There are so many great games for kids to play and I have a post filled with outdoor games for children. This post however is going to focus on garden games for kids. These are games you can play in a smaller space and with a smaller number of children. These games are perfect for families to play together in their own backyard. I’ve included ideas for younger kids and older kids too. Some of these games are ones that you need specific toys for and these can make great gifts for children.
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Swingball
This classic outdoor game has been around for decades. It’s a really fun game for up to two children. It’s essentially a pole with a tennis ball on a string attached, then two players have a racket each and they hit the ball back and forth. This ball game is a lot of fun and even better, you won’t need to worry about losing the ball over the fence!
Get your own * swingball set here.
If you’re in the UK you can also pick them up from The range here – * Swingball
Hula hoops
Hula hoops are great fun for kids and perfect for one child or if you have more than one hula hoop then multiple children can play.
Find lots of different * hula hoops here on Amazon.
In the UK, you can pick them up very cheaply from many places. Find some * Hula hoops here.
Skip ball
I’d completely forgotten about skip ball until I started putting this post together and now I’ve ordered one for my daughter’s birthday. These are so much fun.
You can buy * ankle skip balls from Amazon worldwide.
In the UK you can also pick these up for very little from The range – Light up skip ball
Balancing rocks
Balancing rocks and stepping stones like these are a perfect way for young children to develop gross motor skills and improve their balance.
These fantastic * balancing stepping stones are available on Amazon.
Giant Jenga
This game is perfect for adults and children alike and can be played by a few people so it is perfect for family gatherings.
Buy * giant Jenga here.
You can also pick up a set from The Range in the UK * Giant tumbling blocks
Ring toss or Quoites
Kids love this classic ring toss game and it is great fun for the whole family. This is one of several Victorian lawn games that is still popular today. Throwing the rings to try and get them one of the hooks, helps develop hand eye-cordination.
Available to * buy from Amazon
In the UK, you can also buy one from The Range here – * wooden quoites set
Hopscotch
All you need for this game is some * sidewalk chalk and somewhere you can draw a traditional hopscotch board. Any number of players can join in with this great game. Once you have draw the hopscotch board, you need a flat stone or bean bag or similar that players throw onto the board. If it lands on a line or outside the board the player misses a turn.
If it lands in a square within the board, the child hops through the board but they can’t put a foot in the square with the stone or bean bag.
Obstacle course
You can set up an obstacle course for one child or for a group. If you have enough space and equipment, you could set 2 identical obstacle courses up side by side and get the teams of players to compete. If not you could still time the teams to see who can complete it the fastest.
There are all sorts of obstacles that you could set up using garden toys and equipment that you already own. Perhaps you could use chairs or cones as obstacles for children to run around or between. Or you could have the children run whilst controlling a football between the same posts.
We have a set of these * kids crawl tunnels which work well in an obstacle course.
Family sports day or mini olympics
There are many fun outdoor games you can play with a few simple toys like bean bags, cones and hoops.
How about filling some plastic cups with water and having water cup races? The object of the game is to get to the finish line, not only the quickest but also with the most water in your cup.
Relay races are great too. Or how about an egg and spoon race?
You can get some really fun outdoor games kits that include fun items for sports day type games. Here is a great one that includes sacks (for sack racing), bean bags, cones and more – * Outdoor games kit
Badmington
Badmington is a great game that all the family can play. All you need is at least 2 rackets and a shuttle cock.
Buy a * kid’s badmington set here.
If you enjoy it enough, you might decide to buy a simple (and portable) badmington net for the garden. Something like this one – * portable badmington net.
Boules
A * set of boules are really cheap to pick up and can provide hours of entertainment. We have a set that we take camping, to the beach and use in the garden too.
Our girls can play it on their own or we can join in too. I love garden games for kids so that they can play independently.
In the UK? buy them here from Amazon – * Boules set or you can pick a set up for less than £5 from The Range here * Boules set for kids
Skittles
Do your kids like ten pin bowling? Well now you can play it in the garden with a set of skittles. You can pick them up during the summer months in the supermarket. You can also buy them on Amazon pretty much all year around.
Skitttles can be played as a team game with scores recorded or you’ll often find your child is just happy to keep knocking them down on their own.
Available to buy here on Amazon * Skittles
Or in the UK you can pick up a 10 pin set here * kids bowling set.
Bean bag toss
These bean bag toss games are perfect for use in the garden. They’re also really portable so you could take them with you camping, to the beach or to a relative or friend’s house.
Available to buy here * Amazon bean bag toss
If you are in the UK, The range has this one available * Bean bag toss
Toss and catch
This is a classic game that has been around for decades! It doesn’t take up a lot of space so is perfect for travel too. It’s great fun as the balls stick to the pads.
Available to buy from Amazon USA * Toss and catch set
In the UK, you can also pick them up from Amazon * Toss and catch set or you might prefer
Rocket launches
We love stomp rockets and have had this twin launcher for several years now. We keep it in our campervan and the kids love it. They love seeing who can send their rocket highest into the air.
Available to buy here * Twin stomp rocket
Giant four in a row
If you love four in a row (connect 4) then you’ll love a giant one in your garden. Perfect family fun for all the family.
Available to buy here from Amazon * Giant four in a row.
In the UK you can pick one up from The Range here – * Giant connect four.
Croquet
This is a classic lawn game that the whole family can enjoy.
Available to buy from Amazon here * Croquet set
Pick up this one from The Range for a fantastic price here – * Large wooden croquet set
Scavenger hunts
Kid’s love a scavenger hunt and there are lots of ideas for ones that you can set up in your garden:
- This is a really fun Outdoor number hunt for preschoolers. You could also do letters or sums for older children
- I love this *printable garden scavenger hunt with clues
- Many of my Nature walk scavenger hunt free printables can be done in the garden too.
- Or what about a simple sound hunt?
Football (soccer)
You really don’t need a lot for this but a small goal post is a great addition to your garden and will keep some children happy for a very long time.
Pop up goal * available from Amazon
You can also pick up affordable goal posts from The Range in the UK * Football goalposts. They have quite a few different ones to suit your needs and budget.
Water fight
This game is perfect for a hot day. You could use * water balloons or * water pistols.
So now I want to hear about your favourite garden games for kids? What have I missed?
Where to next?
Find loads more things to do outside with kids here in my ultimate guide to outdoor activities for children of all ages.
Find loads more Picnic games for kids here.
Many of these make great camping games too. Don’t go camping without reading my guide to camping with kids