Planning outdoor activities for kids can be SO much fun!
I don’t know about you, but some of my favorite memories as a kid were made by playing outside!These outdoor activities for kids are perfect for backyard play, a party, or even a school event!
Inside this article, you’ll find learning, art, active and water game outdoor activity ideas for you to do with your kids!
Let’s dive into my 42 FUN Outdoor Activities for Kids.
Activity #1: Color Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are the best outdoor activities for kids!
It’s so fun during the spring and summertime to get outside and look for the beautiful colors!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardboard
- box cutter
- paint/markers
- clothespins
- acrylic paint
B. Set-up
Create a rainbow shape using a pencil on a piece of cardboard then, cut it out using box cutter!
Use acrylic paint to paint the colors of the rainbow or colors that you want to search for (you see I’m missing blue and added pink and brown).
C. Activity
Clip the clothespins on the board so the objects will be secured there!
Go outside and start searching for some different colors! I ended up taking the kids to the Metroparks to find some different colored objects. We didn’t have a bunch in our own yard, and it makes for a fun field trip outdoors!
RELATED: How to Teach Colors to Toddlers
Activity #2: Hula Hoop Clock
Want to teach your kiddo how to tell the time in an interactive and fun way?
Create this simple hula hoop clock activity! It’s such a simple set-up, and it’ll have your kids excited to learn about the clock.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- one hula hoop
- sidewalk chalk
- two sticks (one long and one short).
B. Set-up
Write the numbers of the clock on the inside of the hula hoop with the sidewalk chalk.
On the outside of the hula hoop, write the minutes next to each number to learn that concept.
C. Activity
Place the two sticks in a position for the kids to be able to tell the time! I suggest starting with easier times like 1:00, 2:00, etc.
You can challenge older kids by asking them harder times like 3:30, 10:45, or 6:15.
Activity #3: Outdoor Alphabet Match
This water-play alphabet match activity will have your kids excited to practice the alphabet!
I love using sidewalk chalk for activities; it couldn’t be easier to set up!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- large container
- foam/plastic letters
- sidewalk chalk
B. Set-up
Fill the large container up with water and place the letters in the water. Then, write the letters of the alphabet using sidewalk chalk.
C. Activity
Younger kids can search through the water and match the foam/plastic letters on the correct letter written in sidewalk chalk.
Challenge older kids to find specific letters and say the sound they make to work on phonics skills with them!
This can also turn into a reading game by having your older kids work on creating words. Just write the letters of the word in sidewalk chalk instead!
RELATED: How to Teach Toddlers the Alphabet
Activity #4: Chalk Letter Matching
Don’t have any letters? This is another simple way you can practice the alphabet!
This activity is easy to pull off and is effective. These types of activities are my favorite kind! Plus, they are perfect even for the busiest of parents.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
B. Set-up
Write down upper case letters on one side and lower case letters on the opposite side.
C. Activity
Have your child use a piece of sidewalk chalk to match the upper case and lower case letters!
Have an older one who wants to join in? Challenge them to write the letters, then match them!
RELATED: Alphabet Activities For Kids
Activity #5: Squirt the Sight Word
Bringing in some squirt guns is SURE to be a major hit!
My kids are instantly engaged when I bring these out for a learning activity.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
B. Set-up
Write some sight words on your driveway or sidewalk. I like to use a variety of different colors!
C. Activity
Ask your child to find a specific word, and they will use to water gun to squirt that word!
They will be SO excited to do this activity! You may even need to add a few new words to the list because they love it so much!
RELATED: Sight Word Activities for Preschoolers
Activity #6: Color Hop
Color hop is an active game for kids to practice color recognition!
This outdoor activity is PERFECT for toddlers and preschoolers. Involving some movement in learning makes it more memorable for them.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
B. Set-up
With sidewalk chalk, create several circles in a circular formation with different colors that you want to practice with your little one.
C. Activity
Ask them to hop to a specific color. Once they get on that color, have them say what color it is, then ask them to hop over to the next color.
