There’s nothing better than friends gathering together for a party or a family reunion. Some of the best childhood memories are made during these get-togethers when party guests can let loose and enjoy themselves. No outdoor party would be complete without some classic party games and there are lots of fun and exciting options! If you’re planning an outdoor party for your kids, don’t forget to include entertaining games to guarantee everyone a great time.
outdoor party games for kids
Whether you’re planning your kid’s birthday party or a holiday celebration, your kids will love entertaining their friends. This list of the best outdoor party games will ensure everyone has a blast!
Water Balloons
When the day gets hot, there’s no better way to cool down than with water games. Kids of all ages love getting splashed, and water balloons are a great way to pair exercise with non-stop fun! You can use them as is or as a part of other activities like pool noodle baseball or in a water balloon toss game.
There are kits available that attach to your hose and blow up multiple balloons at once. You don’t have to struggle to tie them anymore, making water balloons much more enjoyable for parents too. It’s a good idea to set rules in advance including boundaries and who is not playing (!)
Relay Race
Relay races are a great way to get kids moving and encourage friendly competition to see who can be first past the finish line. You can pair them into teams or have them compete individually, depending on the type of relay you choose.
Why not try a wheelbarrow race or two-man walk? If you have a pool, why not try a few water races for an added level of fun? You can toss in sinking toys and see who can pick the most up off the bottom of the pool or see who can make it from one end to the other the fastest. Outdoor party games for kids should always include a relay race as it gets all the kids involved and working together.
Hula Hoops
Hula hoops make a great addition to any outdoor party, thanks to their wide range of uses. Of course, these classic toys are fun as is, but with a bit of creativity, you can use them in backyard games. Why not use them as targets for your water balloons or create a giant tic tac toe game? They’re also fun to use during a relay race, having the kids line up and pass the hula hoop over and under until it reaches the last person in line.
Pool Noodles
While pool noodles are tons of fun for pool parties, they’re also great for many other outdoor games. Cut them in half to create a safe but fun sword, and let your kids duel or tape the ends together to create a circle and make an oversized ring toss.
Pool noodles are extremely versatile, requiring almost no work to create multiple games for everyone to play. Additional ideas include baseball using water balloons, croquet, and pool noodle target. You can get cheap pool noodles at the dollar store to use in your outdoor party games for kids.
CORN HOLE
If you live in the midwest, you know corn hole is almost a religious experience and is a staple at every outdoor get-together. Using beanbags, each kid tries to toss them into a hole in a stand a short distance away. It’s exciting to watch them try to figure out different ways of tossing, developing their own strategies to make it in. Corn hole is a great game, sure to bring hours of entertainment for everyone at your party, kids and adults.
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts bring out the explorer inside younger children, making them a fun outdoor game for your next party. Each kid must find specific items or image cards and tick them off on their list. You can make the hunt as easy or difficult as you’d like depending on the age of the kids playing, using your creativity to find easy or sneaky hiding places. Scavenger hunts promote problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork, but all kids care about is that they’re having a blast! This fun game is a good one to include for birthday parties. A fun way to play this is to hide some candy with each scavenger item or card.
Treasure Hunt
A treasure hunt is a fun twist on a scavenger hunt and is great for older kids. Instead of simply finding objects or picture cards, kids have to solve each clue to lead them to the hiding place of the next clue. Treasure hunts tend to last longer than scavenger hunts although the kids may sometimes need a little help with some of the clues.
I’m excited to offer you my range of themed treasure hunts which you can play in your own backyard. Whether your kids love pirates, fairies or dinosaurs, there’s a treasure hunt for them here. Don’t worry that you have to come up with some treasure for the end of the hunt. I’ve thought of that and included some bonus activity sheets with each hunt which you can use as the hidden treasure.
Musical Chairs
The classic game of musical chairs has been a favorite party game for over a hundred years. Using your kid’s favorite music, see who has the fastest reflexes and who can come out on top. You can take the simple game a step further and place whipped cream on the chairs or bring the game into the pool using floats. Musical chairs encourage friendly competition and are sure to have both kids and parents laughing.
