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20 Super Cool Ideas for Backyard Fun for Kids!

Kids are getting outside less and less these days leaving many backyards empty. Getting your kids to play outside isn’t just fun — It’s good for them. It can sometimes be a challenge with easy access to video games, online chatting, etc, but experts report that getting kids outside has many benefits from improved attention span to reduced stress.  Check out these 20 ideas for backyard fun for kids, from games to crafts and more.

Looking for ideas for backyard fun? We've got 10 super cool activities to keep the entire family entertained. #backyard #family #games #outdoor #activities

This summer, I’m encouraging my kids to head outside more often. It’s a great way to connect as a family.

20 Ideas for Awesome Backyard Fun for Kids

A collage image of backyard fun for kids, including bocce, sidewalk chalk, and move nights

1. Dinosaur Hunt

This game is especially fun when we have younger cousins visiting, but my teens still get a kick out of it. It’s just like an Easter egg hunt, but one that you can have year-round with toy dinosaurs!  Hide ’em throughout the backyard, and when you say go – the kiddos run and try to collect as many as they can.  Kids get extra points if they can name the dinosaur type.

2. Side Walk Chalk Art Contest

I love that this simple and inexpensive activity is great for all ages. When relatives are visiting, we have an art contest with prizes given out for categories like most creative, most colorful, etc. This way, all ages can get a prize.

Looking for ideas for backyard fun? We've got 10 super cool activities to keep the entire family entertained. #backyard #family #games #outdoor #activities

3. Water Balloon Fights

Especially during hot days, water balloon fights are so much fun. Divide into teams, fill up buckets with the water balloons and have at it! A twist on this idea is a water balloon toss where you see if you and your partner can get the farthest from one another before the balloon bursts.

4. Bocce Ball with a Twist

If you’re not familiar with Bocce Ball, it’s like a ball version of horseshoes. Players try to get their balls closest to the “pallino” or jack in one direction and then switch directions. Up the backyard fun with our version of “around the house” Bocce. We throw the jack to a new spot in our yard each time until we make it all the way around the house.

Looking for ideas for backyard fun? We've got 10 super cool activities to keep the entire family entertained. #backyard #family #games #outdoor #activities

5. Croquet

We love to play croquet. We’ve had mini sets from when the kids were young to a full set today. It’s an easy game to teach kids and provides backyard fun for the entire family.

6. Backyard Scavenger Hunt

Whether you hide things throughout the backyard, or you aim for nature-based things to find – a scavenger hunt can be great backyard fun for kids.  Here are a few examples of things you could include in your scavenger hunt:

  • Four leaf clover
  • Different types of trees (oak, pine, etc).
  • A stalk of grass that’s a certain height (like above X inches – give ’em a ruler to measure!)
  • Ant
  • Spider
  • Different shaped leaves
  • Butterfly
  • Stick on the ground
  • Foot prints
  • Different color birds
  • Anything else you can think of!

7. Outdoor Movie Night

We love to pop popcorn and bring out the camping mattresses to create a fun outdoor movie night experience. My friend Kimberly showed us out to make a DIY movie screen. The projector was an investment, but it’s been worth every penny.  You can bring an air mattress outside for the kids to get nice and comfy on – perfect backyard fun for those warm summer nights.

Looking for ideas for backyard fun? We've got 10 super cool activities to keep the entire family entertained. #backyard #family #games #outdoor #activities

8. Cornhole

Whenever we go to a big outdoor event, there always seem to be cornhole games popping up – so why not bring ’em into your own backyard!  You can find sets these days at most sporting goods stores or online.  Cornhole is awesome because kids and adults alike can quickly learn how to play.

9. Trampoline

Obviously, this one is not for everyone – but man, it can be a fun one to add to your backyard if you’re comfortable with it.  There is just something so fun about bouncing up and down on a big ‘ol trampoline.  Moms, you might find yourself on there more than the kids. 😉

10. Rock painting

We have saved rocks from past years and I use them to decorate our garden. It can be a fun activity for a backyard birthday party as well. I think I’ll try this adorable rock caterpillar idea from Nellie Bellie this year.