When practicing hopping skills, give them a tip to hop with both feet together like a bunny.
Have an older one you want to challenge? Try to do different locomotor activities for each color (skipping, galloping, leaping, walking, running, and side-sliding).
RELATED: Active Preschool Games
Activity #7: Locomotor Shape Game
One fun fact about me is that I am a physical education teacher! I have been for ten years now. So, I love coming up with learning activities that can get my kids moving.
Teaching your little ones how to do locomotor movements will get them prepared for PE and sports.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
B. Set-up
Draw several shapes that you want to work on with your little one on the sidewalk or your driveway.
C. Activity
Ask them to perform a specific locomotor activity for each shape! Examples of locomotor movements are skipping, leaping, galloping, sliding, walking, and running!
By asking them to perform the movement to each shape, they will work on shape recognition and active movements that are important for their well-being and coordination!
RELATED: 6 PROVEN Ways to Teach Your Toddler Shapes
Activity #8: Addition Balloon Toss
Learning that involves water balloons? Sign me up!
This is sure to be an instant outdoor activity for your kids that they will LOVE!
How to do this activity
A. Materials needed
B. Set-up
Fill the water balloons up with water and, with a sharpie, write a bunch of different addition equations on the balloons.
With sidewalk chalk, write the answer to the problems you created. For example, if you wrote 3+1 on a balloon, you’d create a circle with the number 4 in it.
C. Activity
Your kids will read the problem on each balloon and throw the balloon at the circle they believe is the solution to the math problem!
RELATED: Addition Activities for Kids
Activity #9: Nature Measurements
My kids love to search for objects in nature. They have their little collections of things they find, which are so cute.
I gave them the task of finding some things in our backyard that are different sizes!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- nature materials (sticks, rocks, leaves, cattails, grass, flowers, etc.)
B. Set-up
Gather a bunch of different nature materials and place them out on your driveway or sidewalk.
C. Activity
Place all of the materials next to each other so it’s easy for your kids to see the different lengths of each item.
Challenge them to place the items in order from the shortest to the longest. For little ones, just grab 3-4 things to start; you can always grab more! Older kids can grab as many as they’d like!
Activity #10: Squirt Gun Reading Words
This outdoor activity for kids is fun for them and a way for you to get some learning in! It’s a win-win.
Plus, they also get to work on their aiming skills!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- plastic cups
- labels
- squirt gun
B. Set-up
On white labels, write some reading words that you want to work on with your little one. I chose to do some rhyming words to work on reading and rhyming at the same time!
Place the labels on the cups and place them face down on a flat surface outdoors. Leave a little room in-between each cup so it’ll be easy for them to hit a specific cup.
C. Activity
4. Ask them to find a word, and they will aim their squirt gun at it and shoot the water at the cup they believe is the word. The cup will get knocked over, and they will get so excited!
5. Do this for each cup! It may be such a hit that you may have to do it over and over again.
Activity #11: Ice Chalk
Want to win the best parent of the day award?
Try this DIY ice chalk activity with your kids! This is the perfect summer activity for kids!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- sidewalk chalk
- cheese grater
- corn starch
- ice tray
- measuring cup.
B. Set-up
Use a cheese grater to make the sidewalk into a powder form. Use about half a piece of sidewalk chalk of all the colors you want to do. Dump that into a measuring cup.
Add in 2 tablespoons of corn starch and 4 tablespoons of water. Mix with a spoon!
Dump the liquid into the ice tray.
If you use half of a piece of chalk, this will fill about 2 sections of the ice tray. Do this process for each color you want to use!
I placed half of a popsicle stick in each ice tray container, so it’s easier for the kids to hold onto, and it’s not as messy on their hands!
C. Activity
Pop in the freezer and use it when you want!
*TIP*: Use a hose and spray down the area that you are using the ice paint on first to glide easier for the kids. Also, spray down the area when you are done for easier clean-up! I have heard that it could potentially stain newer concrete areas, so don’t use it on those areas of your home!
Activity #12: Popped Bubble Art
I don’t think I have met one child who doesn’t love bubbles!
