As high noon passes and the heat settles down a bit, get outdoors with your kids and play some fun backyard games. Go ahead and invite the neighbors and conduct a simple block party where the children can play and parents can get to know the neighbors next door, swap recipes and enjoy some great conversation. As for this grandmother, I liked to get into the games too. From playing tic-tac-toe in the grass to splash tag to cool me off – let the alfresco games begin.
Here are a few of my favorite backyard games to play – hope you like them too!
Tic-Tac-Toe in the Grass
This traditional game becomes an oversized version when played outdoors in the grass. Take duct tape and make a large grid on the ground. To make the playing pieces, use brightly colored socks and stuff them with dried beans or rice. Knot the ends securely to keep the stuff inside. Choose two colors that will show up nicely in the grass – say hot pink and turquoise. You will need 10 pieces, five of each color. Have the kids toss these homemade playing pieces into the squares, trying for three colors in a row – down, across or diagonal.
Jumbo Feet Stomp
The little children love playing this fun stomping game. Cut out three giant footprints from colored poster board. Begin by tossing two of the feet next to each other and have your child jump on them. Next, your child tosses the extra footprint a few inches ahead and takes a leap with one foot onto it. He then reaches back and grabs the previous foot and tosses it forward again. Continue this process. This activity will have your youngsters taking a fun walk around the backyard. If you have a bunch of kids, cut out jumbo feet for all to participate in this game.
The weather has been extremely hot this season, so if you feel like cooling down, play these next games that involve water.
Cool Limbo
Put on some island music and do the limbo dance under the garden hose. If you place a spray nozzle on the hose you can shoot a stream of water about four to five feet high letting the children pass underneath as they do the limbo dance. Lower the water stream as your game continues. See how many kids can go untouched by the water. How low can you go before you get all wet?
Batter Up Water Baseball
Gather the kids to play home run derby with this fun water game. Begin by preparing a bucket of water balloons for the pitcher. The player takes a plastic bat and swings at the water balloon. For every balloon that the batter can bust equals a home run.
Splash Tag
Bring out a big bath sponge and gather the children for a game of tag. The kids all run around like a normal game of tag, but this time “it” is carrying a big sponge soaking with water. Once a player is tagged he becomes the new “it.” There is no denying who got tagged in this game as the child tagged is soaking wet from the water-filled sponge.
These are just a few of my favorite backyard games, but believe me there are many to learn. Check the Internet and books for outdoor games. You can fill the entire summer with new games to play together.
Source: Personal Experience
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