The lost art of playing outside: 15 things to do in your backyard

Written by: Pam Molnar

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 games, starting lines, and boundaries for a basketball court.

Water gun shooting range. Gather empty water and soda bottles and set 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, the 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. Players try to keep balloons from landing on their side by hitting them back over with pool noodles. The game is played with five to ten balloons, and every player has a pool noodle.

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 a watermelon into half-moon pieces and set some 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’s hot and you need a break from running games, set up a table in the shade and get creative with the playdough. Bring out cookie cutters, rolling pins, and anything that creates some texture.

Dodgeball. Set up several soft vinyl balls in the centre of two teams. On “Go,” charge the centre to get to a ball and start throwing them at other players. If a player catches it, the thrower is out. If he misses the catch or gets hit with the ball, the player is out.

Kick the can. Place a metal can in the middle of the driveway or backyard patio. The players hide while the person who is ‘it’ tries to find them while keeping an eye on the can. If they get too far away from the can, another player can come out of hiding and kick the can. If the player is tagged, they become ‘it’. If not, he is safe. Play continues until all players kick 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, 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 his 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 with his foot. Like baseball, the batter runs the bases and the opposing team tries to get him out before he gets home.

Make mud pies. Summer is about getting dirty. Fill a disposable container with dirt, 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 is a regular contributor to Calgary’s Child and 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.

See our related articles:

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• Creating Adventures in Your Own Backyard 
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• Keeping Backyard Play Safe
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