Recommendations for fun outdoor kid games?

Here you go.

Hide and Seek

Do modified “manhunt”/capture the flag where you split them into 2 groups, one group hides and the hunter team has to find and tag them out. Usually good for some serious foot races.

I also planned a scavenger hunt and placed clues up and down the block or at least the farthest distance they could be placed.

Our scouts also like playing “500” with either a soft ball or frisbee. Yell out a number value throw the ball and person who catches it gets the points. First person to 500 is the new thrower.

Quiet ball was my favorite and can be done indoors too. Scouts stand in a circle and a small ball is tossed back and forth around the circle. You drop your catch and you are out. A bad throw gets you out too…and of course making a sound during the game and you are out. Most effective way I ever found to get them to be quiet. A treat for the winners may be needed as in incentive for younger scouts with less self discipline.

If you can set up something to play music, you can play this hilarious game called Freeze, Floor, Ignore. My daughter taught it to all of us after learning it in PE class.

Basically, it’s like Freeze Dance with a twist. You start the music, and the kids all dance around. The first time you stop the music, everyone freezes. You start it again, and they dance. The second time you stop the music, everyone quickly squats and places both hands on the ground/floor. Start the music again for more dancing. The third time you stop the music, everyone ignores the pause and keeps dancing as if the music is still playing. Then the cycle starts all over again. Whenever someone does the wrong move, they’re out. The last person dancing wins!

Depending on the weather, you can play a variation of Duck Duck Goose. This game is called Drip Drip Splash and you need a spray bottle filled with water. Everyone sits in a big circle, but the kid who is “it” walks around with the spray bottle. Each time he passes another kid, he says “Drip.” When he gets to the kid he wants to by chased by, he sprays him with the water bottle and says “Splash!” They both run around until the sprayer either takes the other kid’s seat or gets caught.

One more game, but I can’t remember what it’s called. One kid is “it.” The other kids sit or stand motionless while the kid who is “it” tries to make them smile or laugh. No touching is allowed. The kids can’t crack a smile, close their eyes, laugh, or move in any way or they’re out. The person who holds out the longest wins and gets to be “it.” The person who is it can do anything he wants to make the other kids smile or laugh but can’t touch them. You may have to set some kind of space limit too, just so whoever is it doesn’t get too close up in peoples’ faces.

I just want to second Capture the Flag. That was always one of my most favorite group games.

Then there’s Red Rover, kickball, dodge ball..

British bulldogs(game), but you may have your own version in mind, not sure what you call it? :-/

@Scooby – Your link is a little wonky due to the ’(game)’ part. Here you go, British bulldogs. :)

Yeah, we play ‘Red Rover’ and possible other variations in the States.

@Scooby My kids play a version of that during soccer clinics which, interestingly enough, are coached by players from the UK. If one of the Bulldogs kicks your soccer ball, you have to join them. Sometimes they call it sharks and minnows though.

@MissAnthrope
Thanks ;-) OOPPss…....

@MissAusten
We loved this game as a kids & it kept us fit, Best of all from our parents point of view, when we went to bed at night, we slept ;-) win, win, win….....

Oh yeah!......We also used to love playing a game we called ‘Baggy‘…. there may be other versions around?? :-/
All you need is a group of kids, a Tennis ball & their backpacks (rucksacks)
The idea of the game is your backpack is your base. you have to defend it from the other players. A nominated player or non participant is elected to bounce the tennis ball in the centre of the assembled players.. High enough of a bounce to pass over their heads…… once the tennis ball is released the players have to try to gain control of it, with their feet only (like a soccer ball) & eliminate each of the other players by kicking the ball at their backpacks…. Once your backpack is hit, you’re out of the game…players can tackle for the ball to gain control of it but ultimately they have to defend their backpacks,,,,,,, simple :-/ have fun……..
The only disadvantage is some backpacks are bigger than others, so try to make them as small a target as possible, keep it simple, one hit & you’re outta there! ;-)

Kick the Can and Sardines were two of my favorites.

Four-square. You just need a bouncy ball, a concrete pavement, and chalk.

Min players: 4. Can include as many players as you have available.

Thanks for the great suggestions everyone!