The Lost Art of Playing Outside
Summer is the best time to be a kid. School is out, the weather is great and each day promises a new adventure. At least that’s how it used to be. Today, summer’s biggest rival is a digital display. It’s time to ditch the electronic devices, gather up the neighborhood kids and show them how to have some old-fashioned summer fun.
Get on Some Wheels
Pull out your bikes, skateboards or roller skates and explore your neighborhood streets. Set up traffic cones in an obstacle course to see who can get through it the fastest, but don’t forget to wear your safety gear.
Sidewalk Chalk
Let your imagination take over as you create decorative scenes, trace your friends and play games like tic-tac-toe. Chalk can also be used to create four square layouts and starting lines and boundaries for a basketball court.
Water Gun Shooting Range
Gather empty water and soda bottles and set them up on a deck railing or table edge. Fill your water gun and try to knock them over. On windy days, fill each bottle with an inch of water.
Set Up a Bike-Washing Station
After a ride on the trails, your bike needs a good cleaning. Set up a station in the driveway with soapy water, a hose and some rags to dry up. This is a fun way to cool off while getting something accomplished.
Fence Volleyball
The backyard fence provides a simple volleyball net. Players stand on either side and play volleyball with a beach ball. You can also play pool noodle volleyball, in which players try to keep balloons from landing on their side by hitting them back over with pool noodles. It’s played with five to 10 balloons and a noodle for each player.
Sharks and Minnows
Line up the players, called minnows, on one end of the yard. One shark stands in the middle of the yard. The minnows try to cross to the other side of the yard without getting tagged and becoming a shark themselves. Play continues until all minnows have changed to sharks.
Watermelon-Eating Contest
Cut watermelon into half-moon pieces and set them in front of each player on the table. On go, try to eat the watermelon as fast as you can without using your hands.
Pull Out the Playdough
When it is hot and you need a break from running games, set up a table in the shade and get creative with playdough. Bring out cookie cutters, rolling pins and anything that creates some texture.
Dodgeball
Set up several soft vinyl balls at the center between two teams. On go, charge the center to get to a ball and start throwing balls at other players. If a player catches a ball, the thrower is out. If players miss the catch or get hit with the ball, they’re out instead.
Kick the Can
Place a metal can in the middle of the driveway or backyard patio. Players hide while the person who is “it” tries to find them (while keeping an eye on the can). If the seeker gets too far away from the can, another player can come out of hiding and kick the can. If that player is tagged, they’ll becomes “it.” If not, the player is safe. Play continues until all players kick the can or until a player is found or tagged.
Kiddie Pools and Slip and Slides
A kiddie pool is a great place to cool off and play with dolls and float boats. Set up a slip and slide nearby and you have created hours of entertainment right in your own backyard.
Water Balloon Toss
Stand in parallel lines and pass a water balloon back and forth without dropping it. Change it up by setting one person in the middle of a circle with a bowl on their head. Players try to toss the balloon in the bowl.
Kickball
This game is similar to baseball, but it levels the playing field so all ages and skill levels can play. The pitcher rolls a large ball to the “batter,” who kicks it. Like in baseball, the kicker runs the bases and the opposing team tries to get the kicker out before they make it home.
Make Mud Pies
Summer is about getting dirty. Fill a disposable container with dirt and add water, flower petals and rocks. Stir with a stick or get your hands in there to mix it up. You can also use your pie filling to draw or write on the sidewalk.
Create a Fort
If you don’t have big cardboard boxes at home, head to the hardware store to purchase moving boxes. Create a fort with doors and windows and decorate with markers, crayons and other craft items.
Pam Molnar is a mother of three. She has fond memories of summertime games with her neighbors and enjoys watching her children make summer memories of their own.
