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[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!

[Active Outdoors!] A roundup of backyard games kids can enjoy (21–30)

Wind play you can do at home

[Play] Fun with Wind You Can Do at Home! Activities for Nursery/Kindergarten
Wind play you can do at home

These are wind-play toys recommended for little children who love fluttery or gently swaying things.

First is a simple one: a bag with strands of raffia ribbon (suzuran tape) attached.

It’s very basic, but little kids are fascinated by the colorful ribbons fluttering around.

They’ll enjoy it in their own way—running while holding it or chasing after it.

The other is balloon play.

Just tie a length of kite string to the knotted part of a balloon and use it like a kite, but if you add a face to the balloon, the kids’ reactions change completely.

Be sure to head outside the playground and run around while feeling the wind.

hiyori
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hopscotch

Kenpa is a game that has been played since long ago, but nowadays many children may have never tried it, partly because it’s considered dangerous to play in the street.

However, this game is said to improve physical abilities: it strengthens the legs and hips, trains the core, develops the ability to switch between standing on one foot and on both feet, and cultivates a sense of rhythm—making it a highly recommended exercise.

It’s easy to set up by linking or drawing rings, drawing squares with chalk, or scoring them with a stick on a playground.

Give it a try and have fun!

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)
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Colored water play

Play as Learning: Municipal Kindergartens Working on the SDGs
Colored water play

Let’s play with colored water made from flowers and berries.

By incorporating nature into play, it can spark interest in SDG 15: Life on Land.

After collecting flowers and berries from the garden or park, put them in a plastic bag with water and knead them to extract the color.

You can also pretend the colored water is juice and pour it into PET bottles or cups to play.

Children’s creativity is limitless! Let’s prepare the environment so we can support their “I want to try this!” moments.

tsukada moe
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Treasure hunt in a ball pit

[Treasure Hunt] A treasure hunt in a giant ball pit with a feast on the line! [At-home play]
Treasure hunt in a ball pit

A treasure hunt game where you look for a winning ball in a ball pit is simple yet exciting, so it’s highly recommended.

If you prepare enough balls to fill the pit and mark just one with a sticker or similar sign, it becomes harder to find.

A tabletop-sized pool is fun, but for small children, searching through a large inflatable pool filled with balls can be even more enjoyable.

Conversely, you can easily have fun by putting ping-pong balls in a small pool, so try adjusting the setup and rules to suit your participants and location.

Hoshino Takashi
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In conclusion

We introduced some recommended backyard games for kids.

Did you find any that you’d like to try or have your children play? Some activities can be a bit challenging if you make the equipment yourself, but that, too, becomes a fond memory.

Make the most of your time at home and enjoy some fun backyard playtime!