Children have an innate love for the outdoors—creating flower potions, swinging from tree branches, and engaging in imaginative play. However, as they transition into their pre-teen and teenage years, many lose interest in outdoor fun, often preferring to lounge indoors, engrossed in their devices. Getting teens to step away from their screens can feel like an uphill battle, but the secret lies in presenting games that capture their attention.
So how do you entice your teen and their friends to swap their couch for the backyard? Check out these entertaining games and activities that might just entice them to put their phones down.
1. Blob Tag
This twist on traditional tag involves tagged players joining hands with “it” to form a growing “blob.” The game continues until only one player remains free. At that point, the last person can either be declared the winner or take on the role of “it,” allowing the game to commence anew.
2. Flashlight Tag
As darkness falls, grab a flashlight for this hide-and-seek variation. “It” counts to 100 while the others find hiding spots. Instead of tagging physically, being spotted by the flashlight beam means you’re out. Stay alert for clever hiding spots to avoid being caught!
3. Leader of the Pack
Choose one player to leave the circle while the rest select a “leader.” Upon return, the “it” player must guess who the leader is as they perform silly motions. Encourage creativity and avoid fixating on just one person.
4. Vroom, Vroom
Have your teens position themselves across the yard, mimicking drivers with their hands on imaginary steering wheels. As the “traffic cop,” give them various driving commands—like turning or swerving—to enhance the fun, especially in a smaller space.
5. Sleeping Beauty
One player pretends to be Sleeping Beauty, lying down while the others try to wake them through laughter—without any physical contact!
6. Lap Game
Set up chairs like in Musical Chairs but ensure everyone has a seat. A parent poses a yes-or-no question; if the answer is yes, players move to the right, possibly sitting on laps, leading to giggles and silliness.
7. Dodgeball
For a competitive edge, gather teens for a game of dodgeball, but opt for softer balls or water balloons to keep it light-hearted.
8. Sponge Pass
Split players into two teams, with buckets of water and sponges at the front of each line. Teams must soak the sponge and pass it down the line, wringing it into the empty bucket. The first team to fill their bucket wins!
9. Capture The Flag
Revisit this classic game, perhaps even playing at night with glow-in-the-dark tape to mark boundaries and flags.
10. Elbow Tag
Pair up the teens, with one designated as “it.” By linking arms, they must catch someone by hooking onto a free elbow of a partner. The caught player then becomes “it.”
11. Lawn Twister
Using biodegradable paint, create a giant Twister board on the grass. Spin the wheel and prepare for a hilarious time!
12. Sardines
Unlike traditional hide-and-seek, one person hides while others seek. When found, players join the hider until only one seeker remains.
13. Broken Telephone Pictionary
A fun and engaging icebreaker, this game combines drawing with the classic telephone concept. As players pass drawings down the line, hilarity ensues when the final result is far from the original!
14. Sack Race
Bring out burlap sacks for an age-old favorite. Set a finish line and race! It’s all about fun, and you can even integrate it into an obstacle course.
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In summary, these outdoor games are perfect for getting teens excited about being active outside again. By incorporating fun and laughter, you can help them reconnect with their playful side while enjoying the fresh air.
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