Outdoor games and recreational activities recommended for children
Kids just love playing outside, don’t they?
Even though we think “Nothing beats being active!”, many parents run out of ideas and end up struggling on weekends and during long breaks.
If that sounds like you, this is a must-see!
Here are some games and recreational activities you can do outdoors.
Try them for camping trips, outdoor events, or game time at kids’ clubs.
Traditional games can feel fresh to kids today, so it’s also a great idea for parents to enjoy the games they used to play, together with their children.
Recommended outdoor games and recreational activities for children (1–10)
soap bubble
I remember seeing on a TV show that they made soap bubbles big enough for a person to fit inside.
I wonder how that works.
And at concerts, those fan-type bubble machines that send out tons of bubbles are always such a surprising sight, aren’t they? If it’s a calm day with no wind, how about everyone blowing bubbles together? If we’re going to play, let’s also try making a bubble solution that doesn’t pop easily.
There are various recipes, but it seems good to mix a bit of syrup, liquid laundry starch, or even hyaluronic acid facial toner into dish soap.
Give it a try!
Strikeout
Mr.
Miyamoto, a former ace pitcher for the Giants, once said that top-class pitchers can throw the ball exactly where they aim within a centimeter.
If you’re outdoors with plenty of space, try “Strikeout” and have fun with everyone.
Strikeout boards are sold at large toy stores.
If you don’t have a board, you can substitute empty cans and play a can-knockdown game.
It’s a perfect recreation activity for events like barbecues where youth baseball kids gather.
Create your own rules to make it fun—like changing the throwing distance by grade level, or letting girls throw from closer up!
Mölkky
Have you heard of a sport called Mölkky that’s gradually becoming a boom? Mölkky originated in Finland and is a sport that both adults and children can enjoy.
The rules are a bit intricate, but that’s part of the charm—many people end up getting hooked.
You throw a wooden stick called a Mölkky at pins called skittles to knock them down and compete for points.
If you knock down exactly one pin, you score the number written on that skittle; if you knock down two or more, you score the number of pins you toppled.
There’s also a rule that you must finish on exactly 50 points, which adds a bit to the difficulty.
Stacking Game
Do you know Jenga? It’s a game where you pull out wooden blocks from the lower part of a stacked tower and place them on top.
Jenga sounds fun indoors, but since we’re outside, why not go all out and stack big cardboard boxes as high as we can? Some stores will give you cardboard boxes for free, and if you fold them, you can carry quite a lot! The kids will love it as a recreation activity they don’t usually get to do! Just don’t forget the packing tape for assembling the boxes.
athletics
Speaking of YouTubers who genuinely enjoy tag and athletic challenges… everyone’s favorite, Fischer’s, comes to mind.
It’s funny how when the Fischer’s members are playing, even a regular obstacle course starts to feel like a TV show segment.
Let’s spend a day moving our bodies at an outdoor obstacle course! Climbing, grabbing, crossing, straddling—athletics let you enjoy movements you don’t get in indoor life.
Recently, there are even large parks that feature athletics as a main attraction.
It’s a very budget-friendly option when you’re short on funds!
Gesture Game
NHK’s popular program “Gesture,” which ran for as long as 16 years from 1953 to 1968—everyone in our grandparents’ generation watched it, I think.
Even in the Reiwa era, gesture games are a popular form of recreation that TV shows feature again and again.
Some things stay fun no matter how times change.
Let’s all enjoy gesture games, from boys to girls! For short prompts, you can just string together words like “gorilla” or “kendama.” For longer prompts, think up fun situations like “a fish in trouble” or “a sleeping Great Buddha.”
Frisbee
You often see videos of dogs catching Frisbees, right? At the dolphin show in Adventure World in Nanki-Shirahama, the dolphins catch Frisbees with diving grabs while swimming.
How do they even see the Frisbees from underwater? It might be fun to go all out and enjoy Frisbee outdoors! There are sponge-type Frisbees instead of plastic ones, so they’re safe even for small children.
You can play however you like—see how far you can throw, try hitting a target, and more!