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