51 Ultimate Backyard Activities for Kids

Spring is officially here, despite the winter weather still trying to hang on. One thing is sure, now that warmer temperatures are in our future, it’s important to head outside. That’s why I couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Springfree Trampoline in this sponsored post – 51 Backyard Activities for Kids. (TIP: Keep on reading for a chance at winning one incredible contest)

Why Outdoor Play?

The way I see it, there are two important aspects to outdoor play.

• Kids Need More Time For Play in General
• Kids Need The Benefits of Play Outdoors Specifically

It’s pretty well documented that play contributes to the physical, social and emotional well-being of children.

I just have to look to the many kids I know to see that most just don’t get enough unstructured play time, especially once they move into the school years. It’s one reason that I haven’t scheduled a lot of extra-curricular activities for my daughter while in elementary school. I want her to come home from school, do her homework, and yes, play.

While indoor play is incredibly fun (oh, all those toys), there’s something about outdoor play that takes it to another level. It provides all the benefits of play yet adds on developing physical skills while getting exercise, sunlight (Vitamin D), and breathing fresh air.

Additional benefits of outdoor play:

• It offers an opportunity for learning and creative play.
• It helps kids interact with nature and living things.
• It gives kids courage and confidence when learning a new skill.
• It helps kids to learn through senses and aid in aesthetic development.
• It encourages social interaction with friends and peers.

So to help motivate you to gather up the kids and head outside, I’ve compiled this bucket list of sorts – 51 Backyard Activities for Kids! But don’t let the kids have all the fun, get out there too and get some sun!

51 Backyard Activities for Kids

• Blow bubbles
• Stargazing – invest in a small telescope, grab some blankets, and wait for nightfall.
• Rollerskating Drive-Thru – when adults are inside with the windows open to the patio, it’s fun for the kids to rollerskate up to windows and take orders just like at a drive-thru restaurant. Win-Win: they are active, and you are still inside folding laundry!
• Chase butterflies
• Water balloon fight. For an extra big backyard (or to get the neighbors involved), get a water balloon launcher – some of my favorite neighborhood memories involve this.
• Play catch
• Run through the sprinklers
• Obstacle course
• S’mores time – roast marshmallows the old fashioned way.
• Camping – pitch a tent and spend the night outdoors.

 

• Catch fireflies
• Make a birdhouse
• Scavenger Hunt – create a simple one that is age appropriate (can be objects, things that start with a letter, etc).
• Hopscotch
• Explore with a magnifying glass
• Paint with water – this was an old trick my father-in-law did with his grandkids. Gave them each a paintbrush and bucket of water and they painted the garage door (over and over due to evaporation)! LOL
• Search for wildlife (birds, bugs)
• Collect leaves (then later press them for keeping)
• Trace others bodies with chalk (might look like a crime scene, but so fun)
• Make sun tea (the way my grandma always did)

• Lawn darts – get competitive.
• Have a picnic – for extra fun,  have the kids plan it and make the food themselves.
• Create a fairy garden
• Build a rain gauge to measure the rain
• Make mud pies
• Hide and seek
• Horseshoes
• Paint rock dominoes (then play a game)
• Watergun fight
• Plant a small vegetable/fruit garden (and care for)

• Plant flowers (and care for)
• Lawn bowling
• Wash the bikes/scooters
• Frisbee golf
• Croquet
• Fly a kite
• Cornhole
• Jump rope (remember all the old jump rope songs?)
• Watch a movie outdoors
• Jump on a trampoline

Did you know Springfree Trampoline is the world’s safest, highest quality and longest lasting trampoline?

Not only do kids get outside on a trampoline, but think of the exercise they get while doing it. Squeals of laughter are sure to be heard and think of the FUN! The best part is that the design reassures parents, and Springfree Trampoline’s innovative and patented design is supported by a full 10-year warranty.

• Teach how to throw a spiral football
• Bocce ball
• Fly a kite (you can find small sized ones perfect for yards)
• Ring Toss game
• Cloud Staring – find objects in the shapes of the clouds
• Outdoor marbles (remember playing in the grass/sandbox at school?)
• Hula-hoop
• Make homemade popsicles (and eat outdoors)
• Make paper boats and sail using kids small wading pool
• Make SLIME!

Last but not least…

• Chalk Art – have the kids get creative with their scenes!

Do you have any great backyard activities for kids you would add to this list?

Do you know a deserving family who could use a backyard refresh so they can get outside to do some of these activities together? Learn more about Springfree’s Backyard Summer Refresh contest below!

Enter to Win

Enter for a chance to win a Backyard Summer Refresh courtesy of Springfree Trampoline and George Oliphant, television host and licensed contractor.

The grand prize is worth up to $13,000 and includes a custom landscape courtesy of George, a Springfree Trampoline, Strider Bikes and Strider Race Course, Vegetable Garden Makeover by Burpee, Plae Shoes for the entire family plus materials and labor for the refresh.

Nine secondary Springfree Trampoline and Strider 12 Sport Bike prize packs are also available (approximately a $2,300 retail value).

Enter here

Contest ends May 4, 2018!