss from Cherished Bliss

Giant Jenga by Lemon Thistle

cc--bean-bag-ladder-toss--landeelu.com.png

Bean Bag Ladder Toss from Landeelu

cc--bean-bag-toss-w-bowls--onemoremoore.com.png

Bean Bag Toss with Bowls from One More Moore

cc--Koob-lawn-game--letsgettogether.com.png

Koob Lawn Game from Let’s Get Together

cc--pool-noodle-toss--whilehewasnapping.com.png

Pool Noodle Toss Game from While He Was Napping

cc--kiddie-car-wash--momendeavors.com.png

Kiddie Car Wash from Mom Endeavors

cc--pool-noodle-obstacle-course--learnplayimqagine.com.png

Pool Noodle Backyard Obstacle Course from Learn Play Imagine
(website not available)

cc--giant-matching-game--studiodiy.com.png

DIY Giant Matching Game from Studio DIY

cc--giant-bananagrams--constantlylovestruck.com.png

DIY Giant Bananagrams from Constantly Lovestruck

cc--glow-dark-capture-flag--letsgettogether.com.png

Glow in the Dark Capture the Flag by Let's Get Together

cc--giant-dominoes--lemonthistle.com.png

Giant Dominoes from Lemon Thistle

cc--over--sized--checker-board--atthepicketfence.com.png

Oversized Checkers from At the Picket Fence

Colored Shaving Cream (Unknown Source)

cc--spray-away-game--planetoftheapels.com.png

Spray Away Game from Planet of the Abels

cc--batting-practice--icandyhomemade.com.png

Batting Practice with Water Balloons from I Candy Homemade
(website not available)

cc==coke-bottle-bowling--polkadotchair.com.png

Coke Bottle Outdoor Bowling Game from Polka Dot Chair

cc--balloon-tnnis--littlebinsforlittlehands.com.png

Balloon Tennis from Little Bins for Little Hands

cc--glow-in-dark-bowling--craftsbyamanda.com.png

Glow in the Dark Bowling from Crafts by Amanda

cc--tarp-slip--littlehandsbigworld.com.png

Tarp Slip and Slide from Little Hands, Big Works
(website not available)

cc--soccer-goal--icanteachmychild.com.png

Soccer Goal from I Can Teach My Child

Rainbow Paver Hopscotch from Happiness is Homemade

Backyard KerPlunk Game from Design Dazzle

cc--carnival-gaes--aturtleslifeforme.com.png

Carnival Games from A Turtle’s Life for Me

cc--plinko-game--happinessishomemade.com.png

Plinko Game from Happiness is Homemade

cc--climbng-wall--impatientycrafty.com.png

Climbing Wall by Impatiently Crafty (website not available)

cc--hook-and-ring-game--H20Bungalow.com.png

Hook and Ring Game from H2O Bungalow

cc--marshmallow-shooters--happinessishomemade.com.png

Marshmallow Shooters from Happiness is Homemade

cc--pool-noodle-racetrack--ramblingsfromutopia.com.png

Pool Noodle Racetrack from Ramblings from Utopia

DIY Pool Cards by Parenting Chaos

cc--outdoor-movie-screen--runningwithscissors.com.png

Outdoor Movie Screen by Running with Scissors
(website not available)

41. Ghost in the Graveyard
To play Ghost in the Graveyard designate a home base in your yard. Ask for a volunteer to be the ghost. Everyone on the home base turns around so the ghost can hide in the yard. Once you’re ready the kids run through the yard. The object of the game is for the ghost to try and catch as many players as they can. Once you’re tagged, you become a ghost. If you see the ghost while you’re running, you yell “Ghost in the Graveyard” and try to run back to home base before you get tagged.

42. Steal the Bacon
Divide your group into two and assign each player a number. Each team should have a one and a two, for example. Set a boundary line for each team and place your "bacon" in the middle. The bacon could be a ball or any toy of your choosing. When you call out a number, that player from each team tries to capture the bacon and get it back over to their boundary line. The first person to do this without being tagged wins. It's one of those quintessential games for kids that parents likely remember playing during PE class.

