11 Outdoor Springtime Activities Your Kids Will Love

Spring is here! So we’ve teamed up with our friends at Own The Yard to share some fun ideas on how to get outside and play. Check out Hannah’s guest post and let us know what you think!

Spring is one of the most eventful seasons of the year. With all the new life, aromatic flowers, and the warming sun, kids are tempted to spend much of their time outdoors.

 A child’s imagination can take them a long way, but when boredom strikes on these glorious sunny days, consider these fun Springtime activities that are sure to keep your children entertained!

1. Kite Flying

Kids have flown kites for centuries and the joy of imaginative kite-flying has never ceased. A flying kite can turn into a dragon, bird, or superhero in the blink of an eye and bring your child’s hidden world to life. Kites come in various colors, shapes, sizes, and prices (but are mostly affordable) so there’s bound to be one to fit the personality of your little one (and doesn’t break the bank in the process)!

2. Cornhole

Cornhole is a simple, but amusing game played with a raised board (with a hole in the center of the top) and bean – or Cornhole – bags. The rules for kids are as follows:

• An average game consists of 2-4 players. Divide players into two equal teams.
• Place the Cornhole boards about 15 feet apart (they can be closer for smaller children).
• Have the kids take turns (alternating teams) throwing their Cornhole bags at the hole in their board.  
• Bags are not to hit the ground. 3 points for a bag in the hole, and 1 point for each bag that stays on the board without touching the ground at any point!
• When all the players have thrown their Cornhole bags, add up the points and subtract the team with less points from the total points of the team with the higher score. For example: Team 1 has 13 points and Team 2 has 14. Subtract 13 from 14 and the score is 1-0!
• Play until one team reaches a score of 21 (or whatever score you think will keep the kids happily involved).

The Play Backyard Games Shop has a great selection of boards and bags to choose from! Look, here!

3. Giant Jenga

Jenga is a game full of excitement and surprise and kids really get a kick out of the toppling blocks! The regular, modestly-sized Jenga game is fun, but Giant Jenga takes the game to a whole other level. Because the blocks are so large, it’s best played outdoors (we wouldn’t want you taking a chance with that expensive vase of yours). Here’s how to play:

• Place three blocks on a level surface. Alternate the direction the blocks are facing with each layer (as shown in the photo above) until all the blocks are stacked.
• Round up two or more players.
• Have each player take turns tapping a single block out of the stack and placing it on the top until the tower falls.
• Repeat steps for as long as the kids want to play!

You can find this Giant Tumbling Tower and other giant games in the online Shop!

4. Red Light Green Light

Red Light Green Light has been played by kids for generations and was an especially popular way to pass the time in the 70s and 80s! You can find it being played on schoolgrounds all over the world, and though there are no objects involved, young kids are still entertained by this unpredictable (sometimes confusing) game. The rules are simple:

• Make an obvious Start and Finish line on the grass.
• Have all players stand behind the Start and an adult stand behind the Finish line.
• The adult will call out ‘Green Light’, allowing the kids to move towards the Finish. Say ‘Red Light’ randomly to make the kids stop running.
• If someone falls or doesn’t stop moving at ‘Red Light’, they must return to the Start.
• A new round starts when most, or all, the kids cross the Finish line.

Red Light Green Light rules are extremely flexible, so feel free to modify them to make the game more fun for the kids! For example: add a ‘Yellow Light’ for slow motion movements or determine how fast – or in what way – the players can move when the light is green (walk, run, jog, crab-walk, crawl, hop, etc.).

5. Simon Says

Like Red Light Green Light, Simon Says is a game where an adult calls out commands, and the kids try their best to follow them correctly. The difference is, players in this game are only allowed to follow the commands that begin with “Simon Says”. The object of the game is to call out commands until all the players are out (or one – the winner – is left standing).

Here, you can find unique Simon Says Ideas to make the game more fun and challenging for kids of all ages!

6. Kan Jam for Kids

Kan Jam is becoming an increasingly popular game and is a great pastime for people of all ages (if they can throw a disc)! It’s great for building teamwork, especially in young kids, and can easily become a thrilling and challenging game for everyone involved.

The rules below have been minorly tailored to the abilities of younger kids, but if you want to know the exact rules of the game, you can find those here.

Here’s how your kids can play (12 and under):

• Set up Kans 50 feet apart (or closer, if needed).
• Gather two teams of two or more players.
• Have two players from one team stand at each Kan. One will throw the disc, and the other will try to deflect, or hit, the frisbee into the Kan. Alternate teams after each person on one team throws.

Scoring:

21 Points are needed to win. If the score of a team goes above 21, the points from the last shot they took are to be subtracted from their score. However, if you want to make things a bit easier for children, the team with 21 points or over can be the winner.

There are four ways you can rack up points in Kan Jam:

• Dinger (1 Point): Dingers happen when your teammate deflects the disc and it hits the Kan.
• Deuce (2 Points): Deuces happen when you throw the disc and it hits the Kan without the help of your teammate.
• Bucket (3 Points): Buckets happen when your teammate deflects the disc into the Kan.
• Instant Win: An Instant Win happens when the disc is thrown into the slot in front of the Kan.

If you think your kids would enjoy a friendly game of Kan Jam, check out the Kan Jam Set in the Shop!

7. Bucketball for Kids

Bucketball is a very fun, leisurely game that requires little preparation and is extremely simple for kids to understand and play! Bucketball sets come with two balls, and two groups of 6 buckets – usually of different colors (red and blue, for example).

How to play:

• Both sets of 6 buckets are set up 20 or so feet apart (depending on what’s best for your kids) in a triangle shape: three buckets in the back, two in the middle, and one in the front.
• Two teams are needed (usually of 2 or more players on each).
• Each player on the teams throw once, trying to get the ball inside one of the other team’s buckets.
• Remove each bucket that the ball gets inside of.
• The team that removes all their opponent’s buckets wins!

