10+ Fun and Engaging Outdoor Activities and Games for Kids

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10 Activities and Games That Encourage Outdoor Fun!

Once the spring and summer are here, it's time to jump out of hibernation and go outside. If you want to get your kids moving outdoors, you should try some activities to keep it enjoyable for them.

You could encourage them to draw or write outside or even make a fun game of hopscotch. Whatever you decide, these outdoor backyard games and activities are sure to inspire you.

Chalk Game

This is a cheap but effective way to keep kids busy in the yard. It also makes for a fun party game too. It's basically a play on the traditional hopscotch, except instead of drawing boxes, you write instructions with illustrations, for example, "twirl." It's a great activity that all the family can enjoy in the garden!

Treat Picnic

Could there be anything more fun than hosting a little picnic party? All you need are a few mason jars that act as drink containers, donuts, and some other cute treats. Pop on a tray and carry it outside to a designated picnic area for you and the kids to enjoy!

Water Target

What a fun game to play with kids and adults alike. Use some plastic bottles and cut a hole to make your target! Make sure to pop goggles on and use water pistols to fire water into the bottle!

Car Track

If you are in any way handy, this will provide hours of fun for kids. You can make the road using cement and paint it black. It will make a fun feature in your backyard too, and the shape you create can be as creative as you like.

Pass the Water

If there's anything kids love, it's water. This is a really cute game that will get all the kids involved. Basically, you pour water into a cup and line the kids up; each kid has to pour over their head into the next cup—it's up to each kid to catch the water. This also works really well as a trust-building exercise!

Disc Golf

Disc golf from dollar store basket and tomato cage. Place several of these in the yard and use a soccer ball or basketball to score points.

Outdoor Writing Materials

Get their creative juices flowing with outdoor writing materials. You can place items such as crayons and paper in a large plastic tub—it also makes tidying up afterward a synch.

Outdoor Dartboard

Darts is a fun activity for all the family. Build your own outdoor dartboard stand, which can be planted into a wooden pot to keep it stable. You can use an old board and varnish it then screw a dartboard to this.

DIY Mini Golf

Cardboard box upside down and wrapped it in red/white wrapping paper and cut the holes out of the box. Tape colored paper around the holes to make them stand out using double sided tape.

Frisbee Toss

For a simple, fun summer game that can be tweaked to your liking and made so inexpensively, try frisbee toss. See how many times it takes you to get the frisbee in the laundry basket. Great campsite game to play! The one with the lowest score is the winner!