43. Red Light, Green Light
This one will really get the energy flowing and the adrenaline pumping. Perfect for even the youngest kids in the family, this game teaches you to be quick on your feet and obey the "stop light." One person is chosen as the stop light and they stand at one end of the yard. The rest of the players are the "traffic." When the stop light calls out "Red Light!", they face the traffic and try to catch anyone who is moving toward them. Then, he or she will turn their back to the traffic players, saying "Green Light!", and those players will rush forward until he or she turns again, saying, "Red Light!" Anyone caught moving must return to the starting line. The first person to tag the traffic light player gets to be the next traffic light.

44. Capture the Flag
To start, collect old T-shirts, bandanas, or socks to use as flags if you don’t have any flags on hand. The brighter the better—and try to keep them all the same size, if you can. Divide your group into two or more teams. You can give each team one or multiple flags to hide in their designated territory of the yard or park. Once the game starts, teams try to steal their enemies’ flags from the opposing teams and bring them back to the home base. The kids can decide who should guard their flags and who should seek them out. If an opposing team member taps or tags you, you are either out, frozen in “jail” until someone from your team tags and thus unfreezes you, or the player can join the opposing team.

45. Spud
For the game of spud, all you need is a ball and a group of kids. To start, throw the ball into the air and choose one child’s name to yell out. You can also assign each kid a number if you have a large group. That child must catch the ball while all the others scatter away. Once they have the ball, the other players are frozen. The player with the ball can walk toward the closest player, taking four steps and spelling out SPUD. Once they reach a player, the kid can roll or toss the ball toward the player trying to tag them. Balls should be aimed below the waist. The player can’t move their legs, but they can duck or swerve. If they get hit, they now have an S. If they are missed, the ball thrower has an S. Once you spell out SPUD, you’re out. The last one standing wins this backyard game.

46. Freeze Dance
Freeze dance is one of the easiest games for kids—and maybe the most fun to play. All you need is a little bit of space and some music. Start the music and everyone in the group dances. When the music stops, everyone should FREEZE. Those you keep grooving are now out. Don't move again until the music starts. To make the game harder, keep the music off for a few seconds and see who wiggles.

47. Hide and Seek
Hide and seek is a classic outdoor game that everyone knows and loves to play it seems. Make the outdoor version extra fun by using trees and patio furniture for hiding places. One person is the seeker, counting loudly with their eyes closed until everyone finds a hiding place. Once the counting is finished, the seeker tries to find where everyone is hidden.

48. Tug of War
To play Tug of War, all that is needed is a sheet or a rope and an old T-shirt or bandana. Place an object or another rope on the ground to create the center point. On the rope, tie the T-shirt or bandana at the center. The object of the game is to have two teams on either end of the rope trying to pull the bandana on the center over to their side of the center line on the ground. The first team to pull it across the center is the winner.

49. Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is a great game to play indoors or outdoors. Try our printable scavenger hunts for inspiration, or take a walk or grab some objects from around the house and find some hiding spots. Have the kids find them using a map of clues. For small objects, give each a bucket or basket to collect their treasures. This can be as easy or detailed as you like.

50. The Grass Is Lava
You can use pool floats, blankets, towels, yoga mats, and even a trampoline to devise the course. The goal is to have your kids reach each item on the ground without stepping on the grass (the lava). If someone falls off or falls into the lava, they are out. The last one standing wins. If you don't have a backyard, this can be played in a driveway or at the beach.

51. Spider Web
Making an outdoor spider web takes a little prep time, but it’s a great way to get kids outside. Rope or ribbon work well to create a spider web pattern on the grass. Have your kids try to jump between the ropes into the grass sections without touching the "spider web." Whoever makes it into every open space without touching the web wins.

52. Sprinkler Tag
The old-fashioned sprinkler is always a hit with the kids (and it’s great for your grass). Throw the sprinkler on and let the kids run wild. Make it a game of sprinkler tag to see who can run under without getting hit. If you can’t cross to the other side, you’re out. Check out more water games for kids to keep cool this summer.

Your second block of text...