48 + games to play outside with kids | free printable booklet
Fun games to play outdoors with children
We’ve compiled a list of awesome games to play outside with kids…there’s a printable version that you can download for free at the bottom of this post.
The first set need no equipment or prep time. The second set requires just a little forward planning.
Games to play outside | no prep or special equipment needed!
These games to play outside with kids take almost no setting up so once you understand the rules you can start playing straight away!
1. CAPTURE THE FLAG
Works best with: large groups in a large space
You will need: 2 brightly colored t-shirts or similar.
How to play:
- Divide your playing area in two sections.
- Make two teams and give each team an area.
- Teams choose somewhere to position their flag (t-shirt).
- They also need to choose a prison area where they will keep the opposing team members that they capture.
- The aim of the game is for each team to try to capture the other team’s flag.
- When a team member enters the other team’s territory she or he can be captured by being tagged.
- When caught they must stay in the prison until they’re freed by a team member (again by touching them).
2. MOB MOB
Works best with: large or smaller groups in a large space
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- One person is nominated seeker and counts at ‘base’ while everyone else hides.
- The aim is for those hiding to get back to base first.
- The seeker must look for hiders but they must do so cautiously as hiders will be trying to get to the base without spotted!
- Every time the seeker spots someone he/she says “mob mob hiders name 1,2,3). The captured hider must sit at base until the end of this round.
- Everyone is freed if a hider can get to base without being spotted and say “mob mob save all” before the seeker gets there.
- If the seeker spots the hider then a race to the base ensues. Who will “mob mob” first?!
3. I SPY
Works best with: smaller groups
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- One person to say “I spy with my little eye something beginning with…”
- The others to try and guess.
- Younger children can use colors…”I spy with my little eye something red…”
4. MAY I?
Works best with: smaller groups between two walls if possible.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- One player to become the Captain and stands by a wall or on an invisible line.
- Other players become the crew and stand against the other wall or invisible line.
- Crew members take turns to ask the Captain a question…”May I take 5 steps forward?”
- The Captain can decide to allow it or to offer an alternative…”No but you can leapfrog like a frog twice.”
- The aim is for Crew members to reach the Captain’s line first.
- Suggestions…”May I…take 4 steps forward/ take 8 baby steps forward/ run forward for 2 seconds”.
5. MR CROCODILE
Works best with: medium sized groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Someone becomes Mr Crocodile.
- Players stand a set distance opposite Mr Crocodile and say…
“Please Mr Crocodile, may we cross the water to see your lovely daughter who’s floating on the water like a cup and saucer?”
- Mr Crocodile replies “Yes, if you’re…wearing black”.
- All players wearing black can cross safely.
- Players left have to run across dodging the Mr Crocodile.
- If you get caught then you’re out.
- Continue until no players remain.
6. IT
Works best with: most sized groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Someone becomes IT.
- They have to chase everyone else and try and catch them.
- If they touch someone, they say “IT” and the other person becomes IT and begins to chase.
7. STUCK IN THE MUD
Works best with: most sized groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Play like IT (see no. 6) but when someone is caught they get stuck in the mud.
- Players who are caught stand still until everyone has been caught or until they are freed by another player.
- Players can free other players by touching them or make it more challenging by scrambling under stuck person’s legs or outstretched arms.
8. SHADOWS
Works best with: most sized groups. Works best on sunny Summer days.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Play like IT (see no. 6) but players who stand on a shadow are safe and can’t be caught.
9. CHAIN
Works best with: smaller sized groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Play like IT (see no. 6) but when someone is caught they must link arms with IT and attempt to catch other players.
10. BLIND MAN’S BUFF
Works best with: medium sized groups.
You will need: something to use as blindfold.
How to play:
- Player to be IT is blindfolded.
- Turn IT around a few times to disorientate a little
- Other players stand around IT who attempts to tag someone.
- The player who is touched first becomes IT next.
11. RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT
Works best with: most sized groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Someone is chosen to be the caller.
