Outdoor Games for Kids to Make With the Family This Summer

Hopscotch

We're going old school with this one! A sidewalk or driveway, some chalk, and a rock is all you need for hopscotch—oh, and good balance!

Flamingo Ring Toss

This is hands-down (foot up?) the cutest game of ring toss we've ever seen! It's guaranteed to be the hit of your outdoor barbecue.

Outdoor Movie Screen

When it gets too dark for games, it's movie time! Throw a white sheet over a rope, lay blankets on the ground, and queue up your favorite funny movies for the whole family on the projector. Add twinkle lights for a special touch.

Backyard Mini Golf

Bring that feeling of vacation nostalgia home by setting up a mini golf course in your own back yard. To set up, use upside down saucers or bowls for cups and craft simple flags from poster board and dowel rods (or you can purchase ready-made cups and flags). Create a 9-hole course across your yard adding fun challenges by incorporating the natural elements of your

Backyard Mini Golf

landscape (think sandy pits...treacherous rocky terrains...uphill sidewalks) or by bringing in obstacles and creative cutouts.

Soda Crate Ring Toss

Arrange old-school glass bottles (you can purchase new glass soda bottles or score collecting cred by using an assortment of vintage bottles) in a divided soda crate. Rack up points by tossing plastic or rope rings around the bottle necks.

Tablecloth Checkers

No checkerboard? No problem! A vintage printed tablecloth can provide the perfect back drop for a mean game of checkers. (As an alternative, purchase a yard of your favorite buffalo-check fabric, then hem around the edges to desirable size using fusible bonding.) Gather up buttons in two different colors and you are ready to play!

Football Tabletop Trivia

Turn your picnic or outdoor dining table into a game table set for trivia night with this football field table runner. To begin, grab the cards from a Trivial Pursuit game, then set the rules on how many yards each correct answer scores (i.e. 2 to 10 yards depending on how challenging the play). Using tiny footballs as game pieces (bonus activity: let kids decorate their own

Football Tabletop Trivia

game piece), line everyone up in the end zone of one side and then take turns answering questions, moving forward with each correct answer. Whomever reaches the opposite end zone first, wins. Touchdown!

Stock Tank Marco Polo

There's no better way to beat the heat than by taking a dip in a cool pool. And, now, thanks to the galvanized stock tanks found at your local farm store, that's easier than ever to achieve! With your stock tank pool in place, now you're ready for a round of the childhood favorite hide and seek game, Marco Polo. One person in the pool who is designated "it" closes his/her eyes and

Stock Tank Marco Polo

counts to 10. He/She then repeatedly shouts "Marco" to which all the other players in the pool respond "Polo" as he/she tries to catch them.

Custom Cornhole

Quilt block patterns, such as the "Columbia Star" pattern featured on this Country Living Cornhole Board Set bring graphic punch and the opportunity for lots of fun color.

Lawn Tic-Tac-Toe

To make this giant yard version tic-tac-toe, simply crisscross pieces of thick rope to create your grid, divvy up cutouts of Xs and Os (or any two differing game pieces), and then take turns placing the game pieces in the available open squares in a quest for three in a row. For an added challenge, try tossing the markers into the desired spaces.

Lawn Bowling

The next time you're out scouting the flea market, keep your eyes open for vintage bowling pins. Acquire a set of 10 (mismatched styles and sizes are just fine!), and you're ready for a game of lawn bowling. To set up the game, leave the pins as is (most vintage pins are a graphic red and white striped) or paint numbers (1-10) on each pin as shown here. Find a small,

Lawn Bowling

weighted sphere (be sure it's unbreakable!) to use as the ball and roll away.

Hook and Ring Game

The object of this game is to secure the ring around the hook. It might seem simple, but it's definitely harder than it looks.

Bean Bag Bowl Toss

This blogger notes she encouraged her kids to add up their own scores as a little math lesson. How's that for some summer math practice?!

Ring Toss Game

Customize this classic carnival game with any bottle color of your choice.

Giant Kubb

Haven't heard of kubb? Bascially, the goal of this game is to knock over all of the other team's pieces. The best part is kids and adults of all ages will enjoy it.

Bean Bag Ladder Toss

This blogger notes her game requires the "easiest set up ever!"

Football Toss

Calling all future QBs! The kids can practice their perfect aim and get ready for fall football season with this throwing game.

Giant Lawn Matching Game

Customize these durable squares with any pictures or patterns you like. If you're into the summer-themed version shown here, this blogger includes downloadable stencils in her tutorial to re-create your own.

Ladder Golf Game

If you're looking for an activity on-the-go—maybe for your next camping trip—this ladder ball game can be taken apart for easy transport.

Three-Hole Washers Game

Introduce your kids to a classic game from your childhood. The whole family will have fun playing this blast from the past.

Big Bananagrams

Bigger is better with this lawn game. Your kids will love seeing how far they can stretch their words.

Lady Bug and Bumble Bee Tic-Tac-Toe

Paint rocks to resemble your favorite bugs, critters, or animals to make this super-simple game.