Obstacle Course
An outdoor obstacle course is always a crowd favorite, and kids love seeing who can reach the end the fastest. You can create your own using things you find around the house like chairs, pool noodles, hula hoops, and jump ropes. Get the kids to play this as a relay race and see who can be the first team to clear all the obstacles.
You can also rent inflatable options. These oversized inflatable courses are great if you have a large enough yard, and most companies deliver, set up, and remove them for you so you can relax and enjoy the party.
Treasure Dig
For young explorers, why not set up a treasure dig and let their imaginations run wild? Create a map for the young adventurers to follow and let them take their chances to see who will discover the most treasure. This idea also works great as a fossil dig for dinosaur lovers. Bury faux skeletons and let them uncover prehistoric remains that time forgot!
Potato Sacks
Sack Races combine the thrill of competition with the challenge of balancing. Classic outdoor games, like these, are guaranteed to please younger kids. You can split the kids into teams for a group race or individually and see who can hop the fastest and be the first person to cross the line.
If you don’t have spare sacks lying around, feel free to use large pillowcases or large shopping bags with handles for the same effect. You could even use old sleeping bags. Just make sure that use something old in case it gets damaged in the fun of the race.
Brave parents can have their own race, too, making silly sack races a slam dunk for everyone.
Giant Jenga
Jenga offers edge-of-your-seat fun, and giant Jenga is even better! The kids at your party will have so much fun taking risks and seeing who can keep the tower from falling the longest. Each piece is made from sturdy, weather-proof materials, so you don’t have to worry about damage, and everyone can take turns seeing who will be the Jenga master!
Bubbles
Everyone loves bubbles, so why not bring them to your next Summer party? While regular bubbles are great, nothing compares to the fun giant bubbles bring. You can create your own using water, blue dish detergent, baking powder, glycerin, and corn starch. Mix together to create your bubble solution. The giant wands are easy to make too. Simply attach a thick cotton cord to wooden dowels using eye screws, and you’re good to go! Be ready for squeals of delight as all the kids see who can make the biggest bubbles without popping them.
Slip ‘N Slide
Slip ‘N Slides are a kid’s fave and are a guaranteed hit for your next outdoor party. You can purchase them from any retail store or create your own, depending on how many guests you’re expecting. For larger parties, use a tarp as an inexpensive way to accommodate multiple kids at once. Adding a bit of environmentally-friendly dish soap will take the fun to the next level; Just be sure to provide adequate adult supervision to ensure everyone has a safe and fun time as older children can sometimes be too lively for the rest of the kids.
Balloon Darts
Darts have been a favorite party game for hundreds of years, making them the perfect addition to your outdoor party. Tape your balloons on a large board and see who can pop the most using kid-friendly darts; everyone can get a turn and see who is the dart master! You can make the game more difficult for older kids by only counting specific colors and having them stand farther away. Balloon darts are a great way for everyone to have a great time!
TWISTER
Twister is always fun, and turning it into a fun outdoor party game opens up so many possibilities. You can add water for an extra challenge or environmentally-friendly soap for even more laughs. The traditional twister board works great since it’s water-safe, but there are outdoor options made to withstand more aggressive use.
Nerf War
If you got lots of Nerf guns or you have kids that love Nerf with friends that also love Nerf, then a Nerf war can be lots of fun. You can make targets from Pringle cans or pool noodles. Be sure to provide lots of cover that the kids can hide behind. if you are playing as teams, then arrange an area to be a home base for each team where they can regroup, rest and get a drink. If you have a local park with a quiet area, you could play there. Get more ideas on how to stage a nerf kid’s birthday party here.
When planning your next outdoor party, be sure to include tons of fun games your kids will love. All of the exciting activities above get kids moving. They encourage friendly social interactions, promote creativity and exploration, and are just plain fun! So, what games will you have at your next outdoor party?
Get some ideas for birthday party themes here
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