- Caller stands facing away from the other players.
- Mark a starting line about 10-12 meters away for other players to stand behind.
- If Caller shouts “green light”, the children run forward and try to tag him/her.
- They need to move quickly and be ready to freeze at any time when the caller shouts “red light”.
- The Caller turns around at this point and anyone caught moving is sent back to the starting line again.
12. RELAY RACES
Works best with: all size groups.
You will need: nothing.
How to play:
- Divide your players into teams.
- Ideally you want no more than around 6 people per team but you can have numerous teams.
- Team members stand one behind they other facing the finish line.
- The person at the front of each group should run to the finish line and back and tag the and of the hand of the next in line and goes to sit at the back of the queue.
- As soon as they have been tagged the next person repeats the process until everyone has had a turn.
- The winning team is the first to have everyone sitting down having run.
13. CAT AND MOUSE
Fast paced fun!
Works best with: larger groups.
You will need: nothing.
How to play:
- One player to be the cat and another the mouse.
- All other player form a circle holding hands.
- The mouse stands inside the circle while the cat stands on the outside.
- The mouse needs to get outside the circle and while avoiding being caught by the cat.
- The mouse has to stay moving but can’t stay inside the circle for longer than 10 seconds!
- The cat isn’t allowed to step inside the circle but they can reach inside to grab the mouse.
- The players that make up the circle must help the mouse by opening their arms to let it pass but blocking the cat.
14. HIDE AND SEEK
Works best with: most sized groups
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- One person seeks while everyone else hides.
- First person found is on first next time.
15. SARDINES
Works best with: small to medium sized groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Similar to hide and seek but only one person hides while the others seek.
- When the hider is found the seeker must hide with them until all but one seeker is hiding with the group.
- Last person seeking becomes next hider.
16. LINE UP
Works best with: any sized groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Make teams or around 5 or 6.
- One person becomes the Caller.
- The Caller says something like “Everyone please now line up …” and fills in the blank with a statement e.g. oldest to youngest.
- All the players race to find the right order and shout when they are finished.
- Other ideas: Alphabetic order of First name, Tallest to shortest, Birthday month, Number of siblings/ cousins/ pets.
17. SILENT LINE UP
Works best with: any sized groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- As above but no talking aloud so players must use sign language or gestures.
18. WHAT’S THE TIME MR WOLF
Works best with: medium sized groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Nominate a Wolf.
- Everyone else stands opposite around 8 meters back in a line.
- The Wolf turns his back on everyone.
- The group calls out “What’s The Time, Mr Wolf?”
- The Wolf replies “It’s 4 o’clock”
- Player take 3 steps forward, towards Mr Wolf.
- They ask again, “What’s The Time, Mr Wolf?” and they take more steps towards Mr Wolf.
- When Mr Wolf senses someone close by he can reply “It’s dinner time” and chase players until he catches someone.
- That person becomes Mr Wolf.
19. LEAPFROG
Works best with: small or medium sized groups.
You will need: nothing.
How to play:
- The first child crouches down and rests their hands on their knees.
- Second player runs up to the crouched child and leaps over them by placing their hands on their back and and stretching their legs wide apart.
- When that child lands they immediately crouch down into the frog position.
- The third child now has to leap over the first and second, before crouching too.
- Keep going until thoroughly exhausted!!!
20. DUCK DUCK GOOSE
Works best with: small and medium groups.
You will need: nothing.
How to play:
- All but one player to form a circle.
- The player not in the circle walks around the outside of the circle tapping each child on the head while saying “duck, duck, duck…”
- Whenever they choose they can say “Goose!” instead.
- At this point the child who was tapped jumps up and chases the tapper around the circle.
- They have to catch the tapper before he/she reaches the space where they were sat.
- If the tapper reaches the empty space and sits down before being caught then the goose becomes the tapper. If not they must play again.
21. WHEEL BARROW RACES
Works best with: small to medium groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Put children in pairs.
