Sometimes it seems like all kids do is sit in front of a screen. Motivate them to get off the couch and get outside by trying some fun outdoor games for kids. Outdoor play keeps kids healthy and active and can be lots of fun for you too (or give you time to finally get through those emails). Read on to learn more about our favorite backyard games.

Tossing Games

Cornhole

Cornhole is a classic lawn game that is easy to play and master. It consists of two sloped boards with one hole each. Players toss bean bags at their opponent’s cornhole board and earn three points for landing in the hole and one point for landing on the board, playing to 21 points. This game is typically played with teams of two, but it can also be played with two individual players.

Cornhole is a fun game for kids of all ages because you can earn a point simply by landing on the board. Family members who haven’t perfected their aim will easily be able to get the hang of it.

Ringtoss, Washers & Horseshoes

Ringtoss, washers, and horseshoes are three yard games for kids that depend on strong aim for good results. Ringtoss is a simple game consisting of a set of upright pegs and wide, lightweight rings. Two to four players toss the rings from 10' to 15' away, and each ring that lands on a stake counts for three points. The game is played to 21 points. Washers is a game that consists of two boxes with one to three holes in the center of each and a set of metal rings called “washers.” Players toss washers into the holes to win up to 21 points. The game horseshoes is played in a similar fashion but with horseshoes and pegs instead of washers and holes. Horseshoes is a tougher game because of the opening on the end of each horseshoe that allows a horseshoe to sometimes fly off the peg it lands on.

Ringtoss is an easier yard game for kids than washers and horseshoes because there are multiple pegs the ring can land on. This game can be played with young children to practice early throwing and motor skills. Washers is a little more difficult, especially in versions with only one hole in the board. Play this game with children who have already learned to aim and throw. Horseshoes is the most difficult game, because it requires precise aim and is usually played with only one peg. Play this game with older children who will want to devote their time to perfecting this game, starting at around 8 years old.

Ladder Ball

Ladder ball is a simple game consisting of an upright ladder with three rungs and three pairs of balls. Each set of balls is tied together with a short length of rope. Players throw their balls at the ladder from a distance, trying to wrap the rope around one of the rungs. The top rung is three points, the middle is two points, and the bottom is one point. Ladder ball can be played with two teams of one or three.

Ladder ball is a fairly simple and safe game that can be played with children 5 years old and older. It’s not too difficult for a young child to land the rope on a rung, and it can help improve throwing and aim.

Strategy Games

Bocce & Petanque

Bocce is played with two teams of one, two, or four players, and it involves both teams trying to throw their bocce balls closest to the jack, a small target ball. Players take turns throwing their balls, trying to hit the jack until they’ve run out of balls for their turn. Balls are thrown underhand to roll towards the jack. At the end of the round, the team with the ball closest to the jack gets a point for every ball that is closer than the other team’s balls. After the points are tallied, the next round, or “frame,” begins. The game is played to 16 points.

Petanque is played with six balls and two teams of one, two, or three players. Each team gets three balls divided amongst their players, and one team throws the jack. Pentanque’s rules are very similar to bocce, except that petanque balls are thrown overhand instead of underhand. Bocce balls are rolled, while petanque balls are thrown. Bocce is usually played on flat ground, while petanque is played on uneven terrain.

Bocce and petanque are games of strategy and should be played with children who are old enough to understand the rules and objective of the game. Try playing with children 7 or 8 years old or older for some family fun. Split adults into separate teams to help kids learn how to throw and count points at the end of each round.

Croquet

Croquet is a classic lawn game played with two teams of one, two, or three players with wooden balls, mallets, upright hoops, and a center peg. Players use their mallets to hit the balls through six hoops and then strike the center peg – the hoops are numbered and players must follow them in order. If a player hits the ball through a hoop, they get to go again. If they miss, their turn is over. There are many variations to classic croquet, allowing you to switch up the game if you ever get bored.

