[Active Outdoors!] A roundup of garden games you can enjoy with your kids
With more time spent at home and the growing popularity of DIY, there are more chances to play in the backyard!
Still, many people may be unsure what kind of games you can play or what you need to prepare when it comes to backyard fun.
In this article, we’ll introduce popular backyard activities recommended for kids!
From games that require store-bought tools to ones where you make the tools yourself, these activities all make the most of your home garden.
If kids only play indoors, they can become inactive and lose stamina—which isn’t good.
Even if you can’t go far, let’s get moving and play to the fullest in your own backyard!
- Recommended outdoor games you can enjoy without any equipment
- Backyard play ideas: Easy ways to have fun with kids! How to make use of your garden
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- Get Active! Outdoor Play Ideas for Elementary School Kids
- Fun Indoor Games for Elementary School Kids Without Any Equipment
- Outdoor games and recreational activities recommended for children
- [For Kids] Outdoor Recreation Games: Fun Outdoor Play
- [Make with Kids] Handmade Outdoor Play Toy Special
- Kids Will Love It! Fun Games for Your Barbecue
- Fun nature activities that children will love. Recreational games.
- Play equipment that makes the park more fun. Popular outdoor play toys.
- Enjoy traditional games with your kids! A collection of DIY stilts (made from bamboo) ideas
- [Latest] A roundup of perfect toys for outdoor play [Classics]
[Get Active Outdoors!] A Roundup of Backyard Games Kids Can Enjoy (11–20)
soap bubble
When it comes to outdoor play that hasn’t changed since long ago, soap bubbles are the classic choice, right? I think everyone loves them.
They used to be sold at candy shops, but now you can buy them online or at 100-yen stores.
There are many types available, and they’re easy to make, too.
For small children, the kind you wave by hand is recommended.
For slightly older kids, the type you blow yourself is better.
Since they’re easy to make, thinking about things like how to make really big bubbles or how many you can make naturally makes it more and more fun—“I’m going to make an even cooler one!” It’s a perennial favorite among outdoor activities for kids.
hammock
Hammocks are hugely popular with kids.
There are free-standing and hanging types.
The free-standing kind is recommended because it’s easy to set up in the yard.
Lately, you can even find them at 100-yen shops.
The hammocks from 100-yen shops have a load capacity of about 60 kg, so they should be fine for kids to play on.
Once you set one up in the yard, kids can use it like a swing, and when they’re tired, they can even take a nap outside.
When the kids are bored from being indoors, a hammock is a great way to change things up without going far.
water balloon fight
How about a water-balloon fight for playing in the yard at home? It’s a great way to get some exercise, too.
This game requires a lot of water balloons, but if you use “magic balloons,” you can make a bunch all at once.
You can buy them from online shops.
Since you’ll be using water, make sure to wear clothes that can get wet.
Once your water balloons are ready, decide who will be the target and who will be the thrower.
After choosing the target, the game begins.
The target should keep running to avoid getting hit by the water balloons.
You compete by how many hits you can avoid, so it’s a thrilling way to play!
Step skip
Step skip is a game you can easily play in your own yard.
Step skip uses a “skip ball.” You can buy a skip ball for about 300 yen on online shops, and that easy availability is part of what makes the game so accessible.
To play, attach the skip ball to your ankle and swing it in a wide circle to build centrifugal force.
Then, skip and jump so the ball doesn’t catch your foot.
Try to see how many skips you can get in a row.
It might be tricky at first to get the ball spinning with enough force, but once you get used to it, you can even move around a little while spinning it—making it really fun! It’s an outdoor game that’s especially popular with elementary school kids, particularly girls.
swing
Swings are a play activity that kids absolutely love.
If you have a yard or a wood deck, playing on a swing is highly recommended.
You’ll need a tree or a ceiling to hang it from, but it’s surprisingly easy to make one as a DIY project.
You can buy the hanging rope and the seat wood at a home improvement store.
Whether it’s a standard sit-down swing or one with a round seat, having variety will delight the kids.
It helps develop their sense of balance, and even just sitting on it gives them a decent workout.
It’s a great way to make full use of your yard or deck.
Give it a try for inspiration.