Tired of watching your kids sit in front of the television or play computer games? Need a few ideas to keep them active and entertained? Make this summer one to remember with these “kid-approved” summer fun favorites sure to keep children healthy and fit. Here are the most popular outdoor party games kids will love, complete with a list of required supplies. Stock up in advance — these games are so fun your children may not want to come back inside when the day is done! - Scavenger Hunt. Adaptable for young children to teens, scavenger hunts encourage critical thinking skills, grouping and exploration.
What You’ll Need: Fun party favors and copies of the treasure list.
Rules: Scavenger hunts are a lot like an Easter egg hunt — simply hide the objects in advance then supply each child (or group of children) with a list of items to be found. The person or group who locates the most items wins!
Variations: Scavenger hunts are a great party game that can easily be modified to fit almost any theme! Be sure to select age-appropriate toys and hiding locations for younger children.
- Ring Toss. A simple but fun game, the ring toss encourages eye-hand coordination and friendly competition.
What You’ll Need: Simple ring toss games are available for under $20.
Rules: The Ring Toss game is simple — just install the stick into the ground, set a line for participants to toss from, and then see who can get the most rings on the stick!
Variations: Oversized, non toxic, bright plastic ring toss games are available for younger children. Make the line closer to avoid frustration then move it farther back as eye-hand coordination improves.
- Sack Race. Sure to bring back memories to old timers, this outdoor party game is as fun as ever with the added benefit of keeping kids healthy and active.
What You’ll Need: Big Strong Sacks. Clean burlap, feed/grain sacks were the traditional choice but almost any large sack will do. Specially made sack race bags are also available for purchase.
Rules: The objective is simple — be the first to pass the finish line! Each child puts his or her legs into the sack then hops as fast as he or she can across the finish line.
Variations: If you can’t find large sacks then consider a three-legged race o.r “wheelbarrow” race instead.
- Hula Hoop and/or Jump Rope Contest. Coordination and cardio-vascular fitness are an added benefit to these fun competitions.
What You’ll Need: Enough hula hoops or jump ropes for each child.
Rules: Time who can go the longest without stopping.
Variations: Form teams to encourage interaction in larger groups.
- Cake Walk. A cake walk is a great way to make sure your guests don’t go home empty-handed. It’s also a game well-suited to different ages and abilities, making it a great choice for large groups.
What You’ll Need: Tape to mark out spaces, a large bowl to hold the numbers and a variety of cakes, party prizes or other gifts.
Rules: Clearly mark spaces with numbers on each spot that form a circle. Stop the music; pull a number out of the bowl and the person nearest to the number wins the cake or other prize!
Variations: For a healthy alternative use fresh fruits, small toys and other incentive prizes rather than cakes or sweet treats. Party prizes can be easily purchased to match a theme or other setting. Instead of standing, participants can also sit to create added fun.
Whether celebrating a big birthday bash or having a casual get-together with family and friends, these great outdoor activities are sure to keep everyone entertained for hours. This summer, leave a legacy of fun for your children or grandchildren as they re-experience the simple pleasures in life when you introduce these favorite outdoor party games known and loved for generations.
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