Croquet is a game of strategy, and it is best for children who are able to understand and stick to the rules. Children 8 years old and older will likely enjoy a game of croquet.

Indoor-Turned-Outdoor Games

Giant Board Games

Giant board games are novelties that are best played outdoors because of the amount of space they take up. This category includes giant tumbling tower blocks, four in a row, checkers, chess, dice, and dominoes. These games will help keep kids entertained during a backyard barbeque or while you’re working from home indoors.

Giant board games can be played with any age group, but stick to simpler games for younger children, like giant four in a row or dice. Keep in mind that giant games with heavier pieces, such as tumbling tower blocks, may require adult supervision among younger children for safety purposes.

Outdoor Game Tables

Outdoor game tables are fun additions to your backyard or patio. Try a pool, table tennis, or foosball table to encourage healthy competition amongst your children and get them outdoors. These game tables are made of more durable materials than their indoor counterparts and will hold up to sun, wind, and rain. That being said, it is wise to cover your game table during heavy storms to prevent unnecessary damage.

Outdoor game tables can be played with any child who is tall enough to see and play over the table. Foosball is the easiest game to play with younger children, but it may require supervision if your children tend to jab the playing rods unsafely. Table tennis is another easy game for young children to pick up, while pool is a little more advanced. Pool is best for children 8 years old and older who are willing to work on their strategy and learn the rules.

Sports Games

Volleyball & Badminton Sets

Get your kids active with a volleyball or badminton set. Volleyball consists of a raised net and a large white ball that is hit back and forth over the net by players. Volleyball is traditionally played with two teams of six players, but you can work with smaller teams for informal play. Teams take turns serving and score points by landing the ball inside their opponent’s court. Only the serving team can score points.

Badminton is played with rackets, a small, lightweight ball called a “birdie,” and a raised net. Badminton follows the same rules as volleyball, except teams are made up of one to two players and players cannot pass the birdie to teammates or touch it more than once.

Volleyball can be tough for young children because it requires a lot of force to get the ball over the net and into the other court. This game should be played with children 10 years old or older. Badminton requires much less force and can be played by children 7 years old and older.

Frisbee & Disc Golf

Playing Frisbee is a simple and laid-back way to encourage outdoor family time. Two or more people can play by tossing a Frisbee disc back and forth to each other or in a wide circle. For those with a competitive spirit, you can set up a game of Ultimate Frisbee. Ultimate Frisbee is played with two teams who start at separate end zones. One team is on offense at a time, and they attempt to score on the defense’s end zone. Players cannot run while in possession of the Frisbee disc, but must toss the Frisbee disc to a teammate to advance. Each time a player catches a Frisbee disc while in the other team’s end zone, they get a point and their team switches to defense.

Disc golf is traditionally played on a large course similar to a golf course. To play disc golf, you try to get your Frisbee disc in a basket in as few throws as possible, similar to par in golf. Try setting up a mini game in your backyard with one basket, and switch off throwing with family members.

Frisbee can be played with any age group, although more complicated games like Ultimate Frisbee may be better with older children who can easily catch and throw the Frisbee disc, and Frisbee throwing games like KanJam can be a great option for children learning to aim and toss. KanJam and disc golf are best played with children 10 years old and older who can aim and throw a frisbee long distances.

Basketball Games

Help kids prepare to play basketball with mini basketball games. These game sets often include lightweight basketballs and short hoops that are manageable for kids of all ages. These games are fun for kids to play alone or with friends.

There are many different basketball game sets for all different ages, so no matter how old your children are, you'll be able to find an age-appropriate option. There are tall hoops for older children and short hoops with very light balls for younger kids. Keep in mind your child’s age and throwing, aiming, and jumping abilities when you pick out a basketball game.

Tip!

If you’re interested in multiple outdoor games, make sure to think about combo game sets. These sets come with pieces that can be used for multiple games to expand your playing experience.

