These fun outdoor group games for kids can be played in large, open spaces which often accommodate large groups better than indoor games. When warm, sunny weather lures you outside, take the party outdoors and play active games. For some outdoor games, the bigger the group, the better. Find more outdoor games for children.
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These games are great for a birthday party, a family reunion or a kids group like Brownies or Scouts. There are team games and last person standing games. These games are a fun way to keep a group of kids entertained and having a great time.
Blob Tag
You can play blob tag with as many as 50 players. Designate a playing area using trees or other landmarks as boundaries, and then designate one player as the blob, or it. The blob must chase the other players and attempt to tag them.
Any player tagged by the blob becomes part of the blob and must hold hands with another member of the blob. As the blob tags more people and grows bigger, it will become more unwieldy. Players on the blob must work together to tag all remaining players. The last player left unattached to the blob becomes the new blob. Kids of all ages will love this great game!
Elbow Tag
Elbow tag is a fun game but it does require an even number of players. Select one player to be “it” and one player to be free. Have the remaining players form pairs and stand in a large circle with about ten paces between each pair.
Pairs of players should link arms and stand still while “it” chases the free player. If the free player becomes tired or wants to abandon her role, she can link arms with any of the pairs of players standing still in the circle. This action forces the player in the pair with whom she did not join arms to become the new free player. That player must then begin running to avoid being tagged by “it.”
Sardines
In Sardines, a silly variation on the classic game of hide-and-seek, many players must try to fit into one hiding place. With a large group of players, this challenge can cause some hilarious situations. Select one player to hide at the beginning of the game while the rest of the players close their eyes and count to 60.
Players then search for the one hidden player, and, if they discover him, they must join him in his hiding spot. Once a hiding spot becomes obvious because it has so many players piled into it, the last remaining players must race to the spot. The last player to find or reach the hiding spot gets to hide next.
Yoga games
There are loads of yoga games that you can play if you have a group of kids. These are great for getting kids to focus and even perhaps relax a little! Find loads of yoga games for large groups here.
Hula Hoop Pass
This team-building game requires a large group of players to collaborate to solve a seemingly simple problem. Have the whole group stand in a circle with their hands joined. Break the chain of hands for a moment to slip a hula hoop over one player’s arm, and then try to move the hula hoop around the entire circle without letting go of each other’s hands.
Nighttime Scavengers
Before the party begins, hide some tokens in the yard. These could be painted rocks, small balls, or toys. Have a token for each team. Assign the team’s colours to represent them. Each team should have a token of the same colour hidden in the yard. Give every team one flashlight and a clue to find the whereabouts of their token.
If a team finds the token belonging to a competing team, they can steal it. This game is fun when you have several tokens hidden for each team. The first team that returns with all or most of their tokens to the host first wins. Do a reconnaissance in your yard during daylight hours to check for potholes or things players could get hurt on.
Feed Me
Play this game with four players at a time. Let everyone have a turn or choose a few to represent groups. One person is the feeder and the other is the eater. The eater wears a bin bag over his clothing to protect him from food stains. In front of him are open bowls of food like ravioli, pudding, and jelly.
The second player stands behind the first player. The eater cannot use his hands to pick up the food. The second player wears plastic gloves and shovels the food into the eater’s mouth while standing behind him. Use a timer to see which team can eat the most food in a minute. This game is messy but funny to watch. Perfect for older kids!
Balloon Pop
Blow up a bag full of balloons or one for each person before the party. At game time, give everyone a balloon to pop. Give them rules to make it harder. Tell them they cannot use their hands or feet to pop the balloon.
Alternatively, make them stuff the balloon in their shirt and pop it. Let four or five people go at once. The first poppers compete at the end with a pop-off finale. Award the winner with funny gifts like a whoopee cushion or another noisemaker.
Lion’s Cub
Gather the group of players in the play area, and pick one person out of the group to play the lion. Situate the lion in the middle of the yard/field, and the rest of the players about 10 feet away from him on any side. Place a small stuffed lion in between the lion and the group. The game begins when the lion turns around so that he can no longer see the rest of the players.
Every member of the group must take a turn trying to capture the lion’s cub without getting caught by sneaking up behind the lion and snatching the stuffed animal. If the lion believes she hears a player behind her, she growls. If a person did try to steal the cub, he becomes the new lion and the old lion joins the group. Play the game for as long as you like using this process.
Blind Squirt
To relieve your party guests from the heat of the sun during a barbecue on a hot day, use some rope or a garden hose to create a circle on the ground large enough to fit all of the players inside. Give one player out of the group a water squirt gun and tell them to stand in the middle of the circle. With all of the players inside the circle, begin the game by blindfolding the person in the middle.
They have to try and squirt as many players as they can using only their sense of hearing. Players must stay inside the circle and try to remain quiet and stealthy to avoid the squirts of water. Anyone who does get squirted leaves the circle. The last person remaining in the circle wins the game and becomes the new shooter.
