Fun Games to Play With Young Kids Outside

Ball Games

• Outside games such as H-O-R-S-E (basketball game), volleyball and kickball will keep everyone busy for hours. Kickball is easy for all ages, and H-O-R-S-E is usually a good game for 7 years old and up. Volleyball is a game that all ages can play, but you may need to lower the net for the smaller kids. For these games, all you need is ball of choice, basketball hoop and a volleyball net.

Water Games

• Put up a volleyball net and drape a sheet over it so that each side is prevented from seeing the other. Fill a lot of water balloons and play volleyball with the filled balloons. With this game, you must toss the balloon over the net and the other team must catch it and throw it back. The team that uses up all its balloons loses. Or set up a slip n' slide and have the kids see who can go the farthest.

Marbles and Jacks

• You can buy a bag of jacks and a ball at a toy section in any retail store. Kids 5 and up can play. The game tests their ability to pick up a jack and catch the ball at the same time. Jacks have been around for years, and are still a popular outdoor games. Marbles is a game that any age can play. Spread the marbles out on the ground and each child has their own dominate marble. They use their finger to flick their marble at another marble and if they hit that marble, they get to add it to their collection. The one with the most marbles at the end, wins.

Jump-Rope Games

• Play some jump-rope games; use one rope or two. One game you can use a jump rope for is a variation of hopscotch. You draw your hopscotch squares on the cement and use a jump rope as you skip through the squares. This helps build coordination. Chinese jump rope is more of a skills game. You use elastic ropes so that the jumper can manipulate the rope while jumping.

Hide-and-Seek Games

• One hide-and-seek game that has been played for years, but is still not recognized in many neighborhoods, is kick the can. You need an empty can. The person who is "It" puts one foot on the can and counts to a specified number while everyone else hides. The "It" person tries to find the others before they can come into home and kick the can. When a new person is tagged, he becomes "It." Another variation of this game is using a tree as home base if you don't have a can, however, the can makes noise and lets others know that someone is safe.