Great for camping! Recreation games for kids
Many families are probably planning to take their kids camping over the summer holidays.
Camping is exciting in so many ways, and in this article we introduce activities and games that will make your trip even more fun.
From active, physical play to popular everyday games kids already love, and nature experiences that even little ones can enjoy—there’s plenty to choose from! Take this opportunity to savor the special moments you can only experience at a campsite.
If you go over this with your child before you leave, you’ll surely hear, “I want to do this!” Get fully prepared, have a blast, and make the best memories!
Recommended for Camping! Recreation Games for Kids (1–10)
OK play
OK Play is a game that originated in the UK with rules similar to Gomoku, making it a great way to enjoy strategic thinking.
You place square tiles next to your own or others’ tiles, aiming to line up five in a row.
Since up to four players compete using four colors of tiles, it’s important to assess not only your own position but also each player’s situation.
You can’t win by just blocking, so enjoy balancing offense and defense.
It’s compact and easy to carry, so it’s also a popular game to bring to camp.
Where are you from?
This is a variation of the game “Antagata Dokosa” that you can enjoy around a campfire.
Everyone holds hands and forms a circle around the fire.
While singing “Antagata Dokosa,” walk clockwise; whenever the syllable “sa” appears in the lyrics, crouch down on the spot.
It’s important to listen closely to the song so you don’t make mistakes.
Another pattern is to switch the walking direction from clockwise to counterclockwise every time you hear “sa,” then switch back the next time it comes up.
The faster the tempo, the more confusion and laughter it creates, making it irresistible fun for both kids and adults.
human disentanglement puzzle
Have you ever tried a disentanglement puzzle? It’s a toy where you separate two interlocked rings, and the “Human Knot” is the version you play with people.
Here’s how it works: First, participants form a circle and each person grabs the hands of two different people who are not standing next to them.
You can’t hold both hands of the same person.
Once everyone is connected, the game begins.
Work together to untangle the knot by ducking under and stepping over each other’s arms without letting go of hands.
The more people you have, the more fun it gets, so it’s a great recommendation when you’re looking for a game for a large group.
Catch
It’s a game where you put the index finger of your right hand into a ring made with the left hand of the person next to you; at the shout of “Catch!”, you pull your index finger out while the ring tightens to try to catch it.
It can be played by any number of people as long as there are at least two, so it’s perfect for camping.
Although it looks simple, the motion of pulling one side out while the other side tightens is tricky and makes for a bit of a brain workout.
Changing the timing of the cue increases the difficulty.
Hoka-hoka Janken
If you want to liven things up with a team competition, “Hokahoka Janken” is also recommended.
It’s basically a team-versus-team rock-paper-scissors game.
First, each team’s representative comes to the front and plays rock-paper-scissors.
The losing side then switches players.
During each round, the winning team chants, “We won, we won! Hokka-hokka jan!” and the losing team chants, “Don’t lose next time! Hokka-hokka jan!” You can also tweak the chants for each team, which can help strengthen team unity.
Treasure Hunt
We’ll use the metal detector that came with the Anpanman sandbox play set to go on a treasure hunt.
You can divide into teams to search for various metal items (like pin badges) that were buried in advance, and the team that finds the most wins; a solo competition would be fun too.
To prevent kids from getting lost or wandering into dangerous areas if the search area is too large, it’s a good idea to rope off and limit the space.
They say the same things and do the same things.
“Say the Same, Do the Same” is a fun game that engages both body and brain.
A leader calls out, “Say the same, do the same!” and then specifies one of left, right, forward, or backward.
Players follow the leader’s instruction.
For example, if the leader says “forward,” players jump forward while saying “forward.” The game can be adapted with various versions and difficulty levels, such as “Say the Opposite, Do the Opposite” or “Say the Same, Do the Opposite.” Try tailoring it to different ages and enjoy!
