The Chirping Moms

18 Simple Yard Games for Kids (& Giveaway!)

It’s been a beautiful fall this year & we have been soaking up all the moments we can get outside before the long winter sets in.  (If it is anything like last winter, we are in for it!)  We spend a lot of time, especially after school, in our yard.  Right now, our favorite activity is to just get out there & run to play in the leaves!
Besides our favorite fall activity, we also ride bikes, play in the sandbox, & do sidewalk chalk.  But there are days when I need a reminder of just some super simple games that I can teach and play with my own kids.  So today, that’s what I’m sharing with you.  We are partnering up with Quaker to share some fun & simple ideas to get moving in your own yard and inspire other families to get out and play!
Simple Backyard Games for Kids : The Chirping Moms

Simple Games for Kids to Play in the Yard:

1.  Obstacle Course:  Build a simple obstacle course in your backyard & take turns running through.
2.  Simple Races:  Running races.  Hop on one leg race.  Skipping & galloping races.  Crab walk races.  Etc.
3.   Potato Sack Races:  Use an old pillowcase as your potato sack & get racing.
4.  Hopscotch:  Use sidewalk chalk to play the simple game of Hopscotch.
5. Tag Games:  Color Tag, Freeze Tag, Shadow Tag, TV Tag, Etc.
6.  Mother May I?:  One person stands away facing the others.  That person chooses someone else & gives them a direction.  For example, “Jack, you can take 5 giant/regular/baby steps forward or backward”.  The other child responds with “Mother, May I?”.  Then the leader will say yes or no & the child complies.  If one forgets to ask “Mother May I?”, then they have to go back to the starting line.  First one to the mother wins.
7.  Baseball:  Use a ball to play baseball with a bat or practice throwing with a glove.  With little kids, use a simple tee to help.
8.  Get a ball.  Play catch, soccer, & have fun with the ball.
9.  Hide & Seek.
10.  Jump Rope.  For little kids, you can play Jump the Brook.
11.  Red Light Green Light.
12.  Simon Says
13. Freeze Dance
15.  Chase Bubbles.  This is my toddler’s favorite!
16.  Water Balloon Catch.
17. HORSE ball game.  We like to play this with our mini basketball hoop!
18.  What Time Is It Mr. Fox?
We hope you this list can come in handy on those days when you have run out of things to do or are looking for something new to do outside!  The key for your family is to just get outside for sixty minutes of play a day.  Physical activity, in combination with good nutrition, is essential to a healthy lifestyle.  I find it best to just schedule a time in your day to get out & be active, whether it is at home or an after school sport.  I will look at my calendar and block a time out of each day to just “be active”.  This could be heading out on a family walk, after school sports, playing at the playground, running around your yard, or going for a hike.  Make it fun & keep it easy!
We are excited to share about a fun opportunity that Quaker is bringing to families across the country.  Now through December 1st, 2014, you can visit QuakerMakethePlay.com to share the unique way that your family plays for a chance to win a grand prize “Day of Play” in your hometown with Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck, plus daily giveaways for  a $50 NFLShop.com online gift card.  After submitting your entry, feel free to share your entries & how your family stays active with #QuakerPlayMaker hashtag.
Quaker has generously provided a great giveaway where one lucky reader will win a Quaker Gift Pack.  All you have to do is enter in the Rafflecopter below & you could win this great prize package which includes:
  • An LED Light-Up Frisbee perfect for playtime outdoors with the whole family
  • A Mini Football for kids to enjoy team games
  • A Stopwatch to time fun activities and ensure your family gets 60 minutes of play per day
  • A set of Mini-Desk Cones for families to create their own games or relay races
  • A handy sports bag to stay organized while keeping active
  • Total giveaway value is approximately $46 

Take advantage of these beautiful fall days by getting out & active AND best of luck in this fun giveaway!

  • Photobucket
  • This is a sponsored post on behalf of The Motherhood. As always, all opinions are my own. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Comments

  3. With winter coming, one that we love to do it freeze water in empty water bottles and do backyard bowling in the snow! Filled our bottles today….as we are getting our first snow tonight!

    Reply

  4. We like play in the backyard and make slow mo videos of the kids doing things like jumping, running, and dancing. They love to watch them back and never realize they are exercising because it's just fun to them!

    Reply

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