Last updated on October 22nd, 2022 at 04:10 pm
When the weather is nice, itās important to get kids outside to enjoy it! Whether you are stuck at home due to quarantine or just need some ideas to tear your kids away from their screen time, here are 10 fun backyard activities for kids.
Backyard Activities for Kids
Stuck at home, but still want to get fresh air and exercise? Just head out the back door! If you have a yard of any size, you can still find activities to do with your kids (or even on your own).
Itās important to make sure kids spend time doing outdoor activities. In fact, studies have shown that kids who spend time outside might be happier and less stressed, not to mention healthier and more physically fit. Whether theyāre jumping in the pool, doing crafts at the patio table, or even working in the garden, itās important to get out of the house. Here are ten outdoor activities for kids you can do at home.
1. Plant Something with Your Kids
Warm weather months are the best time to plant something, whether you prefer beautiful flowers or edible veggies. Planting a garden is a great way to teach kids about food and have them be responsible for watering, weeding, and picking their crop. Working in the garden is a great physical activity that gets you unplugged and can relieve stress and anxiety as well!
2. Water Play
If you have a pool, consider yourself in luck! Swimming is an awesome activity and favorite for kids of all ages when itās hot outside. But even if your home doesnāt have a pool, there are still plenty of back yard activities for kids that involve getting wet! Set up a sprinkler, wash the car, water the garden, go down slip-n-slide, splash around in a kiddie pool, or build a water table if you have younger kids. You can also play with water balloons!
3. Backyard Workouts
Your backyard is ideal for workouts, since you have more space to run around. Look cardio workouts, and you should get an idea of what you can do outdoors. For example, you can warm up for your workout outside by doing walking lunges along with some squats. You can run sprints back and forth, do jumping jacks or push-ups, or have fitness challenges with other members of your family. There is no reason your kids canāt stay healthy and active right in your own back yard.
4. Lawn Games
Lawn games have been getting more popular recently, so it shouldnāt be too hard to find them! They are often larger sizes of classic games your family loves, like Giant Jenga or Corn Hole. These can be played on your patio or even in the grass if you prefer. Getting people to stand and walk around gives everyone a lot more activity than sitting down to play the game.
5. Gaze at the Stars
Head outside after dark and look up! Kids will love learn about the constellations and checking them out from their own house. In fact, it is one of the best back yard activities for kids! You can even print out star maps or download an app that will help you locate them.
6. Chalkboard Pictionary
Here’s a fun game for older kids and parents! Set up a chalkboard on some type of easel in the backyard on the lawn or patio (white boards work too!). Play it just like a normal game of Pictionary, where one person draws the word on their card, and everyone else has to guess what it is. You can even make it more active by having everyone act out what they think the word or phrase is.
7. Do an Art Project
Kids love arts and crafts, but as we all know these projects can be messy! This is the perfect reason to bring them outside!Ā A few ideas for fun things to do outside include playing with playdough, collecting leaves, flower, sticks, seeds, and pine cones to make a nature-themed art project, or straight up painting. Bring paper and paint outside so your kids can enjoy painting nature scenes right in their own back yard!
8. Sidewalk Chalk Art
Let your kids go crazy with some sidewalk chalk! Just give them a big bucket of sidewalk chalk and have them get as creative as they can. They can draw pictures or inspirational quotes, or just write whatever they want. It washes or wears off on its own after time, so anything goes! This is seriously one of the easiest backyard activities for kids, because you can just give them the chalk and let them go nuts.
9. Design a Backyard Obstacle Course
Challenge your kids to put together a fun obstacle course right in your back yard! Use chairs, sticks, laundry baskets, a hula hoop, and other items from your house or backyard to create fun obstacles that will keep kids entertained while they stay active. This backyard activity is perfect for older kids.
10. Have a Backyard Camp Out
Even if you canāt travel, thereās no reason that you canāt take your family camping. Pitch a tent on your back lawn, leave the technology in the house, and enjoy the great outdoors right in your own backyard. Kids will love sleeping outside and youāll love being able to run inside the house to use a real bathroom ā win win! If you are able, build a small fire to make sāmores and tell stories after dark.
Looking for more ideas to help keep your kids active and healthy? Check out these Easy Ways to Keep Your Kids Active at Home.
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