Outdoor Games

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May 25, 2012

Summer Games – Shadow Tag

Posted by Tonya under Free Play, Outdoor Games | Tags: , , |
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We are in a series of posts about fun games to inspire kids to avoid the couch and play outside.  In Wednesday’s post I talked about 4-Square.  Have you played yet?  I plan to have friends over (yes we’re all over 25) to play 4-Square because after I wrote that post I remembered having so much fun as a kid with “bus stops,” “basketballs,” “around the worlds” and all the other rules we made up to make the game more intense.

Today’s outdoor game inspiration is

Shadow Tag.

In this version of tag the “it” person has to tag the other players’ shadows with their feet.  This is a great game for those times when tagging with hands gets rough and the kids need to play but be a little more “hands-off”. 

The earlier in the day and later in the evening this game is played the easier it is becuase the shadows are longer.  So, as the kids get better and better at the game, have them play in the middle, short-shadowed part of the day for more of a challenge.

 

May 23, 2012

Start the Summer Outside with 4-Square

Posted by Tonya under Free Play, Outdoor Games | Tags: , , |
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School is out, or is going to be out soon.  Start the summer off with the good habit of playing outside!  Avoid the TV and video game routine by sending the kids outside to play ASAP this summer.  The next few days we are going to post some great ideas for sparking new interest in playing outside.

Today is 4-Square Day!  

Start off by creating a great 4-Square court.  The “official” court is 16′x16′ divided into four 8′x8′ sqaures.  But, work with what you have, any 4 equal squares will work.  You can have your kids draw out the court with chalk on the driveway.  For a Full Summer of fun you can spray paint the court on the driveway.  Parents you can bust out the measuring tape and laser level and really make the court  precise.  Remember, even if you’re being precise have the kids help.  This is a wonderful teachable moment for math skills!

The best ball to play with is the classic rubber ball we all had a recess.  But other balls can work if they bounce well.

The basic rules: The Server in the 4th square serves the ball by boucing it the hitting it to any other square.  The next player hits the ball to any of the 3 squares after the 1st bounce and before it bounces again.  Only one bounce per square.  This goes on until the ball hits the line (hitter’s error), the ball goes out of bounds (hitters error), bounces more than once inside a square (the receiveer’s error), or the hitter hits incorrectly (holding,carrying, kicking, etc).  

Whoever has the error leaves their square and goes down to square 1, moving everyone else up to fill in the squares.  If there are more than 4 players there can be a line of waiters at Square 1, and the out player goes to the end of the waiting line and the first person in line comes into the game in Square 1.

After the basic games and rules are familier, it’s time to break out the crazy, fun rules!   Try these rules, or make up your own.  The 4th Square Server invokes the rules for their reign in the 4th Square. 

  • Double Taps - a player may hit the ball twice in the air after is has bounced.  It’s like setting yourself up for a spike!
  • Body Language – Allows the players to hit the ball with any part of their body, including feet.  Good for the soccer players.
  • Black Jack – If a player catches the ball cleanly before it lands in his/her square, the player who hit the ball is out.  (Like cathing the ball in dodge ball.)  This forces the game to be played low and fast.
  • Mailman – The player with the ball can call “Mailman,” and everone must run clockwise around the court while the person with the ball tries to tag someone.  If the players make it back to their squares they are safe.  If a player is tagged, they are out.
  • Bus Stop – The player with the ball can call “Bus Stop,” and all the players must run to the middle of the court where all 4 lines intersect.  The last one to place their foot on the X is out.

Make up your own rules!  That’s the best part about 4-Square!

Here are a few sites for more information about rules and ideas for fun add-ons.  foursquare.org, and  theykid.com.

 

May 10, 2012

Celebrate Mother’s Day Outside

Posted by Tonya under Free Play, Nature, Outdoor Games, Parents | Tags: , |
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Some of my favorite memories of my family spending time together are when we were outdoors.  It wasn’t anything fancy, just dad playing tag with me and the kids from the neighborhood, the entire family going for a bike-ride in the evenings, mom showing us how to pick strawberries in the garden. 

