Fun Outdoor Games for Kids to Play in the Garden

Looking for ideas for outdoor games for kids and siblings to play? Given the lovely weather we’ve been having –  there’s been lots of lovely playing outside with our 4 kids, but there’s also been a fair amount of bickering! We’ve trialled a few outdoor sibling garden games and activities that are easy to set up and all of our four children can play together. Just to try and encourage them to get along a little more and help them all keep occupied together. They’re also outdoor games for kids that need very little equipment or set-up. As we have a 3 year old, these outdoor games are also suitable for preschoolers as well as older kids. Here’s some fun outdoor sibling activity ideas…….. and scroll down for our best games for kids to play outdoors in a garden or field!

Best Sibling Activities for kids to do Outdoors

Collaborative art.

Take a large canvas or place big paper on an outdoor wall or on the grass. Divide the paper into sections (one for each child) and let them loose with paint, crayons etc….. See an example here of some family art.

Collaborative sculpture.

This is a simple game that you can set up as a craft as a competition between siblings for extra fun! Collect recyclables and encourage kids to build a car or a robot – or whatever you like! Add in colourful washi tape or playful duct tape to hold it all together.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Each child makes a list of 10 items that his sibling must find outdoors. For example, “something green, something shiny, something rough, etc.” Siblings can team up for bonding or work independently – quickest to find all the items on the treasure hunt wins! We like doing this in a woods or at a park – the kids can take baskets or bags to collect the items! Find all our ideas for nature scavenger hunts here. This Go Find It game is great for making a simple scavenger hunt game for the garden or a great way to get kids involved for a local woods. You could even do an Ice Scavenger Hunt – find out how here.

Memory Tray Game.

Backyard Games for Kids

A classic popular game – great for hand-eye coordination Spread a variety of objects on a tray. Stare at it for 1 minute. Remove the tray from view and then everyone tries to remember as many objects as they can. You can set this up as a competition by seeing who can list all the items in the best time.

Make Dens!

A great game where siblings can work together to make dens using sheets, chairs or trees to make a little hidey hole to play in. If you want to create a really impressive den, see how to make a den with kids here. Lots of outdoor fun to be had with an outdoor game! It’s a great game for younger kids!

Bean Bag Toss

Grab some bean bags and paint some scores on paper plates. Throw the bean bags onto paper plates and add up your scores to see who wins!

Best games for Kids to play in the garden

Balloon toss up/ Balloon Tennis.

This is a great garden game for siblings to play and it’s a good game for a larger group. Everyone can have their own balloon, or they can work together to keep a single balloon in the air. For more fun, make paddles out of paper plates and rulers and play balloon tennis, the object of the game is to get the balloon over the line..

Minute to Win it Ping Pong Games!

Best Outdoor Games for Kids to Play

These are quick and easy outdoor game ideas for siblings, great for encouraging kids to get some fresh air and outdoor play in – all you need is some ping pong balls and something to time with. Kids can play against each other or in teams and they have a minute to complete the game! You could set up a Family Olympics with these fun minute to win it games for the garden and include relay races! This can be one that the whole family can enjoy!

Outdoor Garden Games for Kids!

Need some ideas for outdoor garden games for siblings or large group of kids! Check out these ideas below… These would also make brilliant outdoor party games for kids of all ages.

Great Outdoor Games for Kids

Puddle Jumper: Fill up three cups with water and line them up, setting a ping pong ball into the first one. The goal of this fun game is to blow the ping pong ball from one water-filled cup to the next. Even little kids can take part in this one

This is also a great game to play on a hot summer day.

Ping Pong Bounce: You’ll need an empty egg carton for this one! Try to bounce the balls so that 8 of them land in the egg carton within one minute. Set the distance away from the egg carton according to the kid’s ages. This game is simple but so much fun!

Ball Drop: Land a ping pong ball in a single plastic cup while standing on a chair. The trick is to not have the balls bounce out or knock the cup over. Easier said than done!

Ping Pong Push: You will also need a straw for this game. There are lots of variations on this one. You could try to push the ping pong ball the furthest down your garden using your nose or blow the ping pong ball as far as you can using a straw. To make it difficult for older children – draw a route in chalk on the ground that the ping pong ball must take.

Elephant Trunks: You will also need a pair of tights and a tennis ball for this game. Place a tennis ball in the end of a pair of tights. Get your kids to put the tights over their heads and try to knock over some water bottles or skittles with their new ‘tennis ball’ trunks. Kids of all ages will love this one!

Garden obstacle course ideas for kids

Gardens or outside spaces can be the beginning of lovely creative, play ideas. A great sibling outdoor activity for the garden is to make an obstacle course. Hula hoops, balls and a tunnel are all you need to set up an obstacle course that will be fun for lots of different age ranges. And if you don’t have these items, just improvise! You can create obstacles with chalk, hula hoop, laundry baskets, rope or whatever you have lying around in your own garden. You could grab a timer and let kids try to beat their own record, it’s a good way to incorporate some physical activity. We’ve had lots of fun with this one – it’s a classic outdoor game – we included Archie (who is three) by adding in a piggy back for the end so he wasn’t holding any team up and people still wanted him in their relay team!! This is one for younger children and older kids to play together! See below for the video of the obstacle course our kids created here and an Easy Chalk Obstacle Course here. Read more here for our favourite toys to play with in the garden.

If you’re heading to a woods or large field or looking for more outdoor games ideas – you’ll love our Favourite Games to Play in the Woods!