[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 (51–60)
mud dumpling
Are there any of you who think, “I don’t want to make mud balls because my hands will get dirty!!”? If you search online, you’ll find tons of images of mud balls, and they’re all so beautiful you might mistake them for gemstones! Let’s master this activity and make gemstone-like mud balls together! First, let’s all look for a place with fine-grained soil.
This fine soil is the key.
Mix water into the soil and shape the mud into a firm ball.
Then coat it with layers of fine soil, and finally just polish it.
It’s hard to finish in a single day, so take your time and enjoy the process!
Chinese jump rope
It’s an old-fashioned game, isn’t it? It suddenly reminds me of the sight of kids playing in some back alley.
A common version is jumping over or twisting rubber bands to the song “Alps Ichiman-jaku.” Considering how many local rules there are, you could even call it a primal scene of Japanese play.
The game itself is very simple: jump over rubber bands set at different heights, or slip through without touching them.
There are also versions where several bands are combined and kids do a kind of string-figure game with their feet.
Be sure to check out the many games introduced by the Japan Sports Association as well.
Heaven, large, medium, small
It’s one of those classic ball games.
It’s known by various names like “Tenka Otoshi,” “Moto Dai-Chu-Sho,” and more.
What do people call it in your area? Surprisingly, it’s actually quite international—overseas it’s known as “four square”! First, draw a large field on the ground shaped like the character for ‘rice field’ (a big plus sign making four squares).
Assign ranks like 1, 2, 3, and 4 to each square.
Four players take their places and keep a rally going by hitting the ball after a single bounce.
If you mess up, you get demoted to a lower-ranked square.
It’s an outdoor game that starts by drawing lines on the ground—have fun customizing it by changing the size of the four-square field and more!
Sandpile Collapse
This is a game called “Sand Mountain Collapse” or “Stick Knockdown.” If there’s a sandbox, everyone can have fun together! First, build a sand hill—any size you like.
Place a single stick in the center, decide the turn order, and then each person removes sand without knocking the stick over.
If you knock the stick down, you lose, and the person who removes the most sand wins.
On NHK’s morning children’s show “Shakiin!,” there was a segment where they played a bass guitar and used the deep low tones to knock the sticks down.
You can also adapt the game in other fun ways, like fanning the stick down with a uchiwa fan or knocking it down with a ball!
Hide-and-seek
Hide-and-seek might feel kind of old-fashioned and not very trendy, maybe even just a kids’ game.
But popular YouTubers often upload hide-and-seek videos, and they get a lot of views.
In fact, hide-and-seek is quietly catching on among kids.
Here’s a tip for having fun: if you play in a small place like a park, set a time limit.
For example, if the seeker can’t find someone within 30 seconds, the seeker loses.
Having a set time adds tension.
Hide-and-seek in a large house is sure to be exciting too.
Just make sure you don’t hide in dangerous places.
snowman
In the winter season, playing in the snow is a must, isn’t it? There are lots of options, but how about making a snowman? If you’re playing with your child, I think they’d love it if you made a popular character like Olaf from Frozen.
Even if you’re making an original one, it’s fun to get creative with how you make the parts like the nose, eyes, and hands.
And when the weather is nice, it might melt away by the next day—that fleeting quality is part of the charm of making a snowman, isn’t it?
long-rope jumping
Also known as group jump rope, long-rope play is a familiar activity in elementary school classes and sports days.
It’s a deceptively deep pastime that’s also popular as a sport.
As you’d expect from something that’s become a competitive event, there are many ways to play, making it enjoyable for beginners and more experienced children alike.
You can start with a simple game of shaking the rope on the ground and stepping over it, then try jumping over or ducking under a rope held slightly above the ground, or even jumping with two ropes.
Keep exploring and enjoying it in ways that match your child’s curiosity and physical abilities!
soccer
Speaking of soccer, the whole country gets excited during events like the Olympics and the World Cup, right? Seeing that, many children probably feel like starting soccer or even dream of becoming soccer players in the future.
To enjoy soccer, it might be good to start by simply getting used to kicking the ball and playing around.
Regardless of the rules, there are many fun ways to play—try dribbling the ball to avoid obstacles, aiming a shot at a goal, or passing to a friend.
Hana Ichi Monme
It’s a game that everyone from our grandmothers’ generation knows.
Playing it in narrow alleyways gives it a charming atmosphere.
It’s probably more popular with girls.
You split into two teams, sing the “Hanai-chimonme” song back and forth, and consult about which member of the other team you want.
Both sides announce their choices, then play rock-paper-scissors; the winner gets to take the member they wanted into their team.
The rules vary by region—sometimes the side left with one person loses, for example.
If you’ve got a group of girls together, I’d love for you to try it at least once! By the way, the “monme” in “Hanai-chimonme” is a unit of silver currency.
It’s said that the name comes from an exchange meaning “Please give me flowers worth one monme of silver.”
Rock-paper-scissors Guriko
Many adults probably played “Janken Guriko” at least once when they were kids.
I remember playing it on the pedestrian overpass on my way home from school.
The rules are simple: you play rock-paper-scissors, and the number of steps you can move depends on the winning hand.
For example, with rock you say “Glico,” with paper “Pineapple,” and with scissors “Chocolate”—these are the common ones.
However, there are local variations depending on the region or school, and you can even make your own original rules, which really expands the ways to play!