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There are so many fun and creative ways to help your kids get outside and we have 31 really fun outside activities for kids!

When the weather is nice, it should be easy to get your kids to go outside to play. Right? But kids can be surprisingly reluctant to skip out the door for playtime. It hasn't always been like this!

Many kids in the upcoming generation are replacing outdoor play with indoor, sedentary activities like iPad games, texting, or social media. They're also more involved in knowledge-based downtime like homework and studying than kids from past generations.

But studies have shown that kids who spend more time outside might be happier and more relaxed. Time outdoors can even improve short-term members, concentration and cognitive skills. (It's almost like nature makes us smarter... amazing!)
What all this means is that there's a REAL need for active, outdoor play. Now more than ever.
The more outdoor activities you can encourage and facilitate for your kids, the more they'll reap the physical and emotional benefits of such play. Creating outdoor experiences for the entire family is a great place to start!

There are actually lots of fun, simple, and creative ways to help your kids get outside-ones that don't cost a lot of money, time, or planning. We're sharing 31 of them below. Try one today!

31 Outdoor Activities for Kids

1. Organize an outdoor playdate. It is always more fun when your kids have friends to play with and they are most likely to want to stay outside longer.

2. Let your kids plant a mini-garden. If they are in charge of it, then they will have to go outside to water, weed and watch over it.

3. Help your kids built a fort outside with a rope and an old sheet. Suggest other items that might be fun for them to use on their fort.

4. Go for regular walks, bike rides or runs as a family. Many urban communities have trails and bike paths through parks, riverways or lakefronts.

5. Have a picnic lunch at the playground or park.

6. Create an outdoor scavenger hunt where your kids collect items from nature.

7. Try geocaching. If you have never heard of it, geocaching is a real outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. You navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache hidden at that location. This is a great guide to get you started.

8. Make a bucket list of different parks you want to try and visit.

9. Go on a bug hunt! Give your kids a container and have them collect different kinds of bugs.

10. Turn your yard into an obstacle course. Use cones, sticks, a hula hoop, and other items from your garage or backyard to create fun obstacles.

11. Blow gigantic bubbles. Fill up a sheet pan with a bubble mixture and dip an over-sized wand to see who can blow the biggest bubble.

12. Play with water. Kids will jump at the chance to go outside and splash in water. There are lots of creative ways to do it: wash the car, water the garden, run through sprinklers, go down slip-n-slide, jump in blow up pool, or build a water table.

13. Try a new sport. Sometimes a friendly game of dodge ball, whiffle ball, or soccer is a great way to get kids to enjoy playing outside.

14. Make Sidewalk Art. Give your kids a big bucket of sidewalk chalk and let them go to town. Give them some ideas with printed photos, or even stencils to color with.

15. Take your kids 'bouldering.' Kids love to climb on things. Take them somewhere that has rocks available to climb.

16. Eat dinner on your porch, deck or in your backyard.

17. Make a boat to float down a stream. Your kids will be eager to test it out, but you will probably have to go on a hike to get to a stream!

18. Make up challenges for your kids to do outside, like in the TV show 'Survivor'. This is even more fun if there is a prize at the end (one on one time with Mom or Dad, a night off of helping clean the kitchen, etc.)

19. Use an outdoor toy rotation strategy. Kids are lot more excited to play with toys they haven't seen in a while or can't access. Divide your outdoor toys into 3 bins, and have one big bucket of toys out at a time. This might include bubbles, balls, kites, jump ropes, skateboards, sports equipment, and water squirters.

20. Make an outdoor activity jar. This helps with kids who have a hard time thinking of things to do, or making decisions. Write different activities on popsicle sticks. Let your kids choose an activity and then head outside. Make the activities easy to act on - go to the park for 15 minutes, water the plants, set up a water shooting range, pick a dandelion bouquet, draw something with sidewalk chalk. There are so many fun ideas!

21. Do your normal everyday activities outside. Do homework, eat meals, craft, read books, or play games all outside! Even if you don't have a formal outdoor living space, find some shade and throw down a blanket!

22. Outside art projects. If you are tired of your kids projects making a mess in your house, then bring them outside! A few fun ideas: a playdough picnic, where you let your kids make pretend food out of playdough. Nature art - collect leaves, flower, sticks, seeds, and pine cones to make natural artwork. Outdoor painting - bring an easel and paint out to your backyard so your kids can enjoy painting nature scenes.

23. Star gaze, or look for shapes in clouds. Set up a blanket, binoculars or a telescope and enjoy the sky!

24. Have a bonfire. Make sure you practice good fire safety habits and supervise all campfire activities. But this is a great way to bond with your family, create memories and enjoy the outdoors.

25. Clean up Litter. Kids can be surprisingly passionate about caring for mother nature (and proud of their efforts!) You can also make it a game: a mission to save the planet!

26. Find a local race to participate in. Push a jogging stroller if needed for younger kids and run together as a family.

27. Ride scooters, bikes or tricycles. Set up a mini race and compete on wheels.

28. Have your kids pull weeds. We pay our kids one penny per weed and it definitely gets them outside in the yard

29. Find a local 'pick your own' and let your kids pick produce straight from the plant.

30. Play Bug or Leaf Bingo. Find 10 different bugs or leaves and identify them.

31. Photograph nature. Let our kids borrow your phone camera and see how many different types of wildlife they can find and photograph.

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31 Outdoor Activities for Kids - Super Healthy Kids

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There are so many fun and creative ways to help your kids get outside and we have 31 really fun outside activities for kids! When the weather is nice, it should be easy to get your kids to go outside to play. Right? But kids can be surprisingly reluctant to skip out the door for playtime.

