Family time has never been more important. We live in an increasingly digital world where we spend hours on devices.
There is nothing quite like unplugging and getting outdoors to play to make sure that the family connection is reinforced.
Ping pong might be a timeless classic, but today, we’ll talk you through some activities that can turn your backyard or a trip to the local park into hours of fun and laughter.
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Classics That Will Never Die
We are getting the ball rolling with some games that have stood the test of time and passed from generation to generation.
Games that have brought the family together for countless years are perfect for impromptu fun in the backyard.
Capture the Flag: A Staple
For an easy physical game that thrives on teamwork and strategy, you can´t beat Capture the Flag, which goes by many names.
The premise is simple: divide into two teams, sneak your way into the opposition’s camp, steal their flag, and take it back to your base without being tagged.
Hide and Seek: A Game That Endures
Hide and seek is and always will be top of outdoor family games. For younger children, it is thrilling; for older kids, it might seem a little tired.
One great way to give it a fresh twist is to play in the dark with glow sticks.
This adds a layer of creativity to where you pick to hide to make sure you aren’t advertizing where you are with the glow!
Regardless of age or how you decide to play it, hide and seek is bound to bring a little laughter while you try to stay hidden.
Kick the Can: Lesser-Known But With Huge Merits
In this timeless classic, one person is left to guard a can. The aim of the game, as the name suggests, is to kick the can over without being tagged by the guard.
It is an energetic, challenging game that combines elements of tag and hide-and-seek and requires a little strategy. Team members will have fun trying to distract the guard while their companion gets close enough to kick.
Family Games For Those a Little More Competitive
A little competition never hurts; sometimes, some friendly rivalry makes a game all the more engaging and can bring out the funniest side of your family.
Cornhole With Added Challenges
Something simple like cornhole can be made far more interesting by adding unique challenges.
Fun twists like throwing backward, blindfolding, or tying up your dominant hand can bring out the competitive nature in just about anyone.
It’s age-inclusive, and you can use a scoreboard and organize some prizes to encourage competition.
Invest in a Ladder Toss
Ladder toss is an inexpensive backyard game that is far more challenging than it appears on the surface.
A Ladder toss kit consists of a 3 or 5-rung ladder and a set of bolas, which is essentially two balls joined with a string.
Players take turns tossing it onto the rungs of the ladder; each rung is worth a different score.
It takes a little skill to master a good technique, and people of all ages can play it. It is lightweight, portable, and easy to set up in minutes.
Dodgeball with Water Balloons
When summer hits and the days are hot, a game of dodgeball with water balloons is just the thing you need.
Everyone is familiar with the rules of this one, and anyone can play. Sure, it might take a little preparation to set up, but with many hands on deck, it is light work and tons of fun!
Keep cool and active while the hilarity ensues– just make sure you have towels and spare clothing ready!
Family Games That Require Teamwork
Ultimately, the aim of playing family games is to strengthen bonds. The best way to do that is by playing cooperative games that encourage teamwork, trust, and great communication skills.
Human Knot: A Game that Requires No Resources
Human knot can be played at the drop of a hat; it is a fun warm-up game before other activities begin. Things can get quite silly, which is the best kind of family fun.
Start this icebreaker by simply standing in a circle. Then, on the count of three, each person grabs two hands at random, creating a human knot.. Then the aim is simply to untangle it without breaking hands.
It can be a lot more challenging than you might think and requires a bit of logic, flexibility, and plenty of patience.
Planning an Adventurous Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are another game that will never get old; they can be done in small families or large, and you can even get the neighbourhood involved.
You can keep it simple with a list or be elaborate and create clues that take time to decipher.
Make it competitive by adding a prize and splitting and playing in pairs or teams. A great way to encourage family bonding is to get older siblings to create a scavenger hunt for younger family members.
DIY Relay Obstacle Courses
Building a homemade obstacle course might sound overwhelming, but it can be done using hula hoops, ropes, cones, or whatever you have to hand, such as pillows.
Racing through in teams in a relay style gets everyone moving. Cheering one another on and supporting the weakest link makes it a great bonding opportunity.
You can make it timed and add prizes or play with household chores as penalties for an additional competitive edge.
Energetic Games For Larger Gatherings
When the relatives come from out of town, and there´s a crowd, the following classic games are great for scaling up.
A Timeless Tug of War
With a good rope and enough room, tug of war is unlimited in terms of numbers. You can play in mixed teams divided by age or height, or even sides of the family tree. Just try to keep it fair for the little ones.
Why Not Buy A Giant Jenga?
Getting your hands on a giant outdoor version of this tabletop hit literally takes the game to new heights.
With oversized blocks, the youngsters require the help of older team members to play. You can raise them on your shoulders to stack and remove them.
The suspense of the original game is elevated because of the towering size, and it is as silly as it is intense.
Balloon Popping Relay Race
For a fast-paced, high-energy game that will get the family cracking up, try a balloon-popping relay race. All you need is a bag of balloons, inflated to the point of bursting, placed accordingly in an outdoor space.
Split into teams and send each player to race to a balloon of their team’s color. Sit on it until it pops, signaling the next player to run.
The game can be made more elaborate with trivia or silly dares before each balloon is raced to. This one guarantees a giggle whether participating or watching from the sidelines.
Outdoor Family Games With an Educational Edge
Who said family fun couldn´t be educational? With younger kids, there are some great activities that are enriching and engaging, and they double up as educational opportunities in disguise.
Create Nature Bingo Cards
This one is ideal for little ones. You can get older siblings to make the bingo cards.
Just glue or draw items they might encounter on a family walk, like pinecones, bird feathers, butterflies, and flowers.
Then, let them check off the items that they find as they explore the world around them.
Homemade STEM Activities
Collect a bunch of household supplies such as string, paper, tape, and straws. Give your kids the challenge of constructing a specific goal either alone, in pairs, or as a family team.
Some great ideas include a bridge, a boat that can stay afloat, or the tallest tower possible. It encourages logical thought and creativity and can be hours of fun.
Map Out a Treasure Hunt
A treasure hunt can be a thrilling game that doubles as an opportunity for teaching life skills such as map reading. All you need to do is map out your backyard or the local park and choose your treasure.
You can even introduce compass use and make it a real challenge. Adding clues can lengthen the activity and make it more of a brain teaser.
Tech Tips for Safe Outdoor Play
Ideally, outdoor play encourages disconnection from devices, but sometimes tech can enhance the experience.
Outdoor smart speakers add a little party music and elevate the vibe at a family reunion. A game of remote tracking hide-and-seek with shared locations or fitness trackers can bring a modern twist to a classic.
Allowing relatives to FaceTime in from afar to watch the family gathering that they couldn´t make is sometimes a necessity.
So tech has itś place, but with it come safety concerns, and we would be remiss not to address them before concluding this post.
The best advice is to check out a reputable VPN to keep your network secure, especially if you’re connecting on public Wi-Fi or playing as a family across locations. Click here for more info on how a VPN can keep you safe online.
Conclusion: Family Play is Powerful
Some of the stats in recent years show that children spend 35% less time playing outside freely than their parents did.
It is a sorry state of affairs, especially considering the benefits that outdoor play provides.
Whether young or old, getting outside and spending quality time together as a family is more than just fun and fresh air.
Outdoor games, provide a challenge, help strengthen family bonds, encourage communiation skills and even provide learning opportunities.
Hopefully todayś suggestions will have inspired you to get creative and enjoy some outdoor play.
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