Category Archives: Outdoor Games

Pioneer Games

This summer try playing some of these fun games that pioneer children used to play. For more fun pioneer activities see my blog Celebrate Pioneer Day. Shadow Tag This game needs to be played on a sunny day. The person who is it tries to step on another player’s shadow. If their shadow is stepped on they have to stand still. The game continues until every person has been tagged. Then the first person tagged becomes it. If a player gets tired of running they can lay down. Then the player who is it can’t tag them. Ducks Fly This … Continue reading →

Play Blind Man’s Bluff

Originally the game was called Blind man’s buff, which means a small push, but when the game journeyed across the ocean from England to America it was changed to Blind man’s bluff. This was a popular game played by pioneer children and still enjoyed by children today. This game needs to be played in a large enclosed area that does not have many objects in it. If you are playing the game in a house push the furniture against the walls to prevent accidents. One child is chosen to be the “blind man” and is blindfolded. The other children scatter … Continue reading →

More Fun Trampoline Games

I recently published a blog describing some fun trampoline games since that time I have discovered a few more games I want to share. Popcorn In this game you will need a lot of balls of every size, preferably round. Put all the balls on the trampoline. Then begin jumping. Every time a ball is bounced off the tramp, whoever caused it to bounce off gets a point. Once all of the balls have been bounced of the tramp the person with the most points wins. Elimination One person is chosen to be the leader and does a simple trick. … Continue reading →

Games of Tag From Around the World

Here are some fun versions of tag from around the world that you could play at a family culture night, a party, or with a group of friends. One Legged Rabbit from Thailand The players form two even groups. An area, not to large, is marked out and one group stays within this area. The other group is chosen to be the rabbits and wait outside the area. One rabbit hops on one leg into the area and tries to touch as many people in the other group as possible. Players are out if they are touched or go outside … Continue reading →

Trampoline Games

In May Heather Long talked about the fitness benefits of owning a trampoline. But along with fitness benefits a trampoline can provide hours of family fun. We recently got a trampoline and our three kids have enjoyed it immensely. So I thought I’d share some fun games that kids can play on the trampoline. Some of them you might remember from your own childhood. Crack the Egg The child who is the “egg” sits in the middle of the tramp and holds their knees close to their chest with both arms. The other children jump and try to make the … Continue reading →

Red Lion

Number of players: 5+ Ages: 5+ Space required: playground or large room This is a pretty involved playground or park game, but once everyone gets a few of the nuances down, it can keep the players busy for a while. It requires a lot of teamwork, and a lot of strategy. To begin mark out a small section of the playing field as a den for the person who is “it” or the Red Lion. The other players gather at another end of the playing field and designate one of their people as a captain who directs the actions of … Continue reading →

Ma Say

Kids, don’t try this at home. During the winter of seventh grade, dozens of classmates and I resurrected an old game called “Ma Say.” We’d scarf down our lunches as fast as we could, don our snow gear, and spend the rest of our lunch recess on the snow covered playground that became the playing field. The game itself was simple enough. All the players but one would gather at one end of the playing field, demarcated by a line that ran parallell to the back of the cafeteria. The other end of the field was at the other end … Continue reading →

Tip, Tap, Toe

Back in the Middle Ages, lords would divide their lands among lower nobles and peasants. This game is rumored to have originated as a way that the lords would divide their lands. Draw a circle on a large piece of paper, the greater the number of players, the larger the circle. Draw straight lines through the center of the circle so it’s divided into a series of wedge shaped spaces. If you’re playing with a large number of players, it’s best to have more spaces available. Write numbers consecutively in each of the wedges, or use multiples of five for … Continue reading →

Still More Fun with Potatoes: The Two-Step Team Potato Race

Number of players 8+ Ages: 5+ Space: Playground, gym, and great at the beach Materials needed: Potatoes, at least two baskets. This game is similar to the potato races I described earlier this week, except it’s a little more complicated, and I think, a lot more fun. The earlier potato race I described before is an individual competition, and this is more of a team relay. Make a starting line on the ground, and in front of the starting line mark off two or more rows of spots according to the number of teams competing. The rows should be at … Continue reading →

More Fun with Potatoes: Potato Spoon Race

Number of players: 6+ Ages: 4+ Space: Big living or family room, yard or playground. Materials: a lot of potatoes or similarly odd shaped objects, spoons This is a form potato race that requires some skill, and, unlike many other forms of potato races it can be played in a relatively small space. The players are divided into two or more teams competing against each other. Each team lines up in single file, so the leaders are all standing on a starting line. Place a line of potatoes, two or three feet apart, in front of each line of players. … Continue reading →