Looking for ideas for backyard fun? We've got 10 super cool activities to keep the entire family entertained. #backyard #family #games #outdoor #activities
Photo credit: NellieBellie.com

11. Nature collage (or wreath)

This one is especially fun to do in the summer and fall.  You can have the kids grab different nature items from around the backyard – think blooming flowers, dandelions, sticks, changing color leaves, etc.  (Quick tip – if you have any areas with poison ivy, give ’em a warning not to grab that.)  They can then glue them onto either a sheet of construction paper, a canvas, or one of those inexpensive wreath bases that you can get from the dollar store.  It’s a fun way of letting them get creative with a new kind of art medium.

12. Homemade bird feeders

Did you ever make those homemade bird feeders back in elementary school?  I have fond memories of making them as a kid, using a toilet paper roll, peanut butter, and birdseed.  Try making them with your kiddos too!  You can find a great tutorial on homemade bird feeders here.

13. DIY Slip and Slide

If your backyard is pretty grassy without many rocks or sticks, this could be a good backyard fun idea.  Roll out some industrial trash bags (these are thicker than normal ones) or a heavy duty tarp along the grass.  Add some liquid soap and some water, and your kids will be ready to hurl themselves down!  You can also add sprinklers on either side so they get an extra splash of water as they go through.

DIY slip and slide

14.  No-hands donut contest

OK, not the healthiest backyard activity out there – but hilarious to watch.  Hang donuts on a string from a tree so they’re about the height of your kids’ mouths.  Then challenge them to eat it without using their hands – or letting any part of the donut fall on the ground.  It’s a game we used to do every year at summer camp.  The string moves, so it’s harder than it sounds – and super funny to watch.  Moms, you can play too!

PS – Powdered donuts are the best because you naturally get the powder all over your face and it makes for silly photos afterward!

15. Bubbles

This one’s for the younger kiddos.  Is there anything more simple and fun than just blowing tons of bubbles together?!  You can get different types of wands or bubble guns for added fun.  You can also make simple bubbles out of dish soap and water if you’ve run out of the store-bought ones.

16. Backyard camp out

While we love going camping in New England, sometimes we don’t always have the time to go away for a full weekend to a campsite.  But we can still get the family time and outdoor fix by simply setting up the tent in the backyard!  Play outdoor games, grill dinner, roast smores – all the best parts of camping.  (But without having to use the bathroom in the woods – a major bonus to being right next to your house!)

17. Create (and maintain) a garden

Gardening has so many benefits – not only does it give you and the kids something to do together in the backyard, but it also teaches them about where they’re food comes from and about the plant lifecycle.  And if you’re lucky, you’ll end up with a delicious bounty of produce in the summer to cook with.  One of the easiest ways to start with gardening is using container gardening or a square foot garden.

Check out this post with some good gardening books for kids to get them interested in this idea!

A young girl gardening

18. DIY Obstacle Course

Create your own backyard version of an obstacle course!  Don’t worry, you don’t need a ton of expensive fancy equipment.  You can build a fun obstacle course with things like a few big boxes to climb over, a ladder flat on the grass to hop through, cones to run between, and anything else you can think of that would be fun.

19. “Car” Wash

If you’ve got little kiddos, have them do their own “car wash” with their little bikes, scooters, cozy coupes, or whatever other “vehicles” they have lying around.  Get out the soapy buckets and hose and let ’em go crazy.

20. Tire Swing

If you’ve got the space and a good tree for hanging, you can make a tire swing for the kids.  No matter what age they are, I think they’ll enjoy this classic activity!  If you’ve got young ones, you can also make it a big deal to paint and decorate the tire before you hang it up.

Check out this post too: Summer Fun – 10 Ways to make it great!

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  1. Tabathia B says:

    to read by the beach

  2. Ann says:

    In the summer I enjoy going to local farmer’s markets, using our little grill in the backyard, and hanging out on the porch.

  3. Charity Cram says:

    I love going on a road trip with friends or family.

  4. Sarah Gibbs says:

    My favorite thing to do in summer is swim

  5. Hannah Chase says:

    In the summer, I love camping and going to the beach.

  6. Shirley Emitt says:

    We like to go fishing and camping.

  7. April says:

    I love taking my kids to the beach!

  8. Hesper Fry says:

    I like taking a walk outside in the morning before it gets too hot.

