When the weather is good, it’s time for garden games with the children. Getting out in the garden is one of summer’s pleasures. That’s what I wrote 10 years ago now
But Summer 2020 is shaping up to be a weird one isn’t it? If you are lucky enough to have a garden it could become a veritable sanity saver over the next few months. It’s so good to get your children outside as much as you can, and especially now that there are precious few other places that you can take them.
So here is a rerun of that post I wrote 10 years ago. My kids are teenagers now and not using the garden so much. But these are the favourite garden games that we enjoyed when they were younger.
1. Water painting – an absolute favourite as it’s cheap and quick to get ready and has no lasting effects! Simply get an empty container of water and an old paint brush and set them off painting patterns, writing names or even a whole picture. Or how about water painting the car with soapy bubbly water…?
2. Open Air Art gallery – works in a very similar way but using chalks. Allocate the children some paving slabs each do draw their works of art on then they can give you a guided tour. Washes away easily with water or the next rainy day.
3. Be pirates – hide ‘treasure’ in a sand pit or patch of soil that is free for digging. The treasure can be anything from pegs to silver foil or sweets to real 1p coins. Award prizes for the pirate with most treasure.
4. Go on a bug hunt – This activity is great for walking slowly and quietly round the garden. See how many creepy crawlies you can find hiding under leaves and stones. A variation on this is to go into the garden straight after some rain and see how many worms you can find! You can do this with a camera, photographing the bugs if you are a bit squeamish about them catching and keeping them. See how many different bugs you can find, then go indoors and find out about them.
5. Fill it up – this is a game I remember playing at Brownies many years ago! Give each child a small container (a washed-out yoghurt pot or similar) and see who can collect the most different things that fit in it within 5/10/20 minutes. A good game for older children to play in teams with younger children.
6. Play camping – set up a ‘tent’ using an old blanket or sheet draped over a clothes airer, chairs or some canes. A great place to have a picnic as well. Collect sticks for a pretend campfire.
I’ve seen quite a few families even doing real camping in the back garden over the Easter holidays, in the absence of a real holiday to go to elsewhere. If you have a big tent, why not use it – it could be fun
7. A big box – most children have fantastic imaginations and just need some help to get it started. Have a look in the garage or loft to see if you have a spare box, otherwise, you may manage to find one at your local shop (supermarkets tend to flatten everything these days), and the bigger the better. It can become anything – a boat, a car, a space rocket, a shop, a castle – the variations are endless! If you haven’t got a box, what else could you find for them to use for imaginative play?
8. Sports day – this can be as simple or as complicated as you want. Start with some simple running races, and then you can try a sack race (a decent bin bag will suffice), an obstacle course, skipping or even an egg (hard-boiled) and spoon race. When I was younger I remember doing space hopper races, over hurdles, through the paddling pool and even space hopper showjumping
9. Target – again a nice simple one. Simply draw a series of targets, goalposts or shapes on a wall away from windows and get children to aim at them with a ball. If you are feeling adventurous you could let them use a wet sponge or water balloon.
Other things that you could use for target practice are a set of boules or skittles. Or how about putting a bucket or cup in the middle of the grass and encouraging your children to fill it with a water pistol?
10. Natural art – allow the children to collect leaves, grass, twigs, pebbles, feathers and anything else they can find and then use to create a collage picture, pattern or sculpture – can be done individually or all together. Take a photo as a reminder of their hard work.
Once they have been introduced to something, children will often play it over and over again, so these ideas should ensure a busy and happy summer in the garden! And if you have garden games ideas of your own please leave a comment and share the fun!
We like to play Assualt course using the things in the garden to jump over, climb under, slide down etc. The course record last week was 2 minutes 33 seconds and the race was completed whilst holding an umbrella as it was pouring!
We also do a Peppa Pig (as it is known in our house), as in we put on our wellies and jump about in the paddling pool or tubs of water (or more often this summer natural puddles!)… the object is normally to get as wet as possible!
The last one that is enjoyed is watering the plants. Top Ender will water all the veggies and flowers, normally helped by Baby Boy (who finds it easier to water himself) trailing somewhere behind her!
Oh and one I use to play, tennis or catch over the fence with the kids who lived next door. As none of us were tall enough to see over the fence it added a good twist!
This post has been bookmarked for future reference!
You’ve been tagged over at mine x
http://sandycalico.blogspot.com/2009/08/tara-tara-tara.html
Brilliant games. Fun. Thanks
Love this post – we’ve linked to you from our site. Click here – http://mini-et-moi.com/2009/08/19/games-in-the-garden-or-park/
I’ve genuinely liked reading your blog posts. You clearly know your material. I also really like it that your site is so easy to navigate. I have bookmarked it in my favourites and will surely be returning for more.