Creating popped bubble art is fun for kids of all ages! Adding color into bubbles makes them even better!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- bubble solution
- food coloring
- bowls
- bubble wands
- cardstock paper (this paper is thicker, and it holds up better than printer paper).
B. Set-up
In a bowl, fill it 1/2 full with bubble solution. Then, add around 5-7 drops of food coloring in each bowl for each color. Mix it well!
C. Activity
Dip the bubble wand in the mixed-up solution and blow bubbles onto the cardstock paper!
Add a little learning into the mix by talking about what colors you can mix to create a new color! For example, red and blue make purple. Let your kids get creative by trying to mix colors.
Activity #13: Squirt Gun Painting
Looking for a fun new way to paint with your kids? They will love using a squirt gun to paint and create a masterpiece!
I was shocked at how much my kids liked this outdoor activity. It’s something we do now every summer.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- squirt guns
- liquid watercolors
- canvas
B. Set-up
Put the liquid watercolors in each squirt gun! I used 4 squirt guns with different colors inside.
C. Activity
Let the kids spray away! Easy as that. They will LOVE seeing the colors appear and drip down the canvas!
Activity #14: Paint with Nature
Painting with different types of materials in nature will be exciting for your kids.
It’s such a cool way to explore the textures of nature while painting!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- paper (I prefer easel paper since it’s longer)
- washable kids paint
- nature items (leaves, sticks, cattails, flowers, etc.)
B. Set-up
Gather all the materials you want in nature. Try to grab a variety of textures, sizes, and patterns.
Tape down the piece of paper on a flat surface outdoors. Put some paint on the paper or in a paint tray.
C. Activity
Let your little ones go to work! First, let them explore the objects you gathered, dip them in paint and use them to mark the paper. Then, talk about the textures of the objects (smooth, rough, bumpy, etc.).
Activity #15: Tree Bark Rubbings
Want a simple and fun outdoor art activity?Tree bark rubbing is a different way to create art, and your kids will love trying something new!
I always look for ways to try new things, and this was a major hit with both my kids!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
B. Set-up
Tape the piece of paper onto a tree and have all your art supplies ready for your child to start drawing.
C. Activity
With crayons/markers, have your child draw on the piece of paper to create markings. You kids can create as many markings as they want! It’ll be fun for them to try different colors and explore the texture of the tree bark.
Activity #16: Exploding Paint Bombs
This was the biggest hit with my kids! The anticipation of waiting for the explosions is the best!
Don’t worry; it’s not a real explosion :). Just an explosion of color on the paper!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- film canisters
- washable paint
- Alka-Seltzer
- cardstock paper
B. Set-up
Fill up each film canister 1/2 way with different washable paint.
Add in 1/2 of an Alka-Seltzer tablet to each of the film canisters. Put the top on each one and flip it upside down with the lid facing down on the paper.
C. Activity
Wait for it to explode! This is the best part 🙂 The kids will LOVE watching it shoot up in the air!
TIP: Make sure to have the kids stand back a few feet away from the paper so they don’t get hit with the canister when it pops up!
Check out the fantastic marks it leaves on the paper.
RELATED: My 10 FAVORITE Learning Supplies For Kid’s Activities
Activity #17: Shadow Drawings
Want to WOW your kids? Try doing a shadow drawing activity with them!
This activity works the best around 4 pm with the sunlight!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- construction paper
- object to trace (animal figures, cars, dinosaurs, etc.)
- art tray
B. Set-up
On a flat surface outside, place a piece of construction paper on an art tray.
Place the object at the edge of the paper facing the sunlight, casting a shadow on the paper.
C. Activity
Let your kids go to work tracing the object on the paper! Give them some art supplies like colored pencils, crayons, and markers to color it in once they traced the object’s outline.
Activity #18: Tug-O-War
This is a classic game that never gets old! It can even be done with 2 people!
Tug-O-War is the perfect game to add to your outdoor game list!
