[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!
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[For Kids] Outdoor Recreation Games: Fun Outdoor Play (21–30)
Outdoor activities: fun games everyone can play together!
This is a game called “Catch.” Choose one person to be the leader, and have the other participants form a circle.
Hold out your right hand with the palm facing up toward the person on your right, and place your left index finger on the palm of the person to your left.
When the leader says “Catch,” quickly close your right hand, and with your left hand, try to pull your index finger away so it doesn’t get caught.
The leader should vary the timing by stretching out “Ca, ca, caaaatch…” or throw in feints by saying something like “Cat!” instead.
It’s a simple game that helps break the ice and get everyone excited, even with people you’re meeting for the first time.
Dodgeball tag
Ball Tag with a Throw is a high-energy indoor game that’s hugely popular in after-school programs.
The rules are simple: the “it” player chases with a ball and tries to tag the others by hitting them with it.
Despite its simplicity, the speed and thrill make it incredibly exciting! Whoever gets hit by the ball becomes the next “it,” so the game keeps changing rapidly and never gets boring.
Using a soft ball makes it safe for indoor play.
In smaller spaces, you can adjust by setting boundaries or requiring shorter strides.
It’s a perfect game to bring out lots of energy and create a lively, fun time.
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“Touch and Dash,” “Feint Tag,” “Marker Tag,” “Math Relay,” and “Rock-Paper-Scissors Race.” All five of these active games involve running and let kids get plenty of movement even indoors.
They also include elements that exercise the mind: for example, in a relay format, players pick up a pinnie and add the number written on it, and once the total reaches 20 or more, they finish; or they use markers to cleverly lure opponents and dash through gaps.
Even children who get bored with simple movements are sure to get hooked.
World Play! ‘Please Statue Play’
The American game “statue game” is basically a form of tag.
However, the tagger plays the role of a sculptor, and anyone who gets tagged has to freeze into a statue within the time it takes to spin around twice, becoming whatever statue the tagger calls out.
If the tagger says “frog,” everyone who’s been caught has to hold a frog pose and can’t move until everyone is tagged, so depending on the type of statue, it can be pretty tough.
Once everyone is caught, the tagger chooses their favorite statue and names that person as the next tagger.
Fun music play in nature
Let’s move our bodies together and enjoy playful music activities in nature while taking in the scenery and sounds around us.
Placing ourselves in nature and listening to the wind and the sounds of insects stimulates the five senses and helps refresh the mind and body.
As we sing, let’s wave colorful scarves and try moving them while imagining what the wind might sound like.
It’s also fun to sway the scarves with varying strengths, like a gentle breeze or a strong gust.
One of the charms of this play is being able to move freely and express yourself while sensing a variety of sounds—like leaves rustling and water flowing.
Rokumushi
Do you know the game “Rokumushi”? In some parts of Saga Prefecture it’s called “Nimushi,” and it seems the name varies by region.
The rules are simple.
Draw two circles about five meters apart.
Anyone inside a circle is invincible.
The attacking team uses a soft ball to hit the players who are running back and forth between the circles.
Completing one round trip counts as “ichimushi.” If the runners complete six round trips, the defense team wins; if the attackers hit everyone with the ball, the attacking team wins.
It’s fun even in a small space.
If you make the circles with rope, you can probably play indoors too!
7 park games kids can play without equipment
Park games that everyone from small children to adults can enjoy together without any preparation are great because they can be played with whoever happens to be there.
Hopscotch, hand-pushing sumo, number games, playing house, shadow play, and drawing are all familiar activities that don’t require any equipment.
You can also use natural materials like pebbles and sticks, which makes it easy to invent games and come up with original rules with friends.
Let’s make the most of the wide-open space of the park and have fun moving our whole bodies with games that can only be enjoyed in such a setting.