Send your kids out into the yard this summer, armed with some great group outdoor games for backyard play that encourage motor skills, cooperation, turn-taking and some good old fashioned fun! These are perfect to use as outdoor party games, summer camp activities, or just as ways to keep the neighborhood kids entertained!
These are some of our favorite classic group outdoor games for kids…
1 || 5 CLASSIC NEIGHBORHOOD GAMES FOR KIDS || From Ghosts in the Graveyard to Cops and Red Light/Green Light, we have you covered with this list of 5 classic outdoor games. Head outside for some gross motor fun and use our suggestions to change up the game to keep them playing for hours!
2 || DODGEBALL KICKBALL MASH-UP || This fun combination of two favorite kids games is bound to be a hit in your ‘hood. All you need is a ball and a bunch of friends! And…if someone needs a little help refining their kicking skills before the game starts, try the ideas in this post.
3 || HAND CLAPPING GAMES || You know you can’t resist this one. We ALL played these games growing up and your child won’t be able stop once they get started! Who would have thought that hand clapping games could address so many different developmental skills at once!? Bilateral coordination, memory and cognitive skills, and collaboration are all packed into these fun group games for kids!
4 || 10 CREATIVE HULA HOOP GAMES || Hula hoop games and activities are super motivating group outdoor games and can be fun ways to promote gross motor skills. There are so many ways to play with these colorful, light-weight rings and they are cheap and easy to find!
5 || SENSORY MOTOR SCAVENGER HUNT || This Outdoor Sensory Motor Scavenger Hunt will get kids moving, touching, noticing, and interacting with the outdoors in a totally different way! It’s a great way to show kids how to explore many of their sensory systems at once! Make it a friendly competition and see who can complete it first! Free printable included.
6 || ANIMAL TAG || As part of our animal theme, we came up with this version of tag that will have your kids pretending to be their favorite zoo animals – gazelles, kangaroos, monkeys, cheetahs or zebras! This is one of our favorite large group games for kids!
7 || LINE TAG || Get out the sidewalk chalk and get everyone running, jumping, hopping, and more with this fun game of tag!
8 || CREATE YOUR OWN ROLLER COASTER RIDE || Sometimes the simplest gross motor activities can be the most fun. So find some kids and an old bed sheet, and lets get outside!
9 || RABBIT HOLE || Imagination is the key in this fun group gross motor challenge! Children think it is hilarious to pack themselves into a tight place, especially when they’re trying to get away from a “fox”! This one is great for motor planning, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills and is one of our best outdoor team building activities!
10 || WHO’S MISSING || Looking for fun outdoor games for kids? This one would be great for a preschool class that’s just getting to know each other, or just a fun game for a group of kids in the backyard!
11 || WACKY RELAY || This game takes a traditional relay challenge and adds a dash of creativity with some teamwork! Easy, free kids games are hard to come by, but this fun gross motor activity requires no planning and only simple materials you can find around your house! And it can be made into a team outdoor activity too!
12 || 5 FUN GOLF GAMES FOR KIDS || 5 fun golf games for the whole family with a few funny gross motor twists along the way!
13 || TEACHING YOUR CHILD HOW TO JUMP ROPE || Expert tips from our physical therapist on how to help your child master this tricky skill – along with some awesome suggestions for fun jump rope games!
14 || 8 SWING GAMES FOR KIDS || Perfect for a backyard swingset, tree swing, or your next trip to the playground – these games will have you and your kiddo laughing non-stop!
15 || FIRECRACKER TAG || Tag is also a great game to promote child development skills like balance, endurance, motor planning, motor control and proprioception. Get ready for some firecracker sounds (courtesy of balloons) and the giggles with this fun twist on tag!
16 || APPLE ORCHARD GAME || This movement game for kids will be a challenge: to get apples safely into the baskets without using their hands!
17 || WHEELBARROW RELAY || Kids will get a taste of what it’s like to be a farmer working the fields with this fun relay race! Everybody grab a partner and get moving!
18 || OUTDOOR SENSORY MOTOR SCAVENGER HUNT || This Outdoor Sensory Motor Scavenger Hunt will get kids moving, touching, noticing, and interacting with the outdoors in a totally different way! It’s a great way to show kids how to explore many of their sensory systems at once and doesn’t need a certain number of players.
19 || SWING SET FUN! || 5 creative new ways to use the swing set in your backyard! Kids will love these fun new ways to play!
20 || GARDEN TAG || Kids will work up a sweat, skipping, hopping, jumping, galloping, and more as they pretend to be gardeners and bee keepers in this fun game of tag!
And don’t miss our top recommendations for backyard toys for kids – including a glow in the dark capture the flag game and more!