- One child in the pair must hold the legs of the other child (like a wheelbarrow).
- The wheelbarrow must walk on their hands to the finish line.
- The first pair to the finish line wins the race.
22. LOOK UP LOOK DOWN
Works best with: small to medium groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- All players stand in a large circle roughly one big paces away from each another.
- An adult who’s not playing shouts “look up”.
- All the players must look up at someone on the circle.
- If anyone locks eyes then both players are out.
- Players continue to stare until “look down” is shouted.
- Continue until all but two are out.
Games to play outside with kids…that require a little prep.
These games to play outside with kids take a little more forward planning but they’re a lot of fun.
1. TREASURE MAP
We do this with our boys birthday presents each year. It makes gift giving and receiving extra fun.
Works best with: small groups.
You will need: a map and something small to hide as treasure.
How to play:
- Either have fun making a treasure map together or make in advance.
- Draw your outdoor area on the map…outline trees, stepping stones etc.
- Place an “X” on the map and hide the treasure at that location.
- Players work together to find the treasure.
- You can hang items from trees etc. for them to collect along the way.
2. NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT
Great game at picnic or while camping.
Works best with: any size group.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Either, ask players to “Find something blue/ shiny/ rough” etc
- Or, give them a printable sheet to complete.
- Make sure they know not to pick too many or uncommon flowers or move insects. Instead they can draw a picture or write the name.
3. SPLASHING
Perfect if you have water nearby.
Works best with: smaller groups.
You will need: water and a change of clothes.
How to play:
- Visit a suitable shallow stream or find a fresh puddle.
- Splash!
4. RAFT RACES
Upcycle objects into rafts.
Works best with: smaller groups.
You will need: a river, used bottles etc and a change of clothes.
How to play:
- Players have a set time to build the best raft they can using only natural objects.
- You can use some extras you have to hand like bottles from your recycling bin.
- It’s really important if your using anything other than natural items that someone stands at the finish line to catch all the rafts that pass by (recycle when you’ve finished having fun).
5. CHALK DRAWING
Works best with: smaller groups.
You will need: chalks
How to play:
- Draw pictures, mark roads for bikes and toy cars, fields and trees for animal figures, crocodile swamps or hopscotch grids.
6. TREE FUN
Works best with: smaller groups.
You will need: trees
How to play:
- Find a tree and climb it…not too high!
- We spot inexperienced children and make sure they don’t go higher than we can reach
- Alternatively hand a hammock and chill.
7. WELLY THROWING
Works best with: smaller groups.
You will need: wellies
How to play:
- Players grab a welly and see who can throw the furthest!
8. DONKEY
Works best with: medium and smaller groups.
You will need: ball.
How to play:
- Everyone to stand in a circle.
- The ball is thrown from one person to another.
- When someone misses they get a letter D then O then N and so on until they spell DONKEY.
- The first to spell DONKEY is out until the next round.
9. LOOSE A LIMB
Works best with: medium and smaller groups.
You will need: ball.
How to play:
- Play like Donkey (see no. 9) but instead of getting a letter you have to loose a limb.
- So, for example, miss the ball once and you must catch one handed.
- Miss again and you’re one handed and on one knee .
- Then two knees.
- Then laying down.
- Then your out.
- If you can the ball at any stage you regain a limb. So catch the ball one-handed and you’d return to standing up.
10. OBSTACLE COURSE
Works best with: medium and smaller groups.
You will need: random spare parts
How to play:
- Set up an obstacle course with objects you have around. Old tyres to step into, blankets to crawl under, wood to balance on, trees to run around.
- Add in some areas where you have to somersault or cartwheel.
- Now, select teams and race!
11. DODGE BALL
Works best with: medium and smaller groups.
You will need: a soft foam football.
How to play:
- Put kids into teams.
- Teams face each on opposing sides of a court.
- Place two or three dodgeballs along the centerline.
- Players from each team have to race to get a ball at the start of the game.
- The aim of the game is to throw the ball so that it makes contact with opposing players.