Celebrate Mother’s Day this year with something simple outside:

  • Go on a bike ride
  • Picnic under a shade-tree – It doesn’t have to be a whole meal.  A snack picnic is just as fun.
  • Family games – TV Tag, Man-From-Mars, Simon Says, Mother-May-I (of course!)
  • Try out a new park
  • Read a book together outside on a blanket
  • If it’s warm play in the sprinkler
  • If it’s windy fly a kite

What about a gift for mom that she and the kids can use together outdoors?  Zoo passes or membership, picnic basket, umbrella (for sun or rain), gas card for a road trip to a nature preserve or park, binoculars, bird id book, hiking shoes…what else?

 

March 29, 2012

Spring Smells Sweet – Take a Walk ‘n’ Sniff

Posted by Tonya under hike, Nature, Outdoor Games | Tags: , , , , , |
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I was inspired to write this post while on a walk in my neighborhood yesterday. 

Take your family out for a Walk ‘n’ Sniff.  What is a Walk ‘n’ Sniff you ask?  Well, it’s a walk where you take time to stop and smell the roses, trees, bushes, grass, and whatever else has a sweet, strong, musty, strange or heavenly smell.

On my own Walk ‘n’ Sniff I was amazed how quickly the smells changed because of a blooming tree in this yard and a budding flower in the next.  You don’t have the know the names of the plants (you can look those up in a book or online when you get home if you’re super curious).  The point of a Walk ‘n’ Sniff is observation with your nose. 

Count

the different smells.  If you smell something in the air, can you findwhat’s putting out the aroma? 

A stinky Bradford Pear Tree

Some smells are good and others not so good.  And, what’s a goodsmell to you may be an icky smell to me.  Personally, I can’t stand the smell of those white, flowering bradford pear trees.  I think they smell like dirty feet.  Yuck!  But, I love the smell of a lilacs and wisteria.  Both of these flowers are blooming right now and putting out the most amazing smells.  If you find one of those on your walk you may not want to keep going…you’ll just want to stand there forever.

Wisteria flowers smell heavenly!

A Walk ‘n’ Sniff is different each time you go, especially in the spring, because there is always something new blooming.  Don’t forget about other types of smells: fresh cut grass (easy to find on a Saturday morning), ponds or puddles, a light breeze, soil, dried leaves, and more. 

What interesting smells did you find?

 

February 21, 2012

Warm Weather – Get Outside!

Posted by Tonya under Free Play, Nature, Outdoor Games
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The weather predictions are AMAZING for February!  Gorgeous today…up to 70 tomorrow.  How can you not head outside after school???

Before you settle down for homework and dinner this week, take at least 30 minutes to play outside!  I suggest we all get out:  mom, dad, brother, sister, babysitter, grandma, etc.  It’s great for all of us.  But, for sure those kids need to get out into the fresh air and do some running around.

A game or two to try out this week:

  • Leap Frog – you know the game…do the kids? 
  • Hunt for what’s starting to grow.  How many things are starting to grow even though spring is still a ways off?  Find a ruler and measure how far those tulips are up out of the ground.  Measure next week too.  How fast are they growing?
  • TV Tag – I really like TV (yes you can like TV and the outdoors too).  Use that TV knowledge outside and play TV Tag.  One person is “It” and the others run away from them.  If you are about to get tagged you can squat down and yell out a TV show (Scooby Doo!).  If you make it down and yell the show before you’re tagged, you’re safe.  If you don’t,  you’re It.  You can’t use the same TV show twice in the same game.  How long can you play without starting the game over? 
  • Build a Bird Nest Bonanza – divide up in to teams, gather “supplies” from around the yard, build the best bird nest that you can.  Can you get it to sit in a tree?  Who can make the prettiest?  Who is fastest?  Whose is biggest?
 

