Play Catch
No matter how addictive a video game might become, this simple outdoor activity will always beat it. Hurl a baseball, kick a soccer ball, toss a football, fling a Frisbee, whatever works for you and your kids. Give pointers on the best way to throw, but don’t be pushy. Just enjoy the time outside together.
Wall Ball
There are as many variations of this game as there are schoolyards. But for this simple version, all you really need is a wall and a ball — a tennis ball will do. Playing one-on-one, the first player throws the ball off the wall and the other player must catch it, in the air or on one bounce, and then throw it back off the wall (no holding or carrying). When a player misses or drops the ball (blocking opponents from getting to the ball is illegal), his or her opponent gains the point. Games typically go to 21 points. If there are more than two players, a player steps to the sidelines when he or she loses a point.
Four Square
Draw a court on the ground with playground chalk — it’s just four equal-size quadrants, each at least 4 feet by 4 feet — and label them 1, 2, 3, and 4.
The player in square 1 “serves” by hitting a rubber playground ball with his or her hands into one of the other squares. After one bounce, the player in that square must hit the ball into someone else’s square, or that player is out. players may never carry, catch, or hold the ball. Rotate spots based on game play — if the player in square 2 is called out, that player moves to square 4 (or to the sidelines if more than four players are involved) and the other players move up. The player in square 1 always starts the round and is often called the king; in some versions of the game, the king can make special rules that all the other players must follow.
H-O-R-S-E
In this classic basketball shooting game, players take turns calling shots: “Three-pointer from right here — nothing but net!” If a player makes it, his or her opponent needs to make the exact same shot or collect a letter; the first player to be saddled with H, O, R, S, and E loses.
Yoga Poses
Simple yoga positions are fun and good for you. They can be done indoors or outside on a beautiful day. Try this simple tandem exercise to start:
Seesaw
Stretches your hamstrings and back while strengthening your abdominals.
# Sit facing your partner, foot to foot, with both your legs in V’s.
# Hold hands while one person leans forward and the other leans back, then alternate, making sure not to yank or pull each other too hard.
# Repeat ten times.
Get more family-friendly poses »
The Kids’ Yoga Deck: 50 Poses and Games
Wacky Races
Remember three-legged races? Sack races (use king size pillow cases if you can find burlap bags) Your kids have probably never even seen one! Or try a walking race where each competitor holds a spoon in his or her mouth with an egg balanced on it, or carrying an orange tucked under their chins (no hands allowed). Or make up your own obstacle courses, using whatever is around. For example, turn on the sprinkler to make a water obstacle. Using your imaginations to create a race is half the fun!
Frisbee Golf
All you need for this game is some room, some imagination, and a Frisbee for each player. Before teeing off, agree on a target or “hole” (such as a tree, a sign, or a similar landmark), then take aim with the disc. The goal is to reach the target in the fewest number of throws. The player who accomplishes this gets to select the next hole and go first. Play as many holes as you like. The player with the fewest throws at the end of the game is the winner. If you have a big field and a dozen hula hoops you can create your own course.
Sardines
It’s hide-and-seek flipped on its head. While one player hides, a group of seekers close their eyes and count to a predetermined number. When they finish counting, the hunt is on! The seekers spread out to search; as each finds the hiding player, he or she joins the hider in the hiding place, until the last seeker finds the spot (where the players are now packed like sardines). The last player to find the hiding place becomes the next person to hide.
Make Your Own Hopscotch Court
Let your imaginations, and your chalk, run wild! Draw a bunch of boxes for you and your kids to hop through. Create wacky rules for what happens when you land on a given square: Recite the alphabet backwards; dump a bucket of water on your head; jump rope on one foot — whatever sounds silliest!
The most important thing? HAVE FUN!!!
