Play Outside

Don’t worry if your parents tell you to go outside -- there are so many fun outdoor activities you can try! If you're by yourself, you can build a fort, play with your pets, or do something creative. If you get bored, invite your friends over to play with you. There are so many games and activities that you can do together that you may not want to go back inside!

Steps

Playing by Yourself

  1. Build a fort. You can make your fort as simple or as complex as you like. Choose an area that will make a good floor, such as soft grass or flat dirt. Put a picnic rug and cushions onto the ground to make it feel extra cozy. Place outdoor furniture (such as outdoor chairs) around your floor area. Hang blankets between the chairs to create walls.[1]
    • If you have a big blanket, drape it over the top of all the chairs to create a roof.
    • If you have a big tree in your backyard, lean sticks against the tree trunk to make a teepee.
    • If you don’t have the right equipment to build a fort, ask your parents if you can put up a tent instead. If your parents give you permission, you could even sleep overnight in it.
  2. Practice your photography skills. Ask your parents if you can use their smartphone, tablet, or camera to take photos outside. Look around the garden, or your neighborhood, for things you might like to photograph. Look for things that are different colors, shapes, and sizes, that might make interesting photos.[2]
    • Hunt for insects and take photos of the ones you find.
    • If you have a pet, try taking some photos of it. Take a picture while it does a trick or when it is running in the yard.
    • Make sure you are careful with the camera as they can be really expensive to repair or replace.
  3. Hang out with your pets. Playing with your pets is a great way to pass time. Try to teach your dog new tricks, like turning around or lying on its tummy. You could also create a small obstacle course for your dog and teach it to go through it. If you have a cat (or rabbit or guinea pig) you could play with them in the shade and give them lots of pats.[3]
    • Make sure you supervise small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice, when they are outside.
  4. Fly a kite if there’s some wind. If there’s a bit of wind, take the opportunity to practice your kite flying skills. See how long you can keep your kite in the air for, or how high you get it. Make sure to fly your kite away from power lines and trees.[4]
    • If you don’t have a kite, try making your own.
    • Don’t fly your kite on a gusty day, as this makes flying hard and can cause the kite to break.
  5. Jump on the trampoline. If you have a trampoline at home, there are endless ways you can play on it. Count how many times you can bounce from your bottom onto your knees, or practice jumping onto your back and then landing on your feet. Bring one of your soft toys onto the trampoline and see how high you can bounce it.
    • Always be extra careful when practicing flips or new moves.
    • If you have chalk, draw a circle in the middle of the trampoline and see how many times you can bounce in the same spot.
  6. Go on a scavenger hunt. There are probably lots more hidden treasures in your backyard than you realise. Go on a hunt to find as many different kinds of leaves, rocks, insects, or flowers as you can. Arrange them in a cool way to show your parents.[5]
    • If you have a journal, you could document all your different finds by drawing pictures and describing where you found them. If you don’t have a journal you could take a picture instead.
    • Use the rocks you find to start a cool rock collection. Keep adding to over it time.

Hanging out with Your Friends

  1. Create shadow art. If it is a sunny day and your bodies are creating shadows, it is the perfect time to make some shadow art. Get your friend to stand still on a concrete surface, while you trace around the shadow of their body. Trade places, and let your friend have a go at drawing your shadow.[6]
    • Once you have traced your shadows you can colour them in and draw clothes onto them. Be creative and use different colors and patterns.
    • Hold your body in different positions to create different shadows. Try putting your arms up or to the side to create a different silhouette.
  2. Set up an obstacle course and have races. Create an obstacle course with your friends using items from in the garden, as well as the trees and bushes in your yard. For example, you could run to the washing line, crawl under a bush, run around a tree, climb under an outdoor table and run back to the starting line. Time each person and see who can do it the quickest.[7]
    • Try making a simple obstacle course and doing it blindfolded. Make sure someone follows the blinded person to ensure they don’t hurt themselves.
    • If your obstacle course gets a bit boring, add in some more obstacles.
  3. Play on a waterslide. When it’s hot, waterslides are the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Set up a waterslide on a flat area that is close to the hose. Turn on the hose and take turns sliding down. You could also get out your water guns and have a water fight while you’re already wet.[8]
    • If you feel like playing a game, sit on your knees and wrestle each other off the waterslide. The winner is the person that stays on the waterslide the longest.
    • If you don’t have a waterslide, turn on the sprinkler and run over it with your friends. Play games under the sprinkler or just run around and have fun.
    • Make sure to wear sunscreen while you’re in the sun.
  4. Gather your friends and go for a bike ride together. If you have a big back yard you could design a track and ride around it. If your parents let you, go for a ride around your neighborhood. You could stop in at your friends houses or check out a local park.
    • Always tell your parents before you leave the property.
    • Make sure you wear a helmet when you’re riding a bike.
  5. Walk to the park and play on the playground. If you’re getting bored hanging out in your backyard, ask your parents if you can go to the park together. Have races across the monkey bars, play tag on the playground or play on the swings.[9]
    • Ask you parents to take you to a new park if you are feeling tired of your local park.