January 27, 2012

Counting and Watching

Posted by Tonya under Journaling, Nature, Outdoor Games | Tags: , , |
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Yesterday was the KS Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism’s Annual Winter Canada Goose Count.  What is that you ask?  Well, a group of 40+ scientists drive prescribed routes all around Sedgwick County and count Canada Geese.

Why?  Because, in the 80s there were very few Canada Geese, and wildlife biologists wanted to increase the numbers to a healthy population.  Today, there are LOTS of geese.  Some only stop off here on their migrations north and south, but many stick around and live here all year.  At times, there are so many geese that they become a nuisance.  The Goose Counts help wildlife biologists keep track of populations and it helps them make decisions about how to manage so many or not enough Canada Geese.

Why am I tell you all this?  Well, I think counting and tracking things in your own backyard could be a great way to increase counting and observation skills while getting your nature-fix.

Ideas!

  • Throw out some bird seed.  Watch for birds.  Once they arrive to feast have your kiddo sit for 5 min (or 10-30 depending on interest and age level) and count the number of birds that come to eat.  Do it again the next day or next week and see if MORE or less come.  For older kids you could have them track temperature to see if that affects the number of birds. 
  • When doing the above bird count, children 7 and older can start using basic bird guides to identify the birds that arrive.  Are there new ones this week?  Who didn’t come that usually is there?
  • Watch for changes in the plants in your yard.  When do the first flowers start poking their green leaves up out of the ground.  Mark the date on the calendar this year, and see if it changes next year.  Check daily or weekly.
  • When do the first leaf buds start appearing on your trees?  Do different trees have different bud-dates?  Check daily or weekly. 
  • Take a picture of something (tree, plant, entire backyard, resident bird or squirrel) weekly or monthly and see what changes throughout the year.
  • If your child really likes computers, have them record their observations in a computer file.  Or, if they are more journal-writer-ish they can make a nature journal and record their findings in there. 

These types of activities may get some kids excited and others may have little interest.  Encourage the ones that LOVE this type of observation.  Don’t force it if your child isn’t excited about this activity.  Try it for a while, if they hate it, move on to something else.  This activity is for left-brainers.  If your child is a right-brainer this wont have much appeal.  So, try it and if it flops, no big deal.

The cool thing about this (obviously I have left-brain tendencies) is that if you keep these lists year to year, you’ll start to see changes and cycles in your own backyard.

 

December 27, 2011

Sending Kids Outside at Christmas!

Posted by Tonya under Free Play, Outdoor Games
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It’s the time of year where families and friends get together A LOT!  Had enough togetherness yet???

I know that my cousins and I spent MANY Christmas Break days driving our parents up the wall.  Fortunately, my uncle lived on a farm and we were often sent outside to run around, get our energy out, explore, and most importantly give our parents a little peace.

Don’t be afraid of a little cold. Once the kids are moving and playing they wont even notice the temperature.  Just be sure to give them proper clothes (hats, gloves, coat, good socks and shoes).  My family lives in North Dakota…it was REALLY cold up there.  We didn’t mind the fridged temps because there was too much to explore!

Ready for some ideas to get your kids, their cousins, friends and neighbors out of your house?  Try this:

  • Christmas Hide and Seek – Hiders are the presents, the Seeker is Santa.  Santa has to load all the “presents” onto the sleigh.  The sleigh could be an old cardboard box or whatever you have in the garage.  Presents can escape the sleigh if they are tagged by another present.  If presents are tagged they get loaded onto the sleigh.  Last present loaded is the next game’s Santa.
  • Shadow Games – Kids can make up all sorts of games with the shadows created by trees, the house, bushes, etc.  Have them try to get from one side of the yard to the other without stepping in a sunny spot.  Then, let them make up a game involving the shadows.  The fun thing about shadow games is that the “playing field” changes as the day goes on and the sun moves across the sky.
  • ART – Provide the kids with some basic art supplies (glue, tape, paper left over from Christmas wrappings, scissors is age appropriate).  Send them outside to collect materials to make New Year’s Decorations.  Things like pine cones, leaves, pine needles, bark, rocks, sticks and grass seed-heads make great art projects.
 

