Recommended outdoor games and recreational activities for lower elementary school children
Here are some recommended outdoor recreation activities for lower elementary school children.
We’ve gathered popular games ranging from easy activities you can play casually in parks and open spaces to group recreation everyone can enjoy during campfires and camping trips.
Some games have more elaborate rules, so if you’re thinking, “I’m getting bored of simple games,” feel free to use these as a reference.
Each game has standard rules, but it’s totally fine to tweak them to suit your own style!
Play plenty outside to not only build physical strength but also strengthen bonds with your friends!
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Outdoor games and recreational activities recommended for lower elementary school children (41–50)
Treasure Hunt Puzzle Fun at the Campground
Highly recommended as a surprise for kids! Here are some ideas for a puzzle-based treasure hunt you can enjoy at a campsite.
It’s a treasure hunt game with a surprise twist: the treasure they search for so eagerly turns out to be a present they’ve been wanting! Using items like padlocks and message cards, the process of creating handmade mechanisms is fun in itself.
It’s perfect for families, and also great for activities at community centers or elementary schools.
Give it a try!
Outdoor/Outside games and recreational activities recommended for lower elementary school children (51–60)
Find the hidden animals
It’s a treasure hunt game where you search for animal figurines hidden around the park.
The better the figurines blend into the scenery—for example, through realistic coloring—the higher the difficulty.
For younger children, simply placing them casually on a bench can still be challenging, while for older kids, you can make it more engaging by arranging the figurines so their colors blend into the surroundings.
However, if you hide them too cleverly, adults might not be able to retrieve them at the end, so be sure to remember exactly where you hid them.
hopscotch
This is a game where you repeat hopping on one foot and then on both feet using hoops.
If you use a hula hoop instead of small rings, the movements get bigger and it becomes more fun.
You can play alone, but because it’s a simple game, the rules are highly customizable.
It also gets exciting in a game format—for example, split into teams and play it like a relay, with the team that finishes first winning.
Ball passing
This is a game that gets exciting when played as a team competition.
Players line up in a single file.
First, without turning around, each person passes the ball over their head to the next person, one after another, until it reaches the person at the very back.
Then, the ball is sent forward toward the front by passing it through everyone’s legs.
Since the game allows for flexible variations, you can set detailed rules such as requiring hand-to-hand passing or forbidding rolling the ball between the legs.
Ring B Speed Competition
It’s a speed contest using a Ringbee that will put your team’s unity to the test! A Ringbee is a flying-disc-style toy made from materials like natural rubber sponge.
While you can throw it to play, in this game it’s used as a baton.
Form teams of multiple players and line up in a single file.
At the start signal, pass the Ringbee to the next person by threading it through your legs or lifting it over your head.
After you pass it, move to the back of the line and repeat.
The first team to reach the finish line wins!
Vertical tug-of-war
A serious match: one adult versus two or three kids! Tug-of-war usually involves splitting into two teams, but with vertical tug-of-war you can have fun even with fewer people.
All you need is a sturdy rope with multiple branches.
Everyone holds an end and pulls, and the kids team up to topple the adult.
Even if each child isn’t very strong, a few of them together can really pack a punch! Be careful—if someone suddenly lets up, there’s a risk of falling and getting hurt.
Make sure an adult always participates to support the kids so they can play to their hearts’ content.
Insect collecting
In spring you can find butterflies, in summer stag beetles and rhinoceros beetles, and in autumn dragonflies—apart from winter, insect collecting is an outdoor activity you can enjoy throughout the year.
Whether you’re camping with your family or heading out to the neighborhood with friends, you can see many kinds of insects in various places.
If you go insect collecting after sunset, be sure to enjoy it together with a parent or guardian.