Equipment
- Tug -O- War rope
Instructions
- Lay the rope in a straight line and split the kids up into 2 even teams.
- Place one group on one side of the rope, and the other team should go on the opposite side.
- The kids should line up in a straight line on each side and pick up the rope.
- On the GO signal, each team will be pulling as hard as they can.
- The object of the activity is to try to be the team to pull the other team, so they cross the line first with their feet before their team crosses the line.
- Once the first persons in line’s feet cross the line, the other team has won!
Activity #19: Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate frisbee was a fan favorite of my students when I was teaching! It’s a competitive and fast-moving game.
I love that it’s constantly changing sides, so the kids have to pay attention at all times!
Equipment
Instructions
- Split the group into 2 even teams.
- You can see who will start with the Frisbee by doing rock, paper, scissors; the team that wins gets to start with the Frisbee.
- The person that has the Frisbee can take 2 steps with it. The defense has to back 3 steps away from the person with the Frisbee.
- If the Frisbee hits the ground, it’s the other teams, Frisbee.
- The game’s object is to try to throw the Frisbee to teammates down the field to score in the end zone.
Activity #20: Pin Knock Over
Pin knock-over is a great aiming game for kids! They get to work on their throwing and rolling skills as well.
This can be done as an indoor or outdoor game!
Equipment
- dodgeballs
- cones
- foam/ bowling pins
Instructions
- Divide the group into two teams.
- To set up the game, each team should have an equal amount of pins on their side.
- The goal is to knock down the other team’s pins without crossing the half-court line.
- The students can roll or throw the balls.
- They are not throwing the balls at each other!
- If a player gets hit with the ball from their knee below, they have to perform 10 jumping jacks to return to the game.
Activity #21: Capture the Flag
I recently played capture the flag with my nephew and his friends at his 8th birthday party, and they had SO much fun!
They actually didn’t want to stop playing! They would have played the entire party, I think.
Equipment
Instructions
- Teams should be split up evenly.
- Each team will work together to create their own forts where their team’s flag will hide (3-4 minutes to complete this task!)
- On the GO signal, students can cross the middle line to try to get the other team’s flag.
- If they get tagged by someone on the other team, they must do 10 push-ups before entering back into the game, and they must go back to their side.
- If a student gets the flag and is on their way back with it and gets tagged, they must drop the flag where they got tagged.
- The team can’t pick the flag back up; it stays where they were able to run it to.
- If a team successfully grabs a flag, that round is over, and you will play again!
Activity #22: Obstacle Course
Outdoor obstacle courses are fun and easy to set up!
I love that they can be done over and over again too! The kids can even get timed to try to beat their score.
Equipment
- tunnel
- cones
- hula hoops
- balance beam
- pool noodles
- exercise ladder
- inflatable tire
- hippity hoop balls
Instructions
- The best thing about this activity is that you can be as creative with it as you want!
- You can use any equipment that I mentioned or other equipment that works well in your classroom/home.
- To make this competitive, you can time each student to see how quickly they can go through the course.
RELATED: 20 AWESOME Exercises for Kids
Activity #23: Softball Throw
I remember one of my favorite esports growing up was softball. So doing a softball throw at field day was one of the things that I looked forward to!
This is the easiest outdoor game set-up there is, which is always a win!
Equipment
- softball
- cones
- sticky notes
Instructions
- Have a starting point set for the kids to stand on to know where to throw the ball.
- Once they throw the ball, place a cone where the ball hit (not rolled to) and place a sticky note on the cone with the student’s initials on it.
- In the end, then you will be able to see who threw the ball the furthest!
Activity #24: Basketball Lay-Up Competition
This is another great sports competition that you can include on your outdoor game list!
Basketball activities are always a hit with kids and adults!
Equipment
- basketball hoops
- basketballs
- stopwatch
Instructions
- One person should be at each basket.
- A volunteer should be standing at each basket to count how many baskets they make.
- On the GO signal, the kids will have 2 minutes to see how many lap-up shots they can make.
- At the end of the 2 minutes, the volunteers will write down how many each child scored, and then the next group would go.