- If a ball hits a player below the shoulders then they are out.
- If a player catches a ball thrown by an opponent then the opponent is out. It also means that they can reinstate a team member.
- Game lasts 3 minutes and winner has most players.
12. TUG OF WAR
Works best with: medium sized groups.
You will need: a rope
How to play:
- Place a marker on the floor.
- Make 2 teams with maximum of 8 per team.
- Aim of the game is for both sides to pull on the rope until the opposition crosses the middle line.
13. NATURES RAINBOW
14. ROUNDERS
Works best with: medium sized groups.
You will need: rounders bat and ball and a few jumpers ti make bases.
How to play:
- Mark out a circle with a 4 or 5 jumpers as bases.
- The circle is what players will run around so choose a size that suits your players.
- Divide children into two teams plus you’ll need a bowler.
- Teams take turns to field and to bat.
- Players have three hits before they have to run. If they miss they can only run to first base.
- Fielders have to either catch them out (before ball bounces) or touch the ball on the base before they run past it.
- Count how many times they run around circle.
15. FRISBEE
Works best with: medium sized groups.
You will need: a Frisbee
How to play:
- Make teams of around 7 players.
- Each team has an end zone.
- The aim of the game is to catch the Frisbee the other team’s end zone to score a point.
- Read more detailed rules here.
16. PETANQUE
Works best with: small or medium sized groups.
You will need: a petanque or boules set.
How to play:
- Read rules here
17. FIND A PLAYGROUND
If you just need a space to let the kids just run off some steam then read how we find a playground nearby pretty much anywhere we visit!
18. PIGGY IN THE MIDDLE
Works best with: small group
You will need: a ball
How to play:
- Two people to stand opposite each other a few meters apart
- One player to stand in the middle.
- While the two players throw the ball to each other the player in the middle tries to intercept it.
- If they succeed in stealing the ball then the person who missed it goes in their place in the centre.
19. LONG ROPE SKIPPING
Works best with: small groups.
You will need: long skipping rope.
How to play:
- Take a look at some fun jump rope games here.
20. HULA HOOP GAME
Works best with: small groups.
You will need: hula hoop.
How to play:
- Everyone stand in a circle.
- Slide a hoola hoop onto someone’s arm and everyone to link arms.
- Players must move the hoop all the way around the circle without letting go of each other’s hands.
21. LIMBO
Works best with: small to medium groups.
You will need: rope.
How to play:
- Two players hold either end of a rope.
- Other players take turns to pass underneath it by bending backwards.
- Each round the rope should be lowered a little until the players fall while trying to limbo underneath!
22. POKEMON GO
- If you’re looking for something a little different then try this game.
23. GEOCACHING
Works best with: small groups.
You will need: rope.
How to play:
- Find one of the millions of geocaches hidden around the world with this app
24. GARDEN PLAY EQUIPMENT
Works best with: small groups.
You will need: play equipment.
How to play:
- If you regularly have groups of kids in your garden then it may be worth investing in some garden play equipment – take a look at what we have in our garden!
25. MESSY PLAY
Unstructured play without rules is so important for children. If your child enjoys it then messy play is a great way to get them exploring the outdoors.
Works best with: small groups.
You will need: patience, a bucket and a flannel!
How to play:
- Let them loose…join in if you fancy!
- Ask them to wash off before coming indoors for a bath.
26. PARACHUTE
Works best with: small groups.
You will need: Parachute
How to play:
- Parachutes are so much fun and are great for hanging over a trampoline or climbing dome (the best garden play equipment we ever bought!)
This book is packed with games to play indoors and outdoors with a parachute.
27. THE SILLY OLYMPICS
Works best with: medium sized groups.
You will need: nothing
How to play:
- Divide players into teams.
- Choose some competitions e.g. wheelbarrow races, three legged race relay, egg and spoon races.
- Teams get 3 points for first place, 2 for second and one for third place.
If you struggle to get your kids to play outside then take a look at our tips below…
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