[For Kids] Outdoor Recreation Games: Fun Outdoor Play
Introducing outdoor activities and recreational games that kids will love!
When they’re little, children are happy just riding swings or sliding down slides at the park.
But as they grow, they start wanting games with rules and activities that let them run, jump, and move their bodies to the fullest!
Wondering, “What outdoor play do kids enjoy?” In that case, be sure to check out this article.
You’ll find nostalgic games that moms and dads used to play when they were kids, too!
- Outdoor Recreation Popularity Rankings
- [Parent-Child Rec] Recreational activities and games for parents and children to enjoy together—also great for sports days.
- Recommended outdoor games you can enjoy without any equipment
- Recommended outdoor games and recreational activities for lower elementary school children
- Outdoor games and recreational activities recommended for children
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- Outdoor games for large groups. Fun, exciting games for kids.
- Popularity ranking of recreational activities for children
- Fun recreational games that liven up outdoor activities
- Nostalgic games that were popular when we were kids
- Fun winter activities: Recreations that children can enjoy
- [Make with Kids] Handmade Outdoor Play Toy Special
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
[For Kids] Outdoor Recreation Games: Fun Outdoor Play (1–10)
jump rope
Another great outdoor activity is jump rope.
I think it often comes up in school classes as well.
It’s simple—you hold both ends of the rope, swing it, and jump—but it’s a highly effective exercise that engages your whole body.
Once you get used to the basic jump, try adding tricks like the criss-cross and double under.
With a jump rope board, you can even pull off surprising moves that aren’t normally possible, so keep practicing as you improve!
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
It’s a recreation activity that everyone can enjoy, from seniors to little kids.
After playing this, people naturally become friendlier, so it seems perfect for a welcome event for new students or as a game in employee training.
The rules are simple: play rock-paper-scissors, and the loser lines up behind the winner like a train.
Keep repeating this, and before you know it, you’ve got a long train—eventually it becomes one long line.
Seeing dozens of people linked together is so surreal that it somehow makes you laugh.
It would definitely energize a school culture festival or sports day program!
Red Light, Green Light
A game that surely everyone played as a child: “Daruma-san ga koronda” (Red Light, Green Light).
While the tagger (oni) keeps a hand on a tree or wall and calls out “Daruma-san ga koronda,” the children move closer to the tagger.
If anyone is moving even a little when the tagger turns around, they’re out and get caught.
The remaining children approach the tagger, separate the hands linking the tagger and a captured player, and then dash away from the spot.
At the tagger’s call of “Stop!” everyone freezes; the tagger advances a set number of steps, and the person who gets caught next becomes the new tagger.
Try adding your own original rules, like inventing fun poses for when you freeze!
[For Kids] Outdoor Recreation Games: Fun Outdoor Play (11–20)
playing in the sand
Playing with sand in a park sandbox has long been a classic outdoor activity, loved from the past to the present.
Working together to build castles or mountains, or making your own original mud dumplings and competing with friends—these are great ways to nurture children’s imagination and tactile senses.
In recent years, sandbox tools have also evolved, allowing kids to mold sand and soil to make things like cakes, which expands the possibilities for pretend play.
Because there are so many ways to enjoy it, it’s a recommended outdoor activity even for kids who tend to spend all their time playing video games at home.
Kick the can
The classic old-fashioned outdoor game “Kankeri” (kick the can).
As long as you know the rules, anyone can enjoy playing it.
Like tag, you choose an “it,” but instead of tagging by touch, the it catches players by spotting them and calling out, “I found so-and-so!” And true to its name, with that call the it must also step on the can.
While the it is away from the can, players try to avoid being spotted—or, even if they are spotted, they can win by kicking the can far away before the it can step on it.
Both the it and the players get a real thrill from the game, making it a great way to sharply boost concentration.
Shadow stepping
An outdoor game that uses nature: “Kagefumi” (Shadow Stomp).
It’s a game that uses “shadows,” which we don’t usually pay much attention to.
In the late afternoon, when the western sun is strong, it might be perfect for this game.
In Kagefumi, you run away so your opponent can’t step on your shadow, while trying to step on theirs.
Shadows can disappear in the shade of trees or behind objects, so using your wits is important to escape cleverly.
It’s dangerous to run backward because you’re too focused on your shadow, so if it looks like yours might get stepped on, hide in another shadow or face forward and run away at full speed!
hopscotch
Ken-ken-pa, a hopping game you can play even in concrete residential areas.
The rhythmic words ken and pa indicate how to land: ken means landing on one foot, and pa means landing on both feet.
Draw circles labeled ken or pa—use a stick in the sand, or chalk on concrete—and jump onto them in sequence.
It’s not just about jumping; there’s a fun rhythm to it, and you chant “ken-ken-pa” to match the children hopping over the circles.
Once you get used to it, try making longer courses or changing the spacing of the circles to keep it interesting!