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Children's Outdoor Game Ideas

Children are full of energy, and they can be a handful when they play together. A good way to keep them entertained and build childhood memories is outdoor games. Nowadays, children are likely to remain indoors, playing video games or watching television. Playing outdoor games offers a fun way to get children outside in the fresh air and exercising.

Red Light, Green Light
- This game calls for three or more children and an area where they can run.
  Name one player as the "stoplight." The goal is a race to see which player can reach the stoplight first. Have the other players stand at least 20 feet from the stoplight. The stoplight will make the following commands during the game: "red light," "green light" and "yellow light." When "red light" is called, players must stop where they are. A "green light" means players run as fast as they can toward the stoplight. If the stoplight calls "yellow light," players walk toward the stoplight. Any player who does not follow the rules will be out. The first person to reach the stoplight wins. Or if all players are out before one reaches the stoplight, the stoplight wins.
Pool Game: Sharks and Minnows
- This game calls for a swimming pool, five or more children who are good swimmers, and one to two adult swimmers for safety and to enforce the rules of the game.
  Designate one player as the "shark;" the other players will be "minnows." The shark starts at one end of the pool, and the minnows at the opposite end. When an adult yells "Go," minnows must swim to the shark's side of the pool without being tagged first by the shark. In the next round, tagged minnows become sharks and help the first shark catch the remaining minnows. The last remaining minnow wins.
Water Balloon Toss
- This game calls for four or more children and five water balloons for each pair.
  Pair each child with a partner and give each pair five water balloons. Have the children stand 5 feet apart from their partners. The goal is to toss the water balloons back and forth to each other without popping them. The team with the last remaining water balloon wins. To make this game more challenging, have partners move 1 foot farther away from each other after each round.
Musical Chairs
- This game calls for five or more children, chairs (one less than the number of players), stereo or other music-playing device, music and an adult to play the music.
  Arrange the chairs in a circle and have the children stand in a circle behind them. The adult stands to the side with a finger on the pause button. While the music plays, the children move around the circle of chairs. When the music stops, the children scramble to find a seat. The player without a seat at the end of each round is out. After each round, remove one more chair from the circle. The last player with a seat wins.

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