November 22, 2011

Outdoor Play Ideas for Thanksgiving Weekend

Posted by Tonya under Free Play, Nature, Outdoor Games
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The kids have had a few days off school.  Everyone’s full from too much feasting.  Having the family over is making the house feel small.  The children are getting loud and the parents are getting frustrated…sound familiar?  Well, send those kids outside to play!  Here are a few ideas for inspiration:

  • Rake up leaves and jump right in!
  • Create a tag game involving characters named Turkey, Yam, The Gravy, and Pumpkin Pie.
  • Refashion “Duck, Duck, Goose!” into “Ham, Ham, Turkey!”  or “Yam, Yam, Pie!”
  • Hunt down nature objects (seeds, pine cones, leaves, sticks, etc) and make turkeys out of them.
  • Make up a Thanksgiving song and sing it outside using nature as your instruments (ex: drum on a tree, grass blades can make a great whistle)
  • The Thanksgiving Olympics may become your family’s new tradition.  What crazy events can you come up with?
 

October 29, 2011

Nature Halloween Ideas

Posted by Tonya under Outdoor Games | Tags: , |
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Just a little bit of encouragement to be outdoorsy with Halloween this year.  Or.. if this post is too late, next year.

Instead of cartoon characters, see if your kids would like to dress up as their favorite bug, animal, or other nature component (sun, moon, rain cloud, rainbow, etc). 

Kids can be encouraged to “find” and make a costume out of nature objects they find in the backyard or on a hike at a park.  This might be a good project for them this weekend to distract them from candy and wanting to wear the “official” costume every day until Halloween.

Give kids an old shirt and sweat pants that they can glue, tape, staple (with adult help as their age dictates) their found objects to.  Hats and masks can be made as well.  Fall is a great time to find leaves, seeds, pods, sticks, etc.

Don’t forget to leave those yucky plastic bags at home on Trick-Or-Treat night.  Take a reusable bag for the candy:  pillow cases, reusable grocery bag, bucket, etc.  Click here for a great idea on making a bag out of an old t-shirt:  Reusable Tshirtbag.

 

October 12, 2011

Fall Changes Walk

Posted by Tonya under hike, Journaling, Nature, Outdoor Games | Tags: , |
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Fall is a time of changes.  Our schedules change from lazy summer days to busy fall ones.  The leaves change color and start to fall.  The sun goes down earlier and earlier.  We even change our clocks (this year on Nov 6).

Take some time every few days for a Fall Changes Walk with your kids.  Here’s how you do it.

  1. Pick a certain time to go on this walk, at least once each week.
  2. Set a path or route that you will take each time you go on your walk.  Make sure that your path isn’t so long that it keeps you from sneaking in your walk even when things get busy.  A walk you can do in 15 minutes is perfect.
  3. On your first trip ask your kids to watch for the following:  What trees are starting to turn colors?  Are some types of trees already loosing thier leaves?  When you see a tree with green leaves have them predict what color the leaves will change and when.  How light is it?  Where is the sun in the sky?
  4. Then, the next time you take your walk see what has changed.  Are there more leaves turning color?  Did you predict the leaf color changes correctly?  Is it darker or is the sun lower in the sky this week?  Does it feel cooler?
  5. Other things to try:   Have the children keep a nature journal of what they “observe” on your walks (leaf colors, numbers of leaves still on a tree, where the sun is in the sky, etc).  Bring along a camera and let the kids take pictures in specific spots along the walk and compare them week to week.  Kids can pick up fallen leaves and start a leaf collection.  (Pressing leaves in old phonebooks helps preserve them.)

Don’t forget to come back to this post and let us know how your walks go and what you notice on your Fall Changes Walk!

 

 

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