Backyard Fun For The Whole Family

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Backyard Fun For The Whole Family

Family Fun - Activities

Living in Minnesota, my family takes full advantage of the warm weather, knowing how fleeting it is up here. We like to get outside as much as possible. Here is a list of activities the whole family can enjoy that we can do right in our own backyard.

*Duck, Duck, Goose or Duck, Duck, Grey Duck as it seems to be called up here(clearly we aren't native Minnesotans). Gather everyone into a circle. The "It" person goes around the circle, tapping each person on the head saying Duck until they tap someone and say "Goose"(Grey Duck). That person will get up and run after the other person around the circle until the "It" person is caught or sits back in the vacant spot. If the person isn't caught, the goose becomes "It".

*Nature Walk: Look for pictures of bugs, leaves, animals, pine cones or anything natural you might find in your yard or neighborhood. Cut them out and tape them to an index card. Take 3 or 4 at a time and have your kids look for what is on the cards. As they get older, you can include facts about each item to make it increasingly educational.

*Treasure Hunt: Hide an item in the yard or house. Then draw a map or write out clues to find it. Send the kids to one location to find another clue that sends them to another place. Do this 2 or 3 times until they find the treasure.

*Hopscotch: Use chalk to draw a hopscotch pattern on the sidewalk or driveway(make sure to place something at the end of the driveway if kids are playing on it to block it). The kids place a rock on the first square, jump over the square with it and then hop the rest in order. Then they turn around and return, picking up the rock on the way back. Try to get the rock on the next number each turn until they get to the end. If they step on the square with the rock, they lose their turn.

*Sack Races: Use old pillowcases or even trash bags as long as the children are being supervised. Have everyone line up at the starting line and hop in their sacks all the way to the finish line. This is an activity that is sure to wear them out and get a good nights sleep.

*Good Ol' Tag: The players are chased by the "It" person. When she catches someone, that person becomes "It". Another version is flashlight tag which is played at night with flashlights to light up the chase.

*Red Light, Green Light: One child stands at the end of the yard with the rest of the players at the other end. He turns his back and yells Green Light and all the other players run towards him. Then when he turns around, he yells Red Light and the players must freeze. Anyone who moves, goes back to the starting line. The person that reaches the "stoplight" first then takes that role and the game begins again.

Whatever your family decides to play, the important things is that you are outside, running around and having fun!