Putt-Putt Mini Golf Course

Both grown-ups and kiddos alike will enjoy this easy-to-make course. Plus, you can move it to the basement or playroom to use when the weather's not so great.

DIY Outdoor Checkers Table

This versatile table provides the perfect place to pay a few games of checkers, chess, or any other board game—all while soaking up the sun this summer.

Lawn Twister

Spray-paint red, yellow, green, and blue dots onto grass to create your very own lawn twister. Make your own spinner using cardboard, or buy one.

Yard Yahtzee

Classic Yahtzee gets a larger-than-life revamp with this lawn version. Make your dice using wood blocks—just draw the dots on with a Sharpie.

Yard Yahtzee

Have a wood-burning tool on hand? Here's another fun DIY for Yard Yahtzee.

Water Cup Races

Reminiscent of the clown-and-balloon carnival game, this water cup race is sup[er simple to set up and easy for everyone to play. All you have to do to make this game is cut holes in the bottoms of plastic cups, then string the cups onto a piece of yarn.

Kerplunk

This outdoor version of Kerplunk uses a tomato cage and PVC pipes for a giant-sized take on the classic game. Tip: Use pool noodles as sticks and water balloons to make this a water game!

Backyard Dunk Tank

Perfect for hot summer days, this homemade dunk tank is an exciting sideshow for your next backyard get-together.

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Outdoor Games for Kids to Make With the Family This Summer

Read more

Hopscotch

We're going old school with this one! A sidewalk or driveway, some chalk, and a rock is all you need for hopscotch—oh, and good balance!

Read more

Flamingo Ring Toss

This is hands-down (foot up?) the cutest game of ring toss we've ever seen! It's guaranteed to be the hit of your outdoor barbecue.

Read more

Outdoor Movie Screen

When it gets too dark for games, it's movie time! Throw a white sheet over a rope, lay blankets on the ground, and queue up your favorite funny movies for the whole family on the projector. Add twinkle lights for a special touch.

Read more

Backyard Mini Golf

Read more

Backyard Mini Golf

landscape (think sandy pits...treacherous rocky terrains...uphill sidewalks) or by bringing in obstacles and creative cutouts.

Read more

Soda Crate Ring Toss

Arrange old-school glass bottles (you can purchase new glass soda bottles or score collecting cred by using an assortment of vintage bottles) in a divided soda crate. Rack up points by tossing plastic or rope rings around the bottle necks.

Read more

Tablecloth Checkers

Read more

Football Tabletop Trivia

Read more

Football Tabletop Trivia

game piece), line everyone up in the end zone of one side and then take turns answering questions, moving forward with each correct answer. Whomever reaches the opposite end zone first, wins. Touchdown!

Read more

Stock Tank Marco Polo

Read more

Stock Tank Marco Polo

counts to 10. He/She then repeatedly shouts "Marco" to which all the other players in the pool respond "Polo" as he/she tries to catch them.

Read more

Custom Cornhole

Quilt block patterns, such as the "Columbia Star" pattern featured on this Country Living Cornhole Board Set bring graphic punch and the opportunity for lots of fun color.

Read more

Lawn Tic-Tac-Toe

Read more

Lawn Bowling

Read more

Lawn Bowling

weighted sphere (be sure it's unbreakable!) to use as the ball and roll away.

Read more

Hook and Ring Game

The object of this game is to secure the ring around the hook. It might seem simple, but it's definitely harder than it looks.

Read more

Bean Bag Bowl Toss

This blogger notes she encouraged her kids to add up their own scores as a little math lesson. How's that for some summer math practice?!

Read more

Ring Toss Game

Customize this classic carnival game with any bottle color of your choice.

Read more

Giant Kubb

Haven't heard of kubb? Bascially, the goal of this game is to knock over all of the other team's pieces. The best part is kids and adults of all ages will enjoy it.

Read more

Bean Bag Ladder Toss

This blogger notes her game requires the "easiest set up ever!"

Read more

Football Toss

Calling all future QBs! The kids can practice their perfect aim and get ready for fall football season with this throwing game.

Read more

Giant Lawn Matching Game

Customize these durable squares with any pictures or patterns you like. If you're into the summer-themed version shown here, this blogger includes downloadable stencils in her tutorial to re-create your own.

Read more

Ladder Golf Game

If you're looking for an activity on-the-go—maybe for your next camping trip—this ladder ball game can be taken apart for easy transport.

Read more

Three-Hole Washers Game

Introduce your kids to a classic game from your childhood. The whole family will have fun playing this blast from the past.

Read more

Big Bananagrams

Bigger is better with this lawn game. Your kids will love seeing how far they can stretch their words.

Read more

Lady Bug and Bumble Bee Tic-Tac-Toe

Paint rocks to resemble your favorite bugs, critters, or animals to make this super-simple game.

Read more

Putt-Putt Mini Golf Course

Both grown-ups and kiddos alike will enjoy this easy-to-make course. Plus, you can move it to the basement or playroom to use when the weather's not so great.

Read more

DIY Outdoor Checkers Table

This versatile table provides the perfect place to pay a few games of checkers, chess, or any other board game—all while soaking up the sun this summer.

Read more