  9. nyfoodhistorian says:

    My favorite thing to do in the Summer is Historical reenactments – camp cooking as they did it a century ago.

  10. rita leonard says:

    Normally we love to go to the beach

  11. Rajee Pandi says:

    Going to beach to relax and swim

  12. Janie McGaugh says:

    My favorite thing to do is read, preferably inside in the air conditioning.

  13. Molli Taylor says:

    summer hikes are the best! love getting out in nature!

  14. Jeanna Massman says:

    I love taking my grandson to the pool in the summer.

  15. Daniel M says:

    go mountain biking

  16. I like to go on Nature “Day Trips” and rides with my sweet hubby. Thanks and God bless!

  17. Jillian Too says:

    I love spending the day at the beach.

  18. Danielle Day says:

    Just love being outside. Love the sun shining down.

  19. Sunnymay says:

    My favorite thing to do in the summer is go to the beach or for walks in the park.

  20. Amanda says:

    go to the beach

  21. sandra says:

    watch the summer blockbusters

  22. LB says:

    Sit inside in the a/c and read lol I am not a summer person

  23. latanya says:

    We enjoy going to the beach

  24. heather says:

    I so love to go to the beach during the summer and swim and also lay out in the sun.

  25. Mishelle G says:

    I like the odd day of freedom I get in the summer… when all the families go off and I have no one to take care of and total freedom. Get everyone up and flee to some place not here or a nice drive to see a new place in NS the kids haven’t seen.

    Mishelle

  26. Tiffany S says:

    My favorite thing to do in summer is go camping.

  27. Linda Walker says:

    I love working in the garden.

  28. BookLady says:

    I enjoy going to the beach in the summer.

  29. Gabrielle Kinman says:

    I love to go swimming and tanning.

  30. Kim Avery says:

    I love to spend lazy days sitting at the lake.

  31. L. Emmaline says:

    I like to enjoy the nice weather while relaxing in the shade.

  32. Nina Lewis says:

    My favorite thing is going to the beach but we won’t be able to do that right now so we are spending our days at the pool in our backyard! 🙂

  33. Susan Smith says:

    My favorite thing I love to do in the Summer is swim.

  34. Victoria Scott says:

    Hiking with my kids!

  35. Barbara Montag says:

    During the summer I love fishing in a boat.

  36. Shayna Brookman says:

    OUR FAVORITE THING TO DO IN THE SUMMER IS SWIM !

  37. Edye says:

    I like getting a tan!

  38. JanD says:

    My favorite thing to do in the summer is eat ice cream.

  39. Dorothy Boucher says:

    One of my favorite things to do in the summer is take my grandchildren camping.
    @tisonlyme143

  40. Erika P. says:

    I enjoy gardening my summer vegetables.

  41. Cynthia C says:

    I enjoy going to the beach in the summer.

  42. jeanette h sheets says:

    i love working in my garden and flower beds,

  43. Dee Parker says:

    I live in Phoenix – I hate summer. I stay inside in the A/C!

  44. Erin Diane says:

    I love spending time with my family anywhere near water. wading in the creek, going to the beach, fishing, all of it!

  45. Take walks outside.

  46. beth shepherd says:

    I like to go kayaking with the kids. Thank you

  47. nicole c says:

    My favorite thing to do in the summer is go swimming.

  48. My favorite thing to do in the summer- sit outside and soak up (just a tad bit) of sun while watching my dogs play.

  49. My favorite thing to do in the summer is to soak in my swimming hole with my hubby and enjoy the naturalized surroundings of our backyard!

  50. Cindy Peterson says:

    We enjoy spending times in the mountains at the cabin.

  51. Kisaan says:

    Wow, such an amazing idea. I’m sure my kids are gonna be happy if they see the backyard like this.Thank you for sharing some awesome ideas. I would like to revisit this site.

  52. Del says:

    I enjoy being with family at the beach or park.

  53. Jennylyn Gross says:

    go swimming

  54. Jan Lee says:

    Favoorite thing to do in smmer is to stay inside in air conditioning,:)

  55. Sandy Klocinski says:

    Eat S’mores around a campfire

  56. Clem says:

    Relaxing in a cool place.

  57. Debbie P says:

    Going to outdoor concerts and going camping.

