16 of the Best Outdoor Games for Kids

Outdoor games for kids 

Remember the fun you had outside when you were a kid?  Well, at the risk of listening to a million years old, kids these days are more likely to risk playing on their iPads than playing a game of Red Rover.  Cox to get some refreshing air with these outdoor games for kids guaranteed to keep your kids entertained.

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  1. Capture the flag

  Here is an old but goodie that you may remember from your summer camp days.  Divide the kids into two groups to play with and give each party a flag or some other marker.  Define a fairly large playing area and divide it into approximately equal portions.  (Don't worry about trees or shrubs - the barrier just adds to the fun)) The goal of the game is to drive the other team's "territory," capture their flag, and return it safely to your own.  But be careful: if you tag someone from the opposite party while in their space, you will be sent to prison.  Fortunately, if a member of your own team rushes to tag you for free, you can find it.  (Remember: only one person can be seized during each jailbreak!) The game ends when one team holds the flag from the other team and safely returns to their own territory.







  2. Duck, duck, duck

  Kids love this where everyone sits in a circle and waits for the "tagger" to touch their noggin.  When this person walks in and touches their head, they say "duck" or "goose," nothing happens if they say "duck" - but if they say "goose," that person has to get up and try to catch up.  The tagger needs to be created around the circle before they are taken and the empty space.  If the tagger is caught, they will have to sit in the middle of the circle and the catcher will now continue the game as the new tagger.







  3.  Hide and Seek

  No need to explain it, right?  Only, here's a quick refresher: A person is "seeker" and closes their eyes to count a certain number (ten seconds may be enough for a small space, but 5 seconds may be good for big ones).  Then the finder has to find out where the other players are hiding.  The first one is found and the next is the seeker and the last one wins the goal.









  ৪.  Red light, green light

  The name of the game  Be the first to reach the traffic light.  A person (whom he calls Sam) is "it" (meaning a traffic light) and stands with his back to the other players, who stand side by side in a line at least 15 feet away.  When Sam calls "the green light", the other players approach him until he spins around and says "red light" and everyone has to be frosty.  Sam then turns around and does it all over again.  If someone is spotted during the "red light" they have to go back to the starting line.  The first person to reach the traffic light and Sam wins.









  5. Frozen tags

  In this fun twist of the classic, the person who "it" tries to tag them with other kids (as in the traditional game) - but if a player is tagged, they must be frozen and frozen to another player (not tagged).  And freezes.  The game ends when everyone gets tired of having so much fun.








  6. Four squares

  You need a ball and some chalk to make this schoolyard favorite.  Use the chalk to divide a square court into four smaller squares and number them one by four.  There is one player standing in each square and the ball bounces from player to player.  This game has different rules and variations (such as double bouncing on each square or having two players in each square), but anyone who breaks the rules or fails to bounce the ball has to go down the square.  A class person makes rules and the object of the game is to stay in this valuable place as far as possible.







  7. Hopscotch

  Use chalk to make a hopscotch board on the pavement and number the squares from one to nine.  The first player stands behind the starting line and throws a rock over the square one.  He reached two squares on the rocks and then began walking on one leg until the whole magnet was nine.  Then he turned around and came back again.  After that, the same player throws the rock at Square Two and repeats the pattern.  If a player tosses their rock and misses the right square, their turn is over.







  8. Sardines

  This entertaining game is basically the opposite of hideous.  Here's how it works: One person hides while calculating another.  If you find a person who is hiding, you should join them in their hiding place.  The last person to lose the group.  (No need to jump while counting, cheater.)







  9. Marco Polo

  This is usually a summer game, because you need a pool to play it.  Get all the kids in the water and close their eyes on one of them and count to ten.  With their eyes closed, the player calls "Marco" to whom everyone responds to "Polo" who should try to look at the other player who is "it".  The one who gets caught "becomes" after all.







  10. Jump rope

  It's fun to jump on your own but it's more fun to do it with others.  For the Double Dutch you need three players and two ropes (two for rope work and one to jump) and there are plenty of rods that can add more fun.  Here are some ideas to get you started.







  11. Kick cans

  It's like a high-end look but with a panting twist.  Start the game the same way your classic version is, but place a can in the middle of the playing field.  When the "it" count is over, he goes off to look for other players.  If a person is tagged, they should go to a holding pen.  However, if any of the non-captive players manage to kick the can, everyone in the holding pen will be released.  The game ended when "it" captured everyone.







  12. Simon says

  On the go for boring car rides, let your kids stretch their limbs by taking the game out to the great outdoors.  A player is designated as Simon and starts by saying "Simon calls [insert action]" then everyone has to finish the action.  But here's the trick: If Simon prefers not to prefix with "Simon says," then anyone who does this action goes out.  The last man standing will become Simon for the next round.







  13. Red Rover

  The two groups face each other and stand in parallel lines holding hands.  Keep the parties about 20 feet apart at a good distance.  A line begins, shouting "Red Rover, Red Rover, send Jenny to the right."  Jenny would then leave her team line and move faster to the other team and try to break through her hands.  If he breaks he can take someone back to his squad.  But if he does not, he will have to join the line now.  The bottom line of one person is lost first.







  14. Parachute

  You will need to buy a large parachute for it but believe us it is worth the investment.  There are many different ways to play with 'Cheat', but here are a few ideas: Players can toss it all the way and all the way, they can throw it in the air and then run or they can place objects on parachutes and make them jump.  The possibilities are endless (and fun).







  15. Spikeball

  Kind of like volleyball, this game is great for kids of all ages (and older ones too).  To play, stand around the net and toss the ball over it.  When it comes back down, the other player drops the ball down.  Continue until there is enough of the players (which in our experience takes some time).







  16. Scavenger Hunt

  It takes a bit of planning, but here are some ideas to get you started: Kids try to collect all the items on their list to splash around in the backyard or park: something colorful, a pinecone, a flat rock, a flower or something in poke.  Get creative!



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