By Opportunity on Deck on Monday, June 15, 2020
3 games for kids to play outdoors
It's a great time to get outdoors and play! These three activities require more space – so grab some simple equipment and head outside for some family fun.
Ball Juggle
You'll need a lot of space and some family members (up to 8) to play this game. The goal of the game is to work as a team to keep the soccer ball juggling in the air without using your hands as long as possible.
The game starts with the youngest player who tosses the ball to another player. Players then try to pass the ball in the air to another player in the group. The rest of the group counts how many touches they get out loud.
The game continues until the ball hits the ground. Whoever touched the ball last gets to choose an exercise (example: push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks) for everyone in the group to do together. Do as many repetitions as number of touches before the ball hit the ground (example: 8 touches = 8 jumping jacks).
Grab the ball and toss it to another player to start the next round. The game ends when you get to 10 touches!
MORE FUN: 3 games to play with kids indoors
Obstacle course
Setting up an obstacle course is all about creativity! You'll need a variety of equipment including larger obstacles, smaller obstacles and some kind of timer. These "obstacles" can be things like cones, balls, water bottles or things in your yard like tree stumps or swing sets.
Set up an obstacle course that would take 3-5 minutes to complete. The obstacle course should include moving around, over or under larger obstacles as well as completing certain sports tasks (example: dribbling your basketball around water bottles) and exercises (example: 10 jumping jacks).
Once you've set up your obstacle course, time yourself and others doing the challenges. You should try three times to see if you can improve your time!
LIVE 5-2-1-0: 1 hour of physical activity everyday
Walk and Talk
This activity pairs with a family walk. Parents can either share the questions with their children ahead of the walk and give them some time to write their answers before they start, or they can ask the questions during the walk. The goal is to encourage communication about the importance of healthy living habits.
- What is your favorite sport to play? Why?
- What do you like the most about your favorite sport?
- What is your least favorite part about the sport? Why is that not fun or challenging for you?
- What makes a good teammate in your favorite sport? What do you need to do to be a better teammate?
- What are other options for staying active and healthy when your favorite sport isn't in season? Which of those are your favorite?
Opportunity on Deck strives to serve central Iowa communities by providing free-of-charge athletic opportunities for children. Opportunity on Deck is a 5-2-1-0 Registered Out-of-School Program Site and 2020 Healthiest State Annual Award winner. Learn more about Opportunity On Deck at OpportunityOnDeck.org.