For most children, summer means long days at the local pool, cherry-flavored Popsicles and night games of Ghost in the Graveyard and Kick the Can. Just after dinner, the sun lingers low on the horizon and children start looking for something to do. Keep them from getting bored by teaching them how to play games in their own backyard. The games will entertain them for hours, and they will be actively improving their health by running around.
Ghost in the Graveyard
Ghost in the Graveyard is a perfect game for a few children to play at night. To play, designate a "home base" that allows everyone to touch or be in. Use a spot like a garage, patio or large tree. Choose one individual to be the "ghost." Whoever is the ghost must run and hide while the others count with their eyes closed at home base. Once the group counts up to 12, they must run around the house and get back to home base without the hiding player tagging them. Those who make it around stay at home base while the ghost and all the newly tagged players hide. The players at home base repeat the process of counting and running around the house againt. Any new hiding ghosts may tag players running around the house. The game is played until all players have been tagged.
Capture the Flag
A great team game best played at dusk or night as well is Capture the Flag. You will need two teams with at least three players on each team, a yard or field to play in, and two objects to be your designated flags. Divide the yard or field into two territories. The two teams should retreat to their sides and each hide their flag. Once the flags are hidden, players must sneak around to the opposing team's side, find the hidden flag and return it to their side. However, once a player is in the other team's territory, he may be tagged by the opposing team and put in a designated "jail" area. Players in jail cannot help their team until a team member crosses into the other team's territory to tag the member in jail.
Kick the Can
Kick the Can is another night game played in a large, outdoor area with several friends. To begin, choose an object that may serve as the "can." Set the "can" down in an area with 20 to 30 yards of open space around it. The player selected to be "it" for the first round must sit on the can, eyes closed and count while the other players run and hide. Then, the player looks for the hidden players. The object for the "it" player is to find a hidden player and call out his or her name while standing on the can. If the "it" player needs to leave the can to find players, the players then race to the can and kick it before the "it" player sees them and beats them to the can. Players who fail to kick the can before the "it" player does are out. The first player out becomes "it" for the next round.
Other Games
Other outdoor games include playing hopskotch, jumping rope, juggling, playing Frisbee, bike-riding and ball games.
How to Motivate Kids
To motivate kids to play outside, offer a range of game ideas and have balls and outdoor play equipment accessible. Also suggest they invite friends over to play games with them outside or be active with the kids as a family, suggests the Healthy Kids website.
References
- Personal Interview with Steve Rasmussen, Conducted August 17, 2010
- Healthy Kids: Getting Active
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