HT Games
Pick Pocket Tag
A twist on the game tag, pick pocket tag is a game of speed and strategy. Have each child put a strip of cloth in his back pocket. Players must try to grab as many players’ strips as they can without getting their strip taken. Pick pocket tag is an ideal game for the fall season because children won't become dehydrated as they would playing this game in the summer heat.
Scavenger Hunt
Test children’s creativity by sending them on a scavenger hunt in the backyard. Make a list of items that children can find in nature. Give each child a piece of paper and crayons to go on a scavenger hunt and draw what they find. Send each child to different parts of the yard or put the children on teams. The child or team that finds and draws all the items first wins the scavenger hunt. Children could hunt for pine cones, autumn leaves and certain nuts, like pecans, that are only ready to eat during the fall season.
Backyard Bowling
Children can learn coordination while participating in backyard bowling. Find items that can easily be knocked over such as empty cans or bottles. Set up the items like bowling pins and have the children go bowling right in the backyard. To ensure it’s a fair game, give the younger children a small ball to bowl with and the older children a large ball. For even more of a challenge, don't rake up the fall leaves in the backyard so that children will have to learn to work together and figure out how to knock over the pins together. This activity will help build good sportsmanship skills, as well as teach children patience and persistence.
Mini-Olympics
Teach children teamwork and good sportsmanship by hosting a mini-Olympics that includes events for all ages. Children can compete in relay races, obstacle courses and three-legged races. After all of the events have been completed, host a mini-Olympics reward ceremony and give the children Olympic-style medals.