Games & Activities, Spring, Summer

15 Fun Backyard Games

Here are the instructions for iMOM’s 15 Fun Backyard Games. First, print out the cards for the 15 Fun Backyard Games and place them in a hat. Let your children draw a card and head to the great outdoors to get the fun started.

1. Amoeba Tag

Two people are it.
They hold hands and chase others.
Each caught person joins the chain by linking hands.
When another person is caught, they can stay together or split 2 by 2, but they must split even numbers and can link together at will.
This game is played until nobody is left.

2. Band-Aid Tag

One person is “It.”
Whenever someone is tagged by “It,” they must hold a band-aid (their hand) on the spot where they were tagged.
Then the game continues.
When someone runs out of band-aids, (they get tagged three times), they are frozen until two other people come over to free them.
The two other people need to tag the frozen person simultaneously and count to 5.
Switch the person who is “It” often to keep playing.

3. Car Lot

Pick a category for Car Lot (i.e. fruit, cars, candy, etc.).
Once the category has been picked, select one child (or Mom is usually good at this part) to be “It” and send them to the middle of the playing area. Everyone else lines up at one end of the playing field.
Once lined up, the child (or Mom) who is “It” yells out three items within the category.
Each player silently picks one.
When “It” calls their item, those players run to the other side of the field, avoiding “It’s” tags.
Tagged players must sit but can tag runners; a seated tagger can then rejoin the game.
If someone is tagged by a seated person, the person sitting down may get back up and play the game. Example: “It” calls out: The category is Fruit. “It” calls out the 3 choices: a. Apples b. Oranges c. Strawberries

4. Catch the Dragon’s Tail

Equipment Needed: One rag or flag per dragon

Divide the children into teams of 6 or 8.
Have the children form a line and then put their hands on the waist of the person in front of them to create a “dragon.”
The last person of the dragon, or tail, is given a rag to hang out of the back of their pants.
The object of the game is for the head to catch the tail and pull the rag from that player.
If successful, the head becomes the new tail; the old tail remains in place. A time limit can be set.

5. Clothespin Tag

Equipment Needed: Clothespins

Everyone starts with clothespins pinned to their clothes and scatters.
Then have them all scatter on the playing field.
On a signal, players snatch clothespins from each other and attach them to themselves.
The player with the most clothespins at the end of the time limit wins.

6. Dirty Diaper Tag

One person is “It.”
Whenever someone gets tagged, they become frozen until someone who has not been tagged, crawls through their legs.

7. Dizzy Izzy Bat

Equipment needed: Two baseball bats

Split the group into two teams and designate a spotter for each team.
Place two bats 15-20 feet apart. Teams line up 40 feet from their bat.
On go, the first in each line runs to their bat, spins ten times with their forehead on the handle, runs back, and tags the next teammate.
The first team to have everyone complete this wins.

8. Everybody’s It

Designate the playing area and establish the boundaries.
On the signal to begin, everyone is “It” and can tag others.
agged players leave to do a designated exercise (e.g., 10 jumping jacks) before rejoining.
If two players tag each other at the same time, they must both leave the playing area.

9. Fire on the Mountain

Everyone lies flat on their backs, staying still.
When you say, “Fire on the mountain,” they quickly stand up; the last one up is out or does 10 exercises.
When the group is on their back, they are to lie perfectly still.
If you say something other than “Fire on the mountain” (Mickey Mouse, Montana, Mazda, etc.) and they flinch or begin to get up, then they have to sit out or do the 10 jumping jacks.

10. Shark and Octopus Tag

Everyone starts as an octopus on one side; one person is the shark in the middle.
The shark calls, “Octopus, Octopus, swim in my ocean!”
Players run to the other side, avoiding the shark.
Tagged players sit and become the sharks’ helpers, tagging runners who come within reach on subsequent crossings.
They have now become the sharks’ helpers.
The game continues until there is only one octopus left.

11. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Game Setup: This game is suitable for 9–16 children. Before play begins, determine how long you will want to play (20 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.) and then designate the following areas on your playing field. (This diagram is for illustrative purposes only; use whatever works for your specific location.)

Starting Line
Snow White’s Castle
Dungeon

Assign each child to be one of the following Seven Dwarfs (double up if needed):

Bashful
Doc
Dopey
Grumpy
Happy
Sleepy
Sneezy

Select one player to be the Wicked Witch. Select one player to be Snow White.

Game Play: Explain that the witch has cast a spell on the dwarves. The object of the game is to capture as many dwarfs as possible and imprison them in the Dungeon before the time is up without them being rescued by Snow White.

One person is the Wicked Witch, others are dwarfs.
The witch calls a dwarf, who runs across and back without being tagged.
Tagged dwarfs go to the Dungeon.
Snow White, safe in her castle, can free them, but becomes vulnerable if she leaves.
The witch wins by tagging Snow White or having dwarfs in the Dungeon at the end.
If all the dwarfs are safe at the end of the game, as well as Snow White, the dwarfs and Snow White win the game.

12. Sock Tag

Kids take offtheir shoes and loosen their socks.
Crawling on hands and knees, they try to steal others’ socks.
Losing both socks eliminates a player. The last one with a sock wins.

13. Spider Tag

Equipment Needed: 1-3 foam pool noodles

Form teams of three, interlocking elbows back-to-back to make “spiders.”
One or two “It” spiders get a noodle.
It” spiders tag others (below the shoulders) with the noodle, then gives it to the tagged spider and leaves.
The tagged spider’s team spins three times, then they chase other spiders with the noodle.

The following are the basic rules of the game:

Spiders must be connected when tagging another team.
If a fleeing team comes apart, they are counted as tagged.
Each time a spider is tagged, a different player in the group must have the noodle.
Upon being tagged, spiders must spin 3 times before chasing.
Taggers must tag below the shoulders.

14. Spoon Game

Equipment needed: Two cups, two spoons, two sections of long string (6–8 feet each).

Divide into two teams.
Place cups 10 feet apart, and teams line up 30 feet away.
The first in each line ties a spoon to a string around their waist (spoon behind).
On go, they race to their cup, squat, and get the spoon in without hands.
Once in, they run back, help the next teammate tie the string, and the relay continues. The first team to complete this wins.

15. Toilet Tag

One to three players are “It.” Others scatter.
“Its” tag players, who freeze in a “toilet” position (one knee down, one up, one arm out).
Unfrozen players rescue them by sitting on their down knee, grabbing their outstretched arm, and making a “whoosh” sound while pulling the arm down.
The game ends after a set time or when everyone is frozen.