Our zoo has a children’sgarden and we need games about gardening. The children run inn and out so we need to teach or peek their curosity about gardening in a few minutes. 4th x
I enjoy reading your blog. It is a good way to avoid boredom moment with kids and giving them a role of assignment. But mostly of kids really like to play with toys. Thanks for your genuine idea.
danielhudsman recently posted…Fisher-Price Drillin’ Action Tool Set
Be pirates, the best game. Hours and hours spend in the garden 😉
SuperJuegos recently posted…Trucos y consejos para ganar en RummiKub
I remember being a kid and spending 90% of my day outdoors during the summer and there was always something going on. Now I also had a computer which I loved but I preferred being outdoors more. When we wanted to go to the beach we cycled the 10 miles there, swam all day and then cycled 10 miles home afterwards – if we didn’t stay camping there overnight.
It’s a shame more parents don’t encourage this now instead of just leaving their kids glued to whatever games console is connected to their TV.
Really nice post – hopefully some parents take a leaf from your book!
hehehe i tried the the game “Be pirates” with my little sister and we had a lot of fun 🙂
really appreciate this game list, thank you for sharing it with us !!!
Really a great list of games for kids. I feel world is changing today and the people now realize that games can be used as a useful tool to teach anything to the kids. So there is a positive side of games that we know now. Thanks for your great list …. Keep up the good work !
zeeshan recently posted…Math Games for Kids
lol reading this list took me back to my childhood. I think we played all of these. Pirates was a personal fave because you could talk in a pirate accent all day and make people walk the plank.
I agree, I have bookmarked this for future reference. My kids are home schooled and I will definitely be using some of these in the future!
Children love playing garden games, that is a fact…And by the way, this is a great collection of great garden games for kids. Thanks for compiling and sharing this.
alex recently posted…Best Truth Or Dare Questions
Great Ideas. I usually like “Fill it up” and kids get it interest.
Thanks for all ideas. Really awesome ways.
kafreena recently posted…Top 10 Free Online Games for Kids
I have bookmarked this as soon as I saw the article. This is really helpful! Now I have many options for my kid to play. You’ve come up with a great list, anyone would find this beneficial to themselves. I remember myself staying indoors in my childhood because I can’t think of any game to play! Now I’m sure that my child will experience one great childhood period.
Those are some nice ideas Debbie. Playing garden games in summers is surely a lot of fun, especially for kids!
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Awesome information really. Actually there are not much people who write about the interests of kids. And games have now become real mate of kids. I have downloaded two games for my sweet barbie doll.
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I really love the idea of camping, bug hunt and natural art. I wish that someday I can get my daughter to do it along with my wife. I do believe that children which is introduce on nature will have wider perspective, creative and brave. Thank you so much for the list.
Playing pirate is a great idea, but me and my friends aged 10 used to pretend we were ninjas. That’s what you get growing up in the eighties with the whole ninja movie craze going on. The teenage mutant hero turtles also didn’t do anything to to get us interested in anything else. 😛
We used to grab a bamboo staff and swung it around pretending we were black belts. We made nunchucks from plastic pipes and shoe laces. It all seems a tad bit silly and might I say irresponsible looking back on it. We never caused each other bruises, thankfully. Great times were had by all! 😀
Nice collections of games i have been searching for my children. Very useful theank you.
Dilipwk recently posted…GTA San Andreas Cheats
Great Ideas. I usually like “Fill it up” and kids get it interest.
Thanks for all ideas. Really awesome ways.
Fill it up is the best garden game 🙂 i think
Be pirates! Such a good idea 😀
I think they will love it
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Debbie O’Connor i like read your post !! such a nice blog ….all children’s like garden games !!!
Build small ‘home’ in big tree..! Then we can play online games there 😀 lol
Alifmuku recently posted…Penguins Attack Game
Nice post. Some of these games reminded me of my childhood. How can I forget those good old days with no responsibility and dreams only.
kids love games, great post I am remembering my childhood days .
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This is a good way to prevent boredom second with children and providing them with a role associated with assignment. However mostly associated with kids enjoy to play along with toys. Good genuine concept.
\’I love your inspiration! I agree there are certain things best left to experts. I can replace toilet parts, but not the plumbing leading to it. I’ll hang dry wall, but not run electric behind it. I know my limits.
for my kids they looove bieng pirates
Briliant games, it really a fun.
I just go back to my childhood days. 🙂