RELATED: Basketball Activities for 5-Year-Olds
Activity #25: Track and Field Events
At my school, the track and field events are the biggest part of our field day.
Some of these can’t be recreated at home, so this one is more for the teachers that can use the school facilities!
Equipment
- stopwatches
- batons
Instructions
- At one of the schools I taught at, we did the following events: 100m, 400m, 800m, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay.
- We also did long jump and shot and disc.
- If you are planning a middle school field day, these events are really fun for the students to be a part of! Everyone not involved is in the stands cheering on their teammates as well!
Activity #26: Bench Ball
Bench ball is perfect because it’s cooperative but also competitive!
It works on throwing, catching, defensive skills, strategy, and communication!
Equipment
- 2 gymnastics mats
- 2 hula hoops
- 1 football
- dodge balls
Instructions
- Split the group into 2 equal teams.
- Set two gymnastics mats up on each side of the playing area.
- One student from each team will go stand on the opposite sides mat (bench).
- The goal of the game is to get your team on the bench before the other one does.
- To get over to the bench, they must throw a ball over to their teammate on the mat, and they must catch it.
- Once someone makes it on the bench, they can help catch balls too.
- If they step off the mat, they have to return to their side.
- When someone catches the football on the mat, the person who throws it goes to the mat and can bring a friend!
- If anyone has a hard time throwing that far, I have put hula hoops out on each side that students can go into to throw the ball, only one person in the hoop at a time.
Activity #27: Sharks and Minnows/Octopus Tag
Sharks and minnows is a fan favorite by ALL the kids! Whenever there was a free choice day in class, this was always one of the choices the kids wanted!
If you have a group of kids at the house for a play date or a party, this is great to get the kids outside and have some fun.
Equipment
Instructions
- Create a playing area by setting up a rectangle of cones. This will be the starting line, finish line, and boundary lines during gameplay.
- Choose 2 kids to be the sharks. They will stand in the middle of the playing area!
- Have the minnows (kids that aren’t taggers) head to the starting line. Then, on the go signal, they will try to run to the side without getting tagged.
- If they get tagged, they turn into seaweed. They are stuck, but they can move their arms back and forth to tag others passing by them, but they can’t move their feet.
- Play will continue until all players get tagged by the sharks or the seaweed!
RELATED: Tag Games for Kids
Activity #28: Pool Noodle Hockey
Anyone else’s kids love to hit stuff?
I always tell my little guy not to hit the wall with toys or slam things to the floor.
Pool noodle hockey is an excellent way for kids to get their energy out and hit things without causing any problems! It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- pool noodles (at least 4, you may need more depending on how many people are playing)
- yard stakes
- a beachball
- knife to cut the pool noodle.
B. Set-up
Set 2 goals up across from each other by bending them to look like an arch. To do this, place yard stakes in the ground a few feet apart from each other.
Adults should do this next part! With a knife, cut a pool noodle in half, so it’s easier for your kids to use it as a hockey stick.
C. Activity
With a beach ball, the kids can try to hit the ball with the pool noodle to score in their goal! You can keep track of points, or you can just play for fun.
This game is great for hand-eye coordination, striking and aiming skills!
RELATED: Field Day Activities
Activity #29: Keep it Up
Keep it up is a great activity to work on hand-eye coordination skills as well as volleying!
Plus, it’s super simple to pull off, and your kids will love trying to beat their score.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
B. Activity
Have your child toss the ball up in the air with both their hands. Kids can use their hands, arms, legs, and feet even head to keep the ball up!
Get some learning in by keeping count (or you can) to see how many times they can do volley it up to themselves. Then, they can try over and over again to beat their score.
If they are struggling or you want to help them get a higher score, you can join in on the fun and have this be a two-player game, or even involve the whole family to see how many you can get as a group!
Activity #30: Fill the Bucket
This is such a fun and simple activity to do as a family! It’s perfect for summertime for a family get-together!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- 2 sponges
- 4 buckets
B. Set-up
Place the buckets a few about 30 steps apart from each other. Fill two of the buckets with water and leave two empty. Place a piece of painter’s tape inside the bucket about 1/3 of the way up so the kids know where they need to fill it up with water.
