Kids Will Love It! Fun Games for Your Barbecue
With the current boom in outdoor activities, many families are probably heading out together for camping and barbecues.
Having a lively barbecue with your friends’ families is a lot of fun, isn’t it?
Here are some games and recreational activities that kids can enjoy in those situations.
If you’re going as a family, the kids will likely be the main focus—so be sure to research and prepare activities they’ll enjoy before you head out.
We’ve included plenty of ideas for things you can only really enjoy outdoors, like games that use lots of water, so be sure to use this as a reference!
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Kids Will Love It! Fun Games to Play at a Barbecue (11–20)
Bug catching
When it comes to outdoor activities, many people think of catching insects.
This is especially true in urban areas where the variety of insects has declined, so I hope you’ll give it a try when you head outdoors.
Another fun point is that you can see different kinds of insects depending on the season.
However, some insects like bees and horseflies can be dangerous, so adults should keep a close watch to prevent stings.
Also, one of the appeals of insect catching is that you can keep enjoying it even after you’ve caught them.
Through raising insects, it’s also a great opportunity to teach the importance of life.
Badminton
One sport that even small children can enjoy is badminton.
There are many types of rackets and shuttlecocks, and you can even find them at 100-yen shops.
However, regular badminton has a drawback: when it’s windy, the shuttlecock won’t fly well.
That’s why outdoor badminton was developed.
It’s designed for play outside, so it’s fine even when the wind is blowing.
It’s also engineered to travel farther, making it perfect for playing in wide-open spaces.
paper airplane
As a play activity that can also serve as a summer project, I highly recommend paper airplanes.
When people hear “paper airplane,” they might picture folding one from a flyer, but in fact, there are various products available.
If you want to enjoy powerful, long-distance flights, it’s a good idea to buy a kit designed specifically for range.
There are also paper airplanes printed with cute characters for younger children.
And if you feel that ordinary paper airplanes aren’t quite enough, check out paper-craft airplane kits as well.
arm wrestling
Arm wrestling is something you can do anywhere as long as there’s a table.
It’s also a perfect game for letting kids feel just how strong grown-ups are.
If you have multiple children, we recommend holding a tournament.
In any case, since it’s a game of strength, please be careful to avoid injuries.
By the way, the tips for arm wrestling are to keep your body straight from your shoulders to your hips when you set up, and to grip with your thumb tucked inside.
If you’re not good at arm wrestling, give these a try!
Fishing
One of the joys of outdoor activities by the water is catching fish.
Methods include fishing or scooping them up with a net.
However, if you have small children, using a trap is recommended.
First, prepare an empty plastic bottle and cut off the top portion.
Then make a hole in the bottom part, put bait inside, and insert the cut-off top upside down to complete the trap.
By the way, dried delicacies or fish sausages make good bait.
This way, there’s no need to worry about injuries.
Juice tasting
The juice taste test you often see on TV shows and YouTube is a perfect game for barbecues.
Just pour different juices into cups and have people guess the flavors—it’s sure to be a hit! If you want to create a more authentic vibe, try placing the juice containers inside a cardboard box and sticking only the straws out through holes.
Using colored straws makes it even more challenging.
There are lots of other ways to do it too, so check out YouTube for more ideas.
Kids Will Be Thrilled! Fun Games for a Barbecue (21–30)
Where are you from?
This is a variation of the game “Antagata Dokosa” that you can enjoy around a campfire.
Everyone holds hands and stands in a circle around the fire.
To the rhythm of the song “Antagata Dokosa,” you walk clockwise, but whenever the syllable “sa” appears in the lyrics, you squat down on the spot.
It’s important to listen carefully to avoid mistakes.
Another variation is to switch the walking direction from clockwise to counterclockwise every time you hear “sa,” and then switch back the next time it occurs.
As the tempo speeds up, the confusion and laughter grow, making it a recreation that captivates both children and adults.