If you want the more complicated set of rules, you can find those here, as well as the Official Bucketball Set through the online Shop!

8. Spikeball

Spikeball is a fast-paced game that is likely better suited for older kids (around 10 or 12) but will surely become a favorite as they grow! It involves quite a bit of movement, is great at improving hand-eye coordination, and encourages teamwork between two people.

The rules are pretty easy to follow, and once kids get a hang of it, they’ll be playing for hours!

How to play:

• Have two teams of either one or two players.
• To begin, one team will serve the ball to the other team by bouncing it off the net.
• After the ball is served, the players can move anywhere around the net – no boundaries!
• The players have up to three touches to return the ball to the other team.
• If the ball hits the ground, the net’s rim, or a team takes more than three touches the other team gets a point!
• Once a team reaches 11, 15 or 21 points with 2 points between the other team’s score, they win!

There’s a more detailed list of rules on the Spikeball website, but we’ve narrowed them down to make it understandable for kids. You can find a 3 ball Combo Spikeball Set in the Shop!

9.BulziBucket

Yet another awesome ball game for kids to enjoy, BulziBucket has been gaining popularity as a beach day and weekend activity. With the simple rules and competitive play, kids are sure to have an eventful time! As always, you can find the more drawn out rules on the BulziBucket website. But we’ll be simplifying them (well, even more so) for you!

Here’s how your kids can play:

• Set up each bucket 12 feet apart (or closer, for smaller kids).
• Gather two teams of either one or two players.
• Each player on both teams will take turns throwing their bean bags at the other team’s buckets.
• Beginning from the top bucket scoring is 3 points, 2 points, and 1 point if the player’s bean bag lands in the bottom bucket. Remember, the bag with the green bullseye is worth double points!
• After both teams (and all players) have thrown their three bean bags, subtract the total points of the lowest score from the highest. For example: After the first round, Team A has 18 points and Team B has 12 points (18-12= 6). Therefore, Team A now has a total of 6 points going towards the win.
• Whichever team reaches a total of 21 points (after round point deductions) wins!

Though older kids will have no problem keeping score, younger kids will need assistance with score-keeping. You can find a great BulziBucket Set (available in two colors) through the Play Backyard Games Shop!

10. Capture the Flag

Capture the flag is a game that has been played by boy scouts for nearly 100 years. It’s said to have originated from wars, such as the Civil War, in which each side would try to capture the enemy flag in order to end the battle. Of course, nobody fights in this game, but it’s an energetic, competitive game that will grab the attention of your little ones in no time!

Game setup:

• This game is best played in a wooded area, so find some trees!
• Separate the wooded area into three spaces: a side for each team and a neutral space in the middle. Add a small ‘jail’ space somewhere on each team’s side, as well. This can be done with tape, ropes, turf paint, cones, etc.
• Gather two equal teams of five or more players.
• Give each team 5-10 minutes to hide their flag (or colored towel, scarf, shirt, or whatever flag-like object you have lying around the house). It’s better if the flags are different colors.

Once the flags are hidden, the game begins. The object of the game is to not get caught by the opposing team and capture their flag, bringing it safely over to your side.

Rules:

• All players can move freely, although it’s best for players to take turns running across enemy lines in groups of 2 or 3 while the others stay on their side of the field.
• If a player is in the neutral space, they cannot be taken to jail by the opposing team.
• If a player crosses enemy lines, attempting to capture the flag, and they’re tagged by a player on the opposing team they must be taken to the jail space.
• A player can be released from the jail space if their team reaches them without being tagged and runs back with them (also without being tagged).
• The game continues until a team has successfully captured and taken the enemy flag over to their side OR if all the players on one team are thrown into the enemy’s jail.

Capture the Flag has been a game enjoyed by children for decades and we’re convinced your kids will love it, too! It’s a wonderful game for birthday parties and family gatherings that will bring everyone together for some healthy, competitive fun.

11. Four Square

Four Square has been a schoolground staple for decades. It’s great for the development of a child’s reflexes and is just all-around good fun. This is probably the easiest game on our list for kids to understand and will keep them outside and entertained for quite a while!

Game setup:

• This game is best played on concrete. A driveway would work great!
• Use chalk or tape to create the play square (about 6 feet wide) and create four smaller squares inside of the large square. Number the squares 1-4.
• Have a bouncy ball (any large ball will do).
• Gather a group of four players.

After the four squares are set up, playing is a piece of cake! The point of the game is to reach square 4 to serve the ball. Here’s how to play:

• Each player will stand in each of the four squares.
• The player in square 4 will serve the ball by bouncing it once in their square and hitting it in another player’s square.
• The ball must hit inside the square when passed to another player.
• If the ball doesn’t hit inside the square, the person who passed the ball is out.
• If the ball bounces more than once inside a player’s square, the person in the square is out.
• Whenever a player is out, they must move to square 1 while the remaining players rotate to positions closer to the serving square (square 4).

That’s it! Once the kids get a hang of the game, there will be no stopping them! (There’s a reason it’s so popular at school!)

In Conclusion

When the weather is warm and it’s time for the kids spend their days outside, it’s always great to have outdoor activities in mind when they can’t find anything to do. Hopefully these 11 outdoor activities we covered will keep your kids occupied and entertained this Spring!

Remember to check the Play Backyard Games Shop for easy purchase of some of the games on our list!

Hannah Murley is a blogger over at OwnTheYard.com. You can read more of her tips on backyard design, games, and outdoor gear to make your backyard space fun and creative! You can also follow along on Pinterest here.