I remember the times before computers, video games and gameboys … everyone spent their time outside in the backyard enjoying what Mother Nature had to offer. It is still possible to get back to those “good old” times where “batteries were not required”! In fact, not only is it healthier to spend time out of doors, but there are many "green games" available to help the environment.
With the economy being down, we also need to think about the expense factor. There are so many terrific backyard games that do not require any money at all! So unglue your child and yourself from the TV and hustle on outside for some FREE fun. You’ll be surprised at how young you feel when you play outside!
These games are old favorites:
Tag is one of the simplest back yard games. Simply choose a player to be ‘It’, then, choose something to be the ‘base.’ The idea of the game is for the person who is ‘It’ to tag the other players before they reach the base. If the person who is ‘It’ tags you, then you are now ‘It’.
This works on your short sprints and stealth techniques. Be aware that little kids can run pretty fast and they may beat the pants off you!
Blind Man’s Bluff. This game is kind of silly, but is a lot of fun. One person puts on a blindfold while the others spin him around. Then, the blindfolded person is led around the area in circles for as long as the other players feel necessary until they get to their destination point. The blindfolded person then guesses where he is. The blindfold is then removed to reveal his location.
This game is not recommended for those with motion sickness. The spinning may cause the “blindfoldee” to lose lunch. In addition, it is wise to know your fellow players well enough to provide for your safety … ie. Not to leave you standing at the edge of a busy street or a cliff!
Dodgeball uses a soft rubber or nerf ball. All the players except for one lines up against a fence or wall and become the target for the person who is ‘it’. The person who is ‘It’ tries to hit the other players with the ball. When someone is hit with the ball they are eliminated until there is only one player left. The last player is the winner and gets to throw the ball in the next game.
Lots of fun, but I always come away with bruises after a vigorous game of dodge ball. I probably need to work on my “tag” short sprints ... LOL!
Scavenger Hunt requires you to make a list of several things found outdoors … like bottle caps, feathers, certain types of flowers, etc. A list is given to each player. The first one to return with all the items is the winner! The hunt can be as simple or as difficult as you like.
This was always one of my favorites because running speed was never a factor … I guess I was a more “spiritual” kid that enjoyed the hunt more than the actual race.
Ok, so these are some of best of the best FREE backyard games.
Be sure to add some of YOUR favorites to the list ... and let the backyard game begin!
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