As promised yesterday, we're heading right back our normal topics of conversation today. And what a great post I have for you too!
The weather may be cold and Summer may feel a long way away but it really won't be long before those warmer days start to creep in again. If you've got kids, I'm sure you'll be wondering what to do with them to keep things fresh and exciting. So that is why I am pleased to introduce you to today's guest blogger.
Sarah contacted me recently to ask if I would be interested in a post about fun games to play outdoors. Would I ever! Tim and I are truly passionate about being outside and we hope to pass on that love to Oscar too. He may be a little young yet for the games Sarah mentions in her post, but I'm sure we'll be playing them with him in just a few years time.
So, without further ado, here's Sarah:
The Great Outdoors And Your Child
Not that long ago, children spent the majority of their free time playing outside. Discovering secret hideouts, catching frogs, and crickets, and inventing fun games together, which usually involved getting muddy sometimes by accident and sometimes on purpose, was all part of everyday life. Now, they’re spending up to 5 hours a day watching TV.
But, we can’t blame it all on TV. There are many factors, which add to the lack of outdoor play. The concern for children’s safety is an issue, as well as the fact that kids often don’t know what to play outside, so they resort to video games to keep away the boredom. However, there is a simple way to teach them some great outdoor games in the safety of your own garden.
A group of 4 to 8 children (or more, if you feel you can handle them) is ideal for these games, so consider inviting some of your kids’ friends round or the neighbours’ kids to make up the numbers. Once you’ve taught them the games, introduced below, you can supervise the play for 2 or 3 rounds to make sure there aren’t any questions and then leave them to it.
Bring out some refreshments for them, and serve them in your garden shed. Let them roam in the shed, as this can become their HQ or pirate ship. Encourage them to use their imagination to invent more games. So, they’ll have some inspiration to go on, here are the rules of some classic outdoor games, that are easy to learn and great fun:
- Red Light, Green Light
I recommend starting with this game, as it starts off slow and then becomes more interesting, so it’s a good option of getting the kids used to the concept of playing outside. The rules are simple: One player, the traffic light, has their back to the group and shouts ‘Green Light’. The group takes slow steps toward the traffic light. The steps should be toe to heel to ensure the steps are slow. To make this clear, tell them to imagine walking on a tightrope. The traffic light faces the group and shouts ‘Red Light’. No one is allowed to move during a red light. If someone does move, they have to return to the starting point. The first person to reach the traffic light wins, and becomes the next traffic light.
- Freeze Tag
Freeze tag is just like your traditional game of tag, except that when someone is caught, they’re not ‘It’ instead they have to freeze where they are. They can be freed by another player, but whoever is ‘It’ can also catch the player trying to free the frozen one. Whoever is ‘It’ must play very tactically, as they are outnumbered and can be overwhelmed by the others. However, if they keep a frozen player in their sights, they can catch both the player doing the unfreezing and the player who was originally frozen. Likewise the players, who aren’t ‘It’ can develop a tactic to work together and plan unfreezing their team mates. One could distract the ‘It’, while another frees a team mate.
- Wolf’s Dinner Time
One player is Mr Wolf, and the rest of the group faces him from a distance of about 15 feet. Mr Wolf has his back to the group. The group shouts ‘What’s the time Mr Wolf?’, and the Mr Wolf turns to the group and must answer with a time. If Mr Wolf says ‘6 o’clock’, then the group takes six steps toward him. The wolf then turns his back on the group again. He may only face them when answering them. Once the wolf believes the group to be close enough, without peeking in between his answers, his answer becomes ‘Dinnertime!’ and he chases members of the group. Whoever he catches becomes the next Mr Wolf. Timing is everything with this game, as the wolf may decide to strike too soon and miss his chance for an easy catch.
These three games are merely examples of some of the classic and still fun outdoor games. There are many others and kids love learning new things, so tell them your favourite games, too. Outdoors needn’t be boring or dangerous. It can be a fun and safe adventure.
Written by Sarah Oxley, outdoor enthusiast and champion for outdoor games. I wrote this article to remind people of the fun outdoor games that exist, before they are forgotten, as they teach us some of the most important social skills: playing together and playing fairly.
Comments