Many families do not get to spend substantial time together during the week, especially when both parents work and children go to school and extracurricular activities. During the weekend, shut off the television and video game systems and take your children to play in the great outdoors. Regardless of the weather or season, encourage your kids to get some fresh air and exercise by playing games outdoors.
Relay Races
A relay race can be played with a group of children. Split them into two teams and have them race, relay-style, back and forth until everyone has had a turn. The options for a relay race are nearly limitless. Have them hold a balloon between their legs, balance an egg on a spoon, walk with a book on their heads or hop on one foot. Give them a wet adult-sized T-shirt to put on over their clothing and pass from person to person on a hot day. Have them run across the yard with a large sponge, dip it in a bucket of water, run back to the start line and squeeze the water into another bucket. Have them complete sack-hop races or three-legged races relay-style. Give the kids a pile of props and have them come up with their own ideas for relays, once they understand how to play.
Games From Your Youth
Think back to when you were a child, and try to replicate the games that you played with your friends on the schoolyard. Jump rope, four-square, hopscotch and dodge ball are all good games to play outdoors with children. Teach them how to play kickball or kick the can. Delight them with twists on games of tag: TV tag, freeze tag and chain tag. Encourage them to play sardines the next time they suggest hide-and-seek. Bring out classic sports toys, such as Frisbees, footballs or softballs for a game of catch. Make a line at a basketball hoop and play dribbling and shooting games with a basketball.
Embrace the Season
Consider the time of the year and the natural changes that take place with each season when playing outdoors with your children. Have an old-fashioned snowball fight, pull each other on sleds or have a snowman-building contest in the winter. Fly kites in the spring. Have a sand castle-building party at the beach, or see who can make the splashiest jump into the pool in the summer. Rake leaves and jump in the pile in the fall. Have nature scavenger hunts during any season; look for different types of seed pods in the fall, try to photograph signs of spring approaching after a long winter and see who can find the prettiest seashells in the summer.
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