10 Exciting Outdoor Activities Games for Kids

10 Exciting Outdoor Activities Games for Kids

As summer approaches, parents and caregivers are searching for ways to keep kids active and engaged throughout the long, hot days. One of the best ways to do so is to encourage kids to play outside. Below, we’ve compiled a list of ten exciting outdoor activity games for kids that will not only get them moving but also spark their imaginations and help them develop important social skills.

1. Capture the Flag: An oldie, but a goodie, Capture the Flag never gets old. It’s a classic game that involve teamwork, strategy, and physical activity. Choose teams and set up boundaries, then hide your flag. The objective is to capture the other team’s flag without getting tagged by their members.

2. Red Light, Green Light: A fun game that helps develop listening skills and reflexes. One child is chosen as the stoplight and stands at the finish line. The rest of the players start at the starting line. When the stoplight calls out “green light,” players try to make it to the finish line. When the stoplight calls out “red light,” players must freeze. The first player to reach the finish line wins and becomes the next stoplight.

3. Obstacle course: With a bit of imagination, you can turn your backyard into an obstacle course that will challenge kids’ physical abilities. Obstacles can include hula hoops to jump through, cones to run around, a balance beam to walk along, and a rope to climb.

4. Scavenger Hunt: A scavenger hunt is a great way to get kids exploring nature as well as developing problem-solving and teamwork skills. Create a list of items — such as acorns, wildflowers, and pinecones — and send kids on a hunt to find them.

5. Water balloon dodgeball: A fun way to cool off on a hot day. Fill up some balloons with water, divide into two teams, and go to town throwing them at each other. The team with the most players left standing wins.

6. Simon Says: Another classic game that never gets old. One player acts as Simon and gives commands (“Simon says touch your toes,” “Simon says jump up and down,” etc.) The other players must follow the commands, but only if Simon says “Simon says.” If they follow a command that doesn’t start with “Simon says,” they are out.

7. Hopscotch: A traditional game that is fun and helps develop balance and coordination. Draw a hopscotch grid with chalk on your driveway or sidewalk, grab a rock or other object to throw, and let the hopping begin.

8. Kickball: Similar to baseball, but with a much bigger ball and less complicated rules. Kids take turns kicking the ball (rolled or tossed by the pitcher) and attempting to run the bases, while the fielding team tries to get them out by catching the ball and tagging the runner with it.

9. Tag with a twist: Add a fun twist to the classic game of tag by introducing different types of tags, such as “freezing tag” (when a player is tagged, they have to freeze in place until another player un-freezes them) or “color tag” (when the player who is “it” calls out a color and everyone wearing that color becomes “it”).

10. Outdoor art: Not all outdoor activities games for kids have to be physical. Encourage kids to channel their creativity by setting up an outdoor art station with chalk, paint, and other supplies.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to get kids off their screens and into the great outdoors. These outdoor activities games for kids are fun, engaging, and will help them develop crucial skills that will benefit them down the line. Whether you have a backyard full of space or a small section of the park to work with, these games are sure to get kids moving, thinking, and laughing.