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Yard Games for Kids

Yard games for kids are a great way to get outside and off of screens to do something fun with the whole family!

As the weather warms up and the days grow longer, there’s no better time to encourage your kids, from little ones to teens, to put down their screens and enjoy some exciting adventures right in your own backyard with these yard games. There is something here for everyone in the family!

While you’re at it, check out the best DIY backyard playhouse ideas for even more fun.

Ultimate Guide to Yard Games for the Family

I’ve gathered a list of fun and engaging yard games that will keep children entertained for hours while promoting physical activity, social interaction, and endless laughter. Many of these are personal family favorites that we have enjoyed for years. So, grab your sunscreen and let’s dive into the ultimate guide to yard games that will make this summer one to remember!

  1. Scavenger Hunt: These are always fun for the whole family! I have a free printable spring scavenger hunt and a free printable nature walk scavenger hunt that you can download and enjoy. You can also make your own or use this fun set of scavenger hunt cards.
  2. Giant Backyard Board Games: Did you know they make giant versions of Sorry, Connect 4, Jenga, Checkers, and Tic Tac Toe you can play in the backyard? So fun! Enjoy some fresh air on family game day.
  3. Obstacle Course: Set up a course with various obstacles like cones, tunnels, and hurdles for kids to navigate through. This outdoor carnival games is a great place to start. If you’re really into setting up an obstacle course, this NinjaSafe set looks totally awesome and would definitely count as homeschool P.E. time!
  4. Backyard Bowling: Bowling is a fun family activity and this giant set of backyard bowling makes it even more fun and affordable for the whole family! We love it!
  5. Croquet: This was another one of my personal favorite backyard games when I was growing up. I often had friends over to play a fun game of croquet during the summer. You can get a nice backyard croquet set for less than $50.
  6. Ring Toss: Set up posts with different point values and have kids toss rings to try and land them on the posts. This vintage wooden ring toss set is a winner!
  7. Badminton: When I was growing up, badminton was one of my favorite backyard pastimes during the summer. You can get an affordable set that will last for years and be fun for everyone.
  8. Bean Bag Toss: Set up targets or holes with point values and have kids toss bean bags to score points. Also known as cornhole, there are tons of sets to choose from or you can make your own. My family enjoys both of these games.
  9. Darts: Typically, you might think darts are too dangerous for kids and I would agree. However, there are kid-safe darts (balls with Velcro) that you can get to use indoors or outdoors. There’s even a giant set of Kick Darts that combines soccer with darts for the backyard. How cool is that?
  10. Sack Race: Kids hop inside sacks or pillowcases and race to a finish line. This cool set of backyard games includes the sacks for racing, but you could always use old pillowcases.
  11. Tag: Classic game where one player is “it” and tries to tag other players. When tagged, a player becomes “it.”
  12. Hide and Seek: One player covers their eyes and counts while others hide. The seeker then tries to find them.
  13. Capture the Flag: Divide players into two teams, each with a flag. The goal is to capture the other team’s flag without being tagged.
  14. Red Light, Green Light: One player is the “traffic light” and calls out “green light” for players to move and “red light” to stop. Anyone caught moving on “red light” goes back to the start.
  15. Kickball: Similar to baseball, but players kick a ball instead of hitting it with a bat.
  16. Soccer: Set up goals and play a game of soccer. My daughters have always liked to play backyard soccer together with a set like this.
  17. Hopscotch: Draw a hopscotch grid on the ground and take turns hopping through it while avoiding stepping on the lines. You could also get a set of hopscotch rings to connect in different patterns.
  18. Duck, Duck, Goose: Children sit in a circle, and one child walks around tapping heads, saying “duck” until they choose someone to be the “goose” who chases them around the circle.
  19. Freeze Tag: Similar to tag, but when tagged, players must freeze in place until another player tags them to unfreeze.
  20. Three-Legged Race: Pair kids up and have them tie one leg to their partner’s leg. They then race to a finish line.
  21. Disc Golf: Disc golf is a sport that shares many similarities with traditional golf but is played with flying discs (similar to Frisbees) instead of clubs and balls. The objective of disc golf is to complete each hole in as few throws as possible, much like in golf. A starter set is affordable and fun for everyone.
  22. Tug-of-War: Divide players into two teams and have them tug on opposite ends of a rope to pull the other team across a designated line. This set even includes medals you can hand out to the winners if you decide to have your own family field day with multiple yard games.
  23. Simon Says: One player is “Simon” and gives commands like “Simon says touch your toes.” Players must only follow commands preceded by “Simon says.” While this could be played indoors, it’s always fun to add to your list of yard games.
  24. Hula Hoop Contest: See who can hula hoop the longest or perform the most tricks.
  25. Balloon Relay: Divide players into teams and have them race while carrying a balloon between their knees without dropping it.
  26. Water Balloon Dodgeball: Play dodgeball with water balloons instead of balls for a refreshing twist.
  27. Limbo: Use a stick or rope as the limbo bar, and see how low players can go without touching the ground.
  28. Volleyball: I was on my church volleyball team as a teen, so having a backyard volleyball set helped me to get some extra practice. It’s a fun backyard game that even the older kids will enjoy.

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