C. Activity
The players will start behind each bucket. The first person in line will be given a sponge.
On the GO signal, they will dip their sponge into the bucket of water.
They will run that sponge down to the empty bucket and squeeze the sponge so the water comes out of it. Once all the water is gone, they will run it back and give it to the next person to do the same thing. If there is no one else on their team, they will repeat this process over and over again!
The first team to get the water to reach the line is the winner!
Activity #31: Nature Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are one of my favorite things to do outside! It keeps the kids moving and excited to find the next thing.
We like to do these scavenger hunts when we are on a hike in the woods!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- My FREE Outdoor Scavenger Hunt worksheet
- clipboard
- pencil
Click HERE to Grab your FREE Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
B. Set-up
Print off the worksheets and grab something for your child to be able to mark what they found. I also suggest having a clipboard to make it easier to carry around and write on.
C. Activity
Walk around your yard or a park to find each thing on the list! Even if they don’t see everything the first time out, keep the worksheet so you can take it out to try to find the rest on the next outing.
RELATED: Teaching Resources
Activity #32: Tic-Tac-Toe Relay
This relay is SO much fun, and it’s super simple to pull off.
You only need two people to play! But this game could be played with a lot of people too.
Check out this video below to see how to play this game!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- Yard spray paint
- 2 different objects like paper plates or Frisbees for the two teams.
B. Set-up
With the yard spray paint (which is entirely safe to use and comes right off), make lines to create a tic-tac-toe board.
C. Activity
One person or team will have 3 objects, and the other team will have another set of 3 objects that are different (see picture above).
Create a starting line with cones or even the yard spray paint.
On the GO signal, the first person from each team will run to the tic-tac-toe board and place one of their objects in a space. They will then run back and either tag the next person in line or if there are only 2 people playing against each other, they will pick up the next object and run back to the board.
Play goes on until one person gets three in a row. You can do this up or down, side to side, or diagonally.
If all players have all their objects on the board and there is no winner, it’s a tie, and you can start over.
Activity #33: Water Balloon Spoon Relay
Spoon relays are perfect for an outdoor event or just for some backyard family fun.
Equipment
Instructions
- The players should be split up into even teams.
- On the GO signal, the first person in line will pick up a water balloon and place it on a spoon.
- They will walk down to the cones and back, trying not to drop the water balloon.
- If a water balloon drops but doesn’t break, they can pick it up and keep going.
- When it breaks, a volunteer will bring them a new one where it popped.
- Once they make it back to the beginning, they hand the spoon off to the next person, and the relay continues!
Activity #34: Sponge Tag
Kids and adults will all LOVE sponge tag!
It’s the perfect game to stay cool on a hot day, and it’s a fast-moving game to keep everyone engaged!
Equipment
- A large bucket of water
- sponges
Instructions
- You are trying not to be tagged in this game, but most kids will want to be!
- One player will start with a sponge. Then, they will try to tag other students with the sponge (they can’t throw it).
- When a student gets tagged, they will grab another sponge and join the tagger!
- The last player standing becomes the new tagger for the next round.
Activity #35: Water Balloon Volley
Teamwork and water?! Sounds pretty awesome to me.
The parachute is always a supply the kids go crazy for! This water activity may be one of their new favorites.
Equipment
- water balloons
- small parachutes/beach towels
- sports net
Instructions
- This game is very similar to the Parachute Volley that I mentioned earlier! The only difference is, is that you use a water balloon instead of a beach ball!
- The class will be split up into 2 teams, and each team will get a parachute that everyone will hold onto.
- One team will start the game by working together to throw the ball into the air, trying to get it over the net.
- The other team attempts to receive the balloon by moving where it will land to catch it.
- If the balloon doesn’t pop, they can send it over the net or pass it to the other group next to them.
- Scoring can be kept as regular volleyball is up to 25 rally scoring!