Mating Game
While you play this game, you can refresh everyone’s memory on this biology. The game begins by dividing the group into one carnivore and pairs of herbivores. The herbivore pairs have to come up with a way of recognising each other before they get blindfolded. This could mean developing a mating call or wearing a particular scent.
The carnivore also wears a blindfold as well as a bell so that whenever they move, the herbivores can hear them. Situate the carnivore in the middle of the yard, separating each pair on either side of the carnivore. The herbivore pairs have to try and find each other without getting tagged by the carnivore. They can only sound their mating calls whenever they stand still. Whichever herbivore pair finds each other the fastest without getting caught by the carnivore wins the game.
Capture the flag
Start by dividing the children into teams based on the size of the group, either 2 or 4 teams. Each team will require a flag for this game. The playing area should be divided into equal-sized territories, with one for each team. You can mark the boundaries using chalk or any other means, but it’s crucial to ensure that everyone understands each team’s territory. Place a flag in each territory, making sure it’s partially visible.
The objective of the game is for a team to capture the other team’s flag. To win, the team needs to retrieve the flag and return it to their territory without being tagged by the opponent while being on their territory, which would send them to “jail.”
Simon says
Simon says is so much fun for younger kids. The game is played with a leader or a “Simon,” who gives instructions for the players to follow. The catch is that players should only obey the instructions if the leader begins the command with the phrase, “Simon says.” If the leader issues a command without saying “Simon says,” and a player follows it, they are out of the game.
The game starts with the leader giving instructions, such as “Simon says touch your nose,” and the players must follow the command. If the leader issues a command without saying “Simon says,” and a player follows the instruction, they are out of the game. The object of the game is to be the last player out. The whole family always have a good time playing this simple game.
Duck, duck, goose
This is a popular game that involves players sitting in a circle while one player, who is “it,” walks around the outside of the circle tapping the other players’ heads and saying “duck” until they decide to tap someone’s head and say “goose.”
When a player’s head is tapped, and they are called “goose,” they must jump up and chase the “it” player around the circle. The goal of the “it” player is to run around the circle and sit in the spot vacated by the “goose” before the “goose” catches them.
If the “it” player succeeds in sitting in the empty spot, the “goose” becomes “it,” and the game continues. If the “goose” catches the “it” player before they can sit in the empty spot, the “it” player continues to be “it,” and the game starts again.
Traffic light game
The Traffic Lights game is a fun and engaging game for children that encourages physical activity while improving their listening skills and reflexes. One player takes on the role of the “traffic light” and stands at one end of the playing area facing the other players, who stand at the other end.
The game starts with the traffic light facing away from the players and calling out “green light,” indicating that the other players should move towards the traffic light. When the traffic light calls out “red light,” the players must stop moving immediately.
Any player caught moving after the “red light” command is given is out of the game. The game continues with the traffic light calling out “green light” and “red light” commands, and the first person to tag the traffic light becomes the winner of the game.
The game can be modified to add more commands, such as “yellow light,” which means that the players should slow down and be ready to stop if the “red light” command is given. The rules can be adjusted to suit the age and skill level of the players, and the game can be played in groups or individually.
Hot potato
Hot potato is a classic outdoor game that can be given a really fun summer twist with water balloons. You might prefer to stick to a ball or bean bag for younger children.
To play, players stand or sit in a circle and pass a water balloon to each other while music plays. The objective is to avoid holding the balloon when the music stops, as the player holding the balloon at that moment is out of the game.
When using water balloons, the game can become more exciting as the balloon can burst at any moment, causing the player holding it to get wet. This adds an element of surprise and creates more tension and excitement. Players need to be quick in passing the balloon to avoid getting wet, which makes the game more challenging and fun.
The game continues until only one player remains. The last player standing is the winner of the game. Hot Potato with water balloons is a great way to cool down on a hot day while having fun with friends and family. It’s a fun and engaging game that encourages physical activity and socialization while providing a refreshing and entertaining experience.
Musical chairs
This is a classic party game that can be played outdoors. Musical Chairs involves players walking around a circle of chairs while music is playing. When the music stops, players must quickly find an empty chair to sit on. The player who is left standing without a chair is eliminated from the game.
One chair is removed after each round, making it more challenging for the remaining players to find a chair. The game continues until there is only one player left, who is declared the winner of the game. Musical Chairs is a fun and engaging game that encourages physical activity and competition, making it a popular choice for parties and gatherings.
Equipment you might need for outdoor group games
Many outdoor games that I have shared above require no equipment but these ideas below are perfect if you do want to use a few fun toys.
For any get-together, barbecue, or party, you need to have the right games to keep your guests happy. Games that you can play outside allow for more thrilling gameplay as kids can run and become more physically aggressive without worrying about breaking something indoors. So before your guests arrive, plan on playing some exciting outdoor games for the large group attending.
More outdoor games for children
Many of these games are perfect for kids’ parties but if you specifically want party ideas then find the best outdoor party games for kids here.
If you are likely to be still playing group games after dark, these Outdoor night games for kids are fantastic fun.
There are loads more things to do outside with kids apart from games. Find loads of ideas here – outdoor activities for children.
