Get Active! Outdoor Play Ideas for Elementary School Kids
Playing outside is not only fun—it also has lots of benefits.
For example, playing with many friends outdoors helps build communication skills, and just running around while you play naturally improves your physical abilities.
This article introduces outdoor play ideas suited for elementary school children.
If you’re looking for outdoor games or exercises for grade-schoolers, please use this as a reference.
Playing indoors is fun too, but moving your body helps release energy and refresh your mood.
Above all, I think every activity will make you feel, “Playing outside is so much fun!”
- Recommended outdoor games you can enjoy without any equipment
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- Indoor and outdoor activities that avoid crowding. Enjoyable for students from first to sixth grade.
- [For Kids] Outdoor Recreation Games: Fun Outdoor Play
- Outdoor Recreation Popularity Rankings
- Fun Ball Sports: A Roundup of Ball-Based Play, Games, and Sports
- Fun Indoor Games for Elementary School Kids Without Any Equipment
- Recommended outdoor games and recreational activities for lower elementary school children
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- [Active Outdoors!] A roundup of garden games you can enjoy with your kids
- [For Kids] Exciting Class-vs-Class Games: Team Competition Activities
- [Sports] Play that gets you moving. A roundup of exercises perfect for adults.
Get Moving! Outdoor Play Ideas for Elementary School Kids (1–10)
stilts
Take two lengths of bamboo, attach footholds, and you have stilts you can walk on for fun.
Metal-pole versions sold commercially are common too, but you can make your own as long as you have materials like bamboo and footholds.
It’s recommended to choose stilts that are about 10 to 15 cm taller than your own height.
Walking on stilts requires strong balance, so using them helps strengthen your abdominal and back muscles.
While their origins vary, similar stilt-like devices were also made in places such as Greece and China.
Red Light, Green Light
It’s a popular game on par with tag.
First, choose one person to be “it.” The person who is “it” stands by a tree or wall, and the other players line up side by side about 20 meters away.
When “it” calls out “First step!” the players take one step toward “it,” and then “it” turns to face the tree or wall so they can’t see the players and shouts, “Daruma-san ga koronda!” Players may move toward “it” only while that phrase is being shouted, and must freeze before “it” turns around.
If “it” spots someone moving, that person is caught by “it.” Anyone who manages to get close without being called can tag “it.” After tagging, everyone except “it” runs back to the starting line, and when “it” shouts “Stop!” they must freeze on the spot.
“It” then takes a set number of steps and, if able to tag someone, swaps roles with that person.
Bug collecting
Parks and forests nearby are full of insects, aren’t they? Especially in spring and summer, you can encounter all kinds of bugs like grasshoppers, mantises, and butterflies, so collecting insects is highly recommended! You’ll have experiences you can’t get from videos or field guides alone.
I’ve heard that trees like sawtooth oaks attract rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles, too.
Since they’re nocturnal, try going at night to spots where the tree sap is flowing, or set a trap by putting a ripe banana in a stocking.
Just be careful about bites and stings from mosquitoes and bees.
In particular, hornets are found in similar places to rhinoceros and stag beetles, and their stingers carry potentially deadly venom.
Stay safe around dangerous insects and have fun!
Get Moving! Outdoor Play Ideas for Elementary School Kids (11–20)
long rope jumping
This is a jump-rope game played by multiple people using a long rope about 5 to 10 meters.
There are various types: for example, everyone jumps inside the rope together and competes on how many times they can jump without tripping, or participants take turns jumping once as the rope turns and compete on total counts.
In both versions, the turners and the jumpers must synchronize their timing, which helps build teamwork.
Because of that, it’s a popular event not only at schools but also at company sports days.
Using two ropes—known as double dutch—raises the difficulty, but when done well it looks very cool and is also popular as a performance.
Shadow stepping
This is a game derived from the classic outdoor game tag.
As with regular tag, you choose one person to be “it,” and everyone else runs away within a set area.
The difference is that tagging is done by stepping on someone’s shadow to switch who’s “it.” Because everyone needs to have a visible shadow, it’s best played outdoors in the late afternoon when shadows are longer.
You can also use different strategies than in regular tag—for example, under tree shade or a roof, your shadow may disappear and can’t be stepped on.
It’s also educational, helping kids learn about the relationship between the sun and the position of shadows.
footrace
I think “running fast” is humanity’s eternal dream.
Personally, my favorite Olympic event is the 100-meter dash, and I feel like people have been competing to run fast since long before we even had a clear notion of civilization.
Why not forget about detailed rules and just have fun racing together? If you get bored of regular running, try kid-like fun rules: run backward, run on one foot, and so on.
If lots of friends gather, a relay would be great too.
And if you live near the coast, go all out and sprint along the sandy beach!
soccer
In elementary school students’ rankings of “jobs they want in the future,” newer careers like YouTuber and e-sports player are steadily taking top spots.
Even so, soccer player remains consistently popular.
From becoming a J.League pro to transferring to clubs around the world, kids’ dreams are expanding! All you need is a ball to have fun together—on sunny days, let’s get excited about soccer! One of the great things about soccer is that both experienced and inexperienced players can enjoy it at their own level.
If you only have a small space, try playing futsal-style or get moving with juggling competitions!