Activity #36: Beach Ball Blaster
Beach ball blaster is sure to be a hit! It’s great for some outdoor family time!
This is also a great one to use on field day or for some end-of-year classroom fun!
Equipment
- 2-3 large beach balls
- super soakers
- cones
Instructions
- There will be around 3-4 kids at each beach ball.
- Each person will get a super soaker.
- On the GO signal, the goal is for the teams to work together to shoot the ball with the water gun to make it move.
- They are trying to be the first team to get their beach ball to make it over the finish line!
Activity #37: Splash Out Hot Potato
This is such a fun spin on the classic hot potato game!
It’s wonderful for some an outdoor game for kids and families.
Equipment
- Splash Out Hot Potato Game
- water balloons
Instructions
- This is a version of hot potato, but better because WATER is involved!
- All of the kids will form a circle, and they will pass the potato until someone gets splashed!
- To play again, you just have to put in another water balloon.
Activity #38: Cup to Cup
Want the kids to get soaked? Cup to cup is the BEST game!
It’s such an easy outdoor game set-up too, which I always appreciate!
Equipment
- plastic cups
- buckets
- water
Instructions
- Break the students up into 2 equal teams and line them up in a straight line.
- The first person in line will dip their cup into a bucket of water.
- They will lift the cup over their head and try to get as much water as possible in the player’s cup behind them.
- This will continue throughout the line, and the last person will dump the water in another bucket.
- The team that has the most water in their bucket, in the end, is the winner!
Activity #39: Water Balloon Baseball
Baseball is one of my favorite outdoor games to play with the kids. It reminds me of my childhood!
This is a fun twist to the game that kids will LOVE!
Equipment
- baseball tees
- foam/plastic baseball bats
- water balloons
Instructions
- The students will form a line behind the home base to hit a water balloon.
- The balloon can be pitched, or they can choose to hit it off of a batting tee.
- Once they swing and the balloon pops, they will run to first base.
- The second person in line will then go, and each player will keep advancing on the field.
- Once a player gets to home plate, they will stand back in line, and if there is time, everyone can go again!
Activity #40: Duck Duck Goose (Water Style!)
Believe it or not, kids still love Duck Duck Goose!
I’m happy they do because it’s such a simple and fun game!
Equipment
- plastic cups
- water
Instructions
- All the players will sit in a circle.
- The “ducker” will have a cup of water.
- They will say “duck” like usual, but when they want to “goose” someone, they will dump the water on that person’s head!
- The person who gets splashed tries to run to tag them before they sit down in their spot.
Activity #41: Super Soaker Tower
You can do an outdoor STEM game with your kids that involves water guns? Sign me up!
Kids will love the building aspect of this game as well as knocking their buildings down!
Equipment
- Super Soaker water guns
- plastic cups
- small tables
- water
Instructions
- Players will form several lines depending on how many tables and super soakers that you have available.
- There should be a line where the player is shooting the water gun from.
- A volunteer will set up a small tower of 6 cups for the kids to knock over with the super soaker.
- They will get 30 seconds to try to knock the tower over.
- When the cups get knocked over, they will be set up for the next person.
- If they don’t get knocked over, they will hand the water gun to the next person in line.
Activity #42: Water Balloon Toss
I’m going to end the article with a classic outdoor game for kids.
A water balloon toss is never a bad choice when you are picking some fun outdoor activities.
Equipment
- water balloons
Instructions
- Each player will get a partner and a water balloon.
- They will stand a few feet away from each other to begin, and they will toss the water balloon back and forth to each other.
- After they both successfully catch the balloon, one player will take a step back.
- They will keep doing this until they drop their balloon and it pops.
- When it pops, they will get another balloon and start close again.
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
Planning some engaging outdoor activities for kids is fun for the entire family!
These games/activities are perfect for some backyard family time or even a family/classroom party.
Do you have any outdoor activities/games that you like to do with your family outside that I didn’t mention? Please let our community know about them! We would all benefit from your ideas!
Happy Learning!
