Kiddy Planet Nursery

OUTDOOR GAMES

Summer is a time when children can play outside rather than stay cooped up inside all day long. Parents should encourage children to stretch their legs, exercise and take part in team sports and games that will allow them to interact with their peers. Parents can join in too sometimes since a little bit of innocent fun never hurt anyone!

Here are some fun games kids can play outdoors:

BACKYARD CRICKET

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2+

You will need: At least 1 cricket bat, a few tennis balls and two stumps.

Activity:

For two players, choose one batter and a bowler. If more players then chose a few bowlers, two batters and let the rest of the kids run around to field the ball.

Backyard cricket is played just like normal cricket with just a few different rules.

Rules:

No one can go out on the first ball and if the ball is hit even a little, the batters have to run.

A fielder can catch the batter out with one hand, even after the tennis ball has bounced off a fence or wall.

The batter can be knocked out if either stump is hit.

No LBW’s and if the ball is hit over the fence/house the batter is awarded 6 runs.

HOPSCOTCH

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1+

This is a game that almost every parent will remember playing. It’s easy and a great way to have some fun in your very own backyard.

You will need: Chalk.

ACTIVITY:

Use chalk to draw a hopscotch pattern on the ground. Create a diagram with 8 sections and number them. Each player takes a marker such as a stone or a bottle-cap. The first player stands behind the line to toss the marker in square 1. He or she hops over square 1 to square 2 and then continues hopping to square 8, turns around and hops back again. Then continue by tossing the stone in square 2. All hopping is done on one foot. A player is out if the marker fails to land in the proper square or if they lose balance. In such a case, the player puts the marker in the square where he or she will resume playing on the next turn, and the next player begins.