  58. bn100 says:

    beach

  59. Colette Sears says:

    In the summer we love to sit outside under the cool trees and just relax.

  60. Daniela says:

    I like going to the beach

  61. Alex says:

    I like to garden!

  62. Kim Pincombe-Cole says:

    I love anything that has to do with water in the summer. Swimming (pool or beach), boating – you name it!

  63. Nancy says:

    I love to buy farmer’s market fruits and vegetables in the summer and use them in our meals and snacks.

  64. Robin M says:

    Go to the beach

  65. Lindsay A. says:

    I love getting creative with summer recipes & eating my way through all the delicious summer produce!

  66. Tara L says:

    I love to go to the beach or go camping. It’s so relaxing.

  67. Dana Rodriguez says:

    We enjoy going boating at the lake with friends!

  68. rochelle haynes says:

    Staying home with my kids

  69. kimberly Zais says:

    My favorite summer activity would definitely be swimming. I have rheumatoid arthritis and swimming helps so much with my pain, stiffness, mobility, movement, muscle building and more!

  70. I love to enjoy the warmth wearing flipflops and dresses!

  71. Ann Fantom says:

    I like to go on family bike rides in the summer

  72. chelsea w says:

    I love going swimming in our pool, and we have cornhole boards set up nearby, so that’s fun too!

  73. Sherry says:

    I love to go swimming with my family.

  74. Darlene Owen says:

    My favorite thing to do in the summer is to go camping.

  75. Barrie says:

    In the summer, I like to travel and visit family. This year, we’ll be at home enjoying our garden and each other!

  76. Victoria Alexander says:

    Hang out by the pool and jump in every now and then 🙂

  77. Calvin says:

    I like staying home and fixing things. Also the occasional picnic at the beach .

  78. shelly peterson says:

    I like to bbq and go to the lake

  79. Ashley Chassereau Parks says:

    We love to go to the beach and the pool in summer time!!

  80. Nerlande says:

    I like to take summer vacations

  81. Natalie says:

    I love to go on boat rides and water ski in the summer!

  82. Kristen says:

    I love taking summer road trips.

  83. Shannon citrino says:

    We just got a small pool for the family. It’s nice to have in the yard for the kids.

  84. Dr Kevin Pangisa says:

    Mosquito Joe really saved my pets it’s really worth it and I also tried this system brain training for dogs it helped my Dog to be behave and be more obedient just a thought,comment.https://bit.ly/2NESjwC

  85. These are really great ideas for summer fun! Will add these to our summer bucket list!

  86. These are really great ideas for summer fun! Will add these to our summer bucket list!

  87. Dawn Lopez says:

    These look like creative ways to get outside. I love the movie idea because it sounds like so much fun for the whole family.

  88. krystal says:

    Mosquito Joe would be so awesome in my area – we are in Florida and have so many bugs!

  89. Sherry says:

    I swear my teenage son lives in his room. I need to get him outside more but in the evening the mosquitoes can get bad.

  90. Amy says:

    I noticed that this services lasted a good 2 weeks to keep my yard mosquito free. I would use it again!!

  91. Reesa Lewandowski says:

    Oh this sounds like something that I really need to look into! The mosquitoes can really ruin a good time!

  92. Rachel says:

    I really want to get a movie projector so we can do movie nights outside. It is on my parenting to do list.

  93. Emily says:

    I grew up playing bocce ball and looooved it! I’d love to introduce my kids! Mosquitoes are the worst and I had no idea there was a solution like this! So cool.

  94. I so need Mosquito Joe to come to my home! We live on a lake and the mosquito’s get bad! I wonder if they have a location in my area.

  95. I’ll have to see if we have a Mosquito Joe’s in my area. We have a pool in our backyard and back on a lake and we’ve had a ton of mosquitos lately. It would be awesome to enjoy our backyard with less bugs.

  96. Love your ideas! So many awesome things to do! Can’t wait to use some next weekend!

  97. I love getting new ideas for outdoor family fun…the rock painting has me excited. Lessoning exposure to mosquitos is always a good thing too!

  98. Outdoor movie night sounds fun! We do have a projector so they is being added to our bucket list for the Summer!

  99. Amy says:

    I was able to enjoy a Mosquito Joe service and love it! I would definitely consider another spray before the end of the season!

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