Sometimes it seems like all kids do is sit in front of a screen. Motivate them to get off the couch and get outside by trying some fun outdoor games for kids. Outdoor play keeps kids healthy and active and can be lots of fun for you too (or give you time to finally get through those emails). Read on to learn more about our favorite backyard games.

Tossing Games

Cornhole

Cornhole is a classic lawn game that is easy to play and master. It consists of two sloped boards with one hole each. Players toss bean bags at their opponent’s cornhole board and earn three points for landing in the hole and one point for landing on the board, playing to 21 points. This game is typically played with teams of two, but it can also be played with two individual players.

Cornhole is a fun game for kids of all ages because you can earn a point simply by landing on the board. Family members who haven’t perfected their aim will easily be able to get the hang of it.

Ringtoss, Washers & Horseshoes

Ringtoss, washers, and horseshoes are three yard games for kids that depend on strong aim for good results. Ringtoss is a simple game consisting of a set of upright pegs and wide, lightweight rings. Two to four players toss the rings from 10' to 15' away, and each ring that lands on a stake counts for three points. The game is played to 21 points. Washers is a game that consists of two boxes with one to three holes in the center of each and a set of metal rings called “washers.” Players toss washers into the holes to win up to 21 points. The game horseshoes is played in a similar fashion but with horseshoes and pegs instead of washers and holes. Horseshoes is a tougher game because of the opening on the end of each horseshoe that allows a horseshoe to sometimes fly off the peg it lands on.

Ringtoss is an easier yard game for kids than washers and horseshoes because there are multiple pegs the ring can land on. This game can be played with young children to practice early throwing and motor skills. Washers is a little more difficult, especially in versions with only one hole in the board. Play this game with children who have already learned to aim and throw. Horseshoes is the most difficult game, because it requires precise aim and is usually played with only one peg. Play this game with older children who will want to devote their time to perfecting this game, starting at around 8 years old.

Ladder Ball

Ladder ball is a simple game consisting of an upright ladder with three rungs and three pairs of balls. Each set of balls is tied together with a short length of rope. Players throw their balls at the ladder from a distance, trying to wrap the rope around one of the rungs. The top rung is three points, the middle is two points, and the bottom is one point. Ladder ball can be played with two teams of one or three.

Ladder ball is a fairly simple and safe game that can be played with children 5 years old and older. It’s not too difficult for a young child to land the rope on a rung, and it can help improve throwing and aim.

Strategy Games

Bocce & Petanque

Bocce is played with two teams of one, two, or four players, and it involves both teams trying to throw their bocce balls closest to the jack, a small target ball. Players take turns throwing their balls, trying to hit the jack until they’ve run out of balls for their turn. Balls are thrown underhand to roll towards the jack. At the end of the round, the team with the ball closest to the jack gets a point for every ball that is closer than the other team’s balls. After the points are tallied, the next round, or “frame,” begins. The game is played to 16 points.

Petanque is played with six balls and two teams of one, two, or three players. Each team gets three balls divided amongst their players, and one team throws the jack. Pentanque’s rules are very similar to bocce, except that petanque balls are thrown overhand instead of underhand. Bocce balls are rolled, while petanque balls are thrown. Bocce is usually played on flat ground, while petanque is played on uneven terrain.

Bocce and petanque are games of strategy and should be played with children who are old enough to understand the rules and objective of the game. Try playing with children 7 or 8 years old or older for some family fun. Split adults into separate teams to help kids learn how to throw and count points at the end of each round.

Croquet

Croquet is a classic lawn game played with two teams of one, two, or three players with wooden balls, mallets, upright hoops, and a center peg. Players use their mallets to hit the balls through six hoops and then strike the center peg – the hoops are numbered and players must follow them in order. If a player hits the ball through a hoop, they get to go again. If they miss, their turn is over. There are many variations to classic croquet, allowing you to switch up the game if you ever get bored.

