Outdoor Games for Boys or Girls

Bubble Fun

Things you’ll need:

Brightly-Colored, Coated Electrical Wire (found at most hardware stores)
Wire Cutters
A Hula Hoop (cloth-covered, preferably)
A baby pool
Store-Bought Bubbles

Before the guests arrive:

Step 1:  Buy the electrical wire.  Test several in the store to see which one bends the easiest while still keeping it’s shape.

Step 2:  When you get home, make bubble wands with the wire, at least one for each guest.  Make them in different shapes, squares, triangles, circles, etc.  Be sure to leave extra to be used as a handle, and be sure there are no sharp edges.

Step 3:  ON the day of the party, fill the baby pool one inch deep with the bubbles.

When the guests arrive:

Step 1:  Give each guest a bubble wand.

Step 2:  Let the guests dip the bubble wands into the baby pool and make lots of different size and shape bubbles.

Step 3:  Use the hula hoop to make a giant bubble cone.  If you can find a willing guest, have them stand inside the bubble.

Step 4:  The wands can double as party favors when the party is over.

Ice Cream Cone Relay

Things you’ll need:

One sugar cone for each child
2 buckets of water
2 glasses that are the same size

When the guests arrive:

Step 1:  Divide the guests into two even teams.

Step 2:  At the back of each line, place a bucket full of water.

Step 3:  At the head of each line, place an empty glass.

Step 4:  Give each child a cone.

Step 5:  The last child in line must fill his/her cone from the bucket, and then pour the water into the cone of the child in front of them.  Each child pours their water into the cone in front of them until the water gets to the head of the line.

Step 6:  The first child in line pours his/her water into the glass.

Step 7:  The team that fills their glass first, wins.

Water Balloon Toss

Things you’ll need:

At least one water balloon for every two children more is better.

Before the guests arrive;

Step 1:  Fill the balloons with water; store them in a big bucket or plastic tub in case of breakage.

When the guests arrive:

Step 1:  Split the guests up into pairs.

Step 2:  Have the children form two lines, with the pairs facing each other. Space them about 2’-3’ apart.

Step 3:  Give one child in each pair a water balloon.

Step 4:  Shout ‘Toss!’  The children should start tossing the balloons back and forth.  Each time a successful catch is made, that child must take one step backwards.

Step 5:  When a team’s water balloon breaks, they’re out.

Step 6:  The last team with an unbroken balloon wins.

Animal Safari

Things you’ll need:

Small, inexpensive plastic animals, at least two or three for each guest.
Goody bags, one for each guest

Before the guests arrive:

Step 1:  Hide all the animals in the yard.  It’s probably best to keep the children in the back yard, so they can be supervised.  Be sure to keep track of where you hide them, so none get left behind.

When the guests arrive:

Step 1:  Give each guest an empty goody bag.

Step 2:  Explain that they are going on safari, and they can keep any animals the find.  You may want to put a limit on how many each child can find, to be sure all the children get some animals.

Step 3:  The game is over when all the animals have been found.

Caterpillar Races

Before the guests arrive:

Step 1:  Mark a start and finish line, about 30’-60’ apart.  Spray paint works well.

When the guests arrive:

Step 1:  Split the guests into two even teams.

Step 2:  Line the children up in two straight lines.  Have each child put their hands on the waist of the child in front of them.

Step 3:  When you yell ‘Wiggle!’ each team should run, staying connected towards the finish line.

Step 4:  If they become unconnected before they reach the finish line, they must go back to the starring line and begin again.

Step 5:  The first team to reach the finish line still connected wins.