Playing Games

  1. Play a game of frisbee with your friends. Frisbee is a fun game to play in your backyard or at a local park. All you need to do is throw the frisbee back and forth with your friends. Don’t worry if you’re not very good yet, you’ll get better with practice. Watching your throws improve is a really satisfying part of the game.[10]
    • When you start to catch more of the throws, try stepping back a couple of steps to make it a bit trickier.
    • If you want a real challenge, try throwing the frisbee in the opposite hand.
    • Frisbee is easier to play if it’s not windy.
  2. Play hide and go seek. This game is perfect to play in your backyard or in the park. Everyone has different hide and seek rules, so make sure you decide how you are going to play before you start the game.[11]
    • Decide where the boundaries are before you start playing, otherwise you might be looking all day!
  3. Play tag if you feel like running around. Tag is a great way to use up some energy if you’re feeling bored. Choose someone to be in and then run away from the tagger. There are lots of variations of tag you can try if you get bored of regular tag. Try group tag where once you have been tagged you help the tagger to tag more people, or band-aid tag where the person has to hold the body part where they have been tagged.[12]
    • Swap taggers if the tagger is struggling to tag anyone, this will make it more fun for everyone.
    • Decide on where the boundaries will be before you start the game.
  4. Play football in the backyard. Place your shoes on the lawn and use them as goal posts. Split into 2 teams and make your own game of backyard football. If you want to mix it up you could play crab football instead and only crawl on your hands and feet.[13]
    • Be careful not to play ball games too close to windows.
    • If you prefer rugby or hockey, you could play these instead.
  5. Set up croquet or badminton on the lawn. If you have the right equipment this is the perfect way to spend the afternoon. You could create a mini-tournament to see who is the champion among your friends. You may even be able to convince your parents to join in the fun![14]
    • If you want to leave the gear out to play with again tomorrow, make sure you set it up out of the driveway.

Warnings

  • Make sure your parents know where you will be and make sure you are back by the time that they tell you.
  • Make sure to wear sunscreen and drink lots of water when you are outside in summer.

Related Articles

References

  1. ↑ https://www.fatherly.com/play/best-backyard-fort-build-with-kids/
  2. ↑ http://www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com/scavenger-hunt-ideas-for-kids/
  3. ↑ https://www.care.com/c/stories/6225/101-things-to-do-with-your-dog/
  4. ↑ https://rhythmsofplay.com/kite-flying-with-kids/
  5. ↑ https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/nature-scavenger-hunt/
  6. ↑ https://rhythmsofplay.com/shadow-art-outdoor-science/
  7. ↑ https://www.care.com/c/stories/3945/7-obstacle-course-ideas-for-kids-of-all-ages/
  8. ↑ http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=374
  9. ↑ http://www.pbs.org/parents/food-and-fitness/sport-and-fitness/activities-for-kids-at-your-local-park/
  10. ↑ http://www.bayareaparent.com/Article/Teach-Your-Child-to-Throw-a-Frisbee/
  11. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/hide-and-seek-game
  12. ↑ https://www.verywellfamily.com/ways-to-play-tag-1256794
  13. ↑ https://www.education.com/activity/article/crab-soccer-challenge/
  14. ↑ https://thestir.cafemom.com/home_garden/105282/how_to_play_croquet_great

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