Croquet is a game of strategy, and it is best for children who are able to understand and stick to the rules. Children 8 years old and older will likely enjoy a game of croquet.

Indoor-Turned-Outdoor Games

Giant Board Games

Giant board games are novelties that are best played outdoors because of the amount of space they take up. This category includes giant tumbling tower blocks, four in a row, checkers, chess, dice, and dominoes. These games will help keep kids entertained during a backyard barbeque or while you’re working from home indoors.

Giant board games can be played with any age group, but stick to simpler games for younger children, like giant four in a row or dice. Keep in mind that giant games with heavier pieces, such as tumbling tower blocks, may require adult supervision among younger children for safety purposes.

Outdoor Game Tables

Outdoor game tables are fun additions to your backyard or patio. Try a pool, table tennis, or foosball table to encourage healthy competition amongst your children and get them outdoors. These game tables are made of more durable materials than their indoor counterparts and will hold up to sun, wind, and rain. That being said, it is wise to cover your game table during heavy storms to prevent unnecessary damage.

Outdoor game tables can be played with any child who is tall enough to see and play over the table. Foosball is the easiest game to play with younger children, but it may require supervision if your children tend to jab the playing rods unsafely. Table tennis is another easy game for young children to pick up, while pool is a little more advanced. Pool is best for children 8 years old and older who are willing to work on their strategy and learn the rules.

Sports Games

Volleyball & Badminton Sets

Get your kids active with a volleyball or badminton set. Volleyball consists of a raised net and a large white ball that is hit back and forth over the net by players. Volleyball is traditionally played with two teams of six players, but you can work with smaller teams for informal play. Teams take turns serving and score points by landing the ball inside their opponent’s court. Only the serving team can score points.

Badminton is played with rackets, a small, lightweight ball called a “birdie,” and a raised net. Badminton follows the same rules as volleyball, except teams are made up of one to two players and players cannot pass the birdie to teammates or touch it more than once.

Volleyball can be tough for young children because it requires a lot of force to get the ball over the net and into the other court. This game should be played with children 10 years old or older. Badminton requires much less force and can be played by children 7 years old and older.

Frisbee & Disc Golf

Playing Frisbee is a simple and laid-back way to encourage outdoor family time. Two or more people can play by tossing a Frisbee disc back and forth to each other or in a wide circle. For those with a competitive spirit, you can set up a game of Ultimate Frisbee. Ultimate Frisbee is played with two teams who start at separate end zones. One team is on offense at a time, and they attempt to score on the defense’s end zone. Players cannot run while in possession of the Frisbee disc, but must toss the Frisbee disc to a teammate to advance. Each time a player catches a Frisbee disc while in the other team’s end zone, they get a point and their team switches to defense.

Disc golf is traditionally played on a large course similar to a golf course. To play disc golf, you try to get your Frisbee disc in a basket in as few throws as possible, similar to par in golf. Try setting up a mini game in your backyard with one basket, and switch off throwing with family members.

Frisbee can be played with any age group, although more complicated games like Ultimate Frisbee may be better with older children who can easily catch and throw the Frisbee disc, and Frisbee throwing games like KanJam can be a great option for children learning to aim and toss. KanJam and disc golf are best played with children 10 years old and older who can aim and throw a frisbee long distances.

Basketball Games

Help kids prepare to play basketball with mini basketball games. These game sets often include lightweight basketballs and short hoops that are manageable for kids of all ages. These games are fun for kids to play alone or with friends.

There are many different basketball game sets for all different ages, so no matter how old your children are, you'll be able to find an age-appropriate option. There are tall hoops for older children and short hoops with very light balls for younger kids. Keep in mind your child’s age and throwing, aiming, and jumping abilities when you pick out a basketball game.

Tip!

If you’re interested in multiple outdoor games, make sure to think about combo game sets. These sets come with pieces that can be used for multiple games to expand your playing experience.