| Playing outdoor games is part of growing up. | | | | team. If Emily is unsuccessful, she has to |
| We all have childhood memories of playing our | | | | join the opposing team. This continues until |
| favorite outdoor games with the kids from the | | | | one side has all of the team members. The |
| neighborhood and our best friends from | | | | best thing about this game is that everyone |
| school. Now it is up to us to pass down the | | | | is a winner in the end! |
| legacy to our children. Show them that | | | | |
| playing outside is fun and teach them that | | | | 3) Four Square |
| physical activity is essential to their | | | | |
| wellbeing. | | | | Much like hopscotch you can create your own |
| | | | four square arena by drawing one with chalk |
| Below is a list of five classic outdoor games | | | | or using masking tape. You will also need a |
| your children are sure to love. | | | | rubber ball, or any ball that is good for |
| | | | bouncing. Draw or lay out a large square |
| 1) Hopscotch | | | | that is divided into four inner squares. |
| | | | There is one person per square. The first |
| Hopscotch is a simple jumping game that is | | | | player in the top square bounces the ball to |
| easy to set-up and easy to learn. To play | | | | the player in the square to the left of his |
| outdoors, all you need is a package of | | | | or herself. This sets off the play. |
| colored or plain white chalk, child-safe | | | | Everyone has to use hands to bounce the ball, |
| items like colored stones for the players to | | | | in one bounce, around the square until |
| use as their markers, and a patch of concrete | | | | someone fumbles and is out. The players |
| to draw the hopscotch board on. | | | | rotate bringing a new player into the square |
| | | | to replace the person who fumbled. A person |
| Since there are a number of ways to draw a | | | | is out if they catch the ball, if it takes |
| hopscotch board, experiment with a few | | | | more than one tap to bounce the ball to the |
| different patterns and use the version your | | | | next person, or if a person steps out of his |
| children like best. | | | | or her designated square. The goal is to |
| | | | move up into the top square. Like Red Rover, |
| The classic, old school way to create a | | | | in this game, everyone is a winner. |
| hopscotch board is to use chalk on concrete | | | | |
| to outline eight blocks in the shape of a | | | | 4) Tag |
| lowercase letter "t." Masking tape can be | | | | |
| used as a substitute if chalk is not | | | | Tag is one of the oldest and most exciting |
| available or if you are playing indoors. | | | | outdoor games for children. An added benefit |
| Every player will need to find a small object | | | | of playing tag is the level of physical |
| that can be used as a marker. This is where | | | | activity - it is a great source of exercise! |
| you can get creative! Just make sure you | | | | While there are many variations of this |
| don't pick your mom's favorite breakable | | | | classic chasing game, two remain the most |
| figurine. Think more along the lines of a | | | | common with kids today: traditional tag and |
| button, beanbag, or bottle cap. | | | | freeze tag. |
| | | | |
| Each player takes turns tossing his or her | | | | In traditional tag, one person is chosen to |
| marker in block number one. The objective is | | | | be "it," the person who must try to catch the |
| to keep your balance as you hop over block | | | | others. When the person who is "it" touches |
| one standing on one foot, then onto block | | | | another person, that person must chase after |
| two, three, four, etc. until you have reached | | | | another and the game continues. |
| the eighth block. To complete your turn, you | | | | |
| must jump back through each number back to | | | | Another variation of tag is freeze tag. The |
| block two, bend over (still on one foot!) | | | | player who starts out as "it" can tag as many |
| pick up your marker, and jump into block one | | | | people as he or she likes. When the person |
| and out of the hopscotch board. This | | | | who is "it" tags a player, that player must |
| completes the turn of one player. It is then | | | | stands still or "freeze." The frozen players |
| time for the other players to take each of | | | | can only be unfrozen once a free player |
| their turns. | | | | crawls in between their legs. The object of |
| | | | the game? For the "it" player to freeze all |
| There are a quite a few factors that | | | | other players. As you can imagine, freeze tag |
| determine whether a player is out and loses a | | | | can go on for quite some time if players are |
| turn. These things include failure to place | | | | fast! |
| your marker in the proper block for that | | | | |
| particular turn, stepping into the block your | | | | 5) Duck Duck Goose |
| marker is in, and losing your balance while | | | | |
| attempting to pick up your marker. A player | | | | This is an all time favorite. All the |
| is also considered out if he or she steps on | | | | players sit in a circle. The "it" player |
| a line or uses both feet to hop into the next | | | | walks around the outside of the circle |
| block. That player then loses his or her turn | | | | tapping the other players on the head saying, |
| and must leave the marker in the block to try | | | | "duck, duck, duck, etc." When he or she gets |
| again after all the other players have taken | | | | to the person they choose to be the new "it" |
| their turn. | | | | person, they say "Goose!" The "goose" then |
| | | | has to chase the other player and tag them |
| 2) Red Rover | | | | before he is able to sit down in the goose's |
| | | | spot. If the "it" player gets to the seat |
| This game is fun when you have a big group of | | | | before being tagged the "goose" is the new |
| kids involved. Pick teams of equal size. | | | | "it" and the game continues. |
| Each team member holds hands tightly to | | | | |
| create a chain. One side starts by picking | | | | These are five classic old-school games that |
| someone on the opposing team to invite over | | | | every child should know. While a playground |
| to their team. Everyone shouts, "Red Rover, | | | | with swings and slides and monkey bars is |
| Red Rover, send Emily right over!" Emily | | | | always fun, nothing beats these basic games |
| then breaks free and runs toward the other | | | | you can play almost anywhere. With spring in |
| team. The goal is to break the link of the | | | | the air, now is the perfect time to take your |
| other team. If Emily is successful, she gets | | | | kids and their friends outside and show them |
| to pick someone from that team to join her | | | | how to have a good time. Get going! |