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The great outdoors may beckon your young readers but that doesn't mean they have to leave the books at home. Whether it's the sun or the moon that's shining brightly in the sky, the outdoors encourages all sorts of new places to kick back as a family and enjoy reading. Follow these five ideas for reading outdoors this summer:

1. Set the stage: Create a comfy reading nook outside wherever you are, whether it's at the park, the beach, or your own back yard. Yoga mats add a bit of cushioning and protection if the grass is wet. Add pillows, towels, or blankets to really make it cozy. Bring out a camping tent or even a toy tent to protect everyone from the sun and make it a special reading hideout.

2. Have an outdoor bag at the ready: You never know when the urge to explore outside will hit, so make sure you have a designated "outdoor bag" with all the essentials packed for a few hours of fresh-air fun. Make sure your outdoor bag is filled with snacks, a flashlight (for evening reading or reading inside the tent), suntan lotion, and sunglasses and hats, in addition to a stack of your kids' favorite books, magazines, or graphic novels.

3. Encourage activities spurred by the books: Reluctant readers may need to find the right subject about the great outdoors to inspire them. Read books about gardening and put into practice what your kids learn by starting your own garden. Summertime brings with it plenty of bugs, which may thrill or scare your children. A book that tells them all about the different types of bugs and how they live and survive ties into the great outdoors nicely.

4. Invite the neighborhood kids: Nothing draws attention away from a book like another child playing in front of you. Invite the neighborhood kids to be part of an exclusive club...a book club. Organize a time with your neighbors for the kids to meet each day or a certain day of the week. You can have the kids take turns reading and/or suggesting books to read that week. You can even encourage a group outing to the library to create a summer reading list together before the outside book club begins.

5. Have a scavenger hunt: Suggest kids play this classic summer game with a twist. Have a themed scavenger hunt based on a favorite novel, but don't reveal which book it is. Hide recognizable items from the novel in your backyard. Form teams and get kids to seek the hidden clues and cross them off a list. The winning team not only has to find the items - they also have to tell you the title of the book they are from.

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The great outdoors may beckon your young readers but that doesn't mean they have to leave the books at home. Whether it's the sun or the moon that's shining brightly in the sky, the outdoors encourages all sorts of new places to kick back as a family and enjoy reading.

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Most young children love the exhilarating freedom of playing outside, where they can jump like a frog, swim like a fish, climb like a monkey, and exercise their imaginations - all things that are harder to do inside. But there is more to outdoor play than just letting loose. The great outdoors provides endless learning opportunities for your child, from building her physical and social skills to sharpening her cognitive abilities through observation, exploration, and experimentation.

When your child visits the playground, he takes in his environment through sight, smell, touch, and hearing. He can count the number of birds gathered on the ground, feel the different textures of leaves, and listen to dogs barking. He learns about taking turns, about engaging in imaginative play with other children, and about making decisions, such as how high to climb. By digging in the sand and splashing in the water, he acquires fine- and gross-motor skills and refines his eye-hand coordination.

With a few basic supplies and a little creativity, you can create a rich outdoor learning environment right in your own backyard - or at the park or beach. Much of the best and most-used outdoor play equipment is simple and inexpensive. These seven ideas will keep the fresh-air learning going all summer long:

1. Explore sand and water. Few things appeal to both little kids and teachers the way sand and water do. Teachers love the versatility and hands-on learning; children love the experimental fun! Large plastic bins are great for creating a sand-and-water area, while funnels and handheld eggbeaters serve as interesting water toys. Change the experience by adding food coloring to tint the water or a small bit of soap to make bubbles. Spoons, scoops, small plastic containers, strainers, and colanders make awesome sand toys. Add plastic animals or small vehicles to encourage pretend play, or wet the sand to inspire sculpting and building.

2. Take art projects outside. If you have an easel, bring it outside for a painting session. If you don't, clip paper onto a fence with clothespins. You can also tape paper to your house or porch (you may want to hang a sheet of plastic under the paper to avoid having your house painted!). Another option is to bring your child's art supplies (including paper, glue, and a portable watercolor paint set) to a nearby park, where she can paint a variety of found objects or make a collage out of sticks, leaves, and seeds. Finger painting is a wonderful, free-spirited outside activity - and you don't have to worry about what fingers touch when going from the paper to the hand-washing area. Clay and play dough are quite portable, too.

3. Create an outdoor seating area. Outdoor furniture provides a stage for imaginative play. Set out some plastic chairs and tables - they are inexpensive, easy to clean, and can be used indoors, too - and plates, trays, and cups, and you'll have an instant tea party. Bring out a box of dress-up clothes for an open-air play. (Keep long dresses and high-heeled shoes inside, as children can trip while running in them, and never allow children to climb while wearing dress-up clothes.) This peaceful area can be a wonderful place for exploring manipulatives, found nature objects, or for doing other quiet activities that develop fine-motor skills. For children over 4, gather seeds, nuts, stones, or other natural objects to practice counting and sorting.

4. Set up tents or make a playhouse. Tents, forts, and playhouses do double duty by enhancing pretend play and protecting children from the sun. You can create a playhouse that will inspire your child's imagination just by draping a sheet or piece of fabric across a table and chairs. Serve snacks there, and bring some books along for story time.

5. Go on a scavenger hunt. The whole family will enjoy this easy, no-cleanup activity in the backyard or at the local park. You can hide objects and ask everyone to check off the items on the list when they are discovered. Or you can simply ask your child to find something soft, something green, or something round.

6. Plant a small garden. This project builds observation and prediction skills while fostering an appreciation of nature. You can plant in the ground if you have the space. If you don't have a yard, look into joining a community garden, or simply plant in pots. Easy-to-grow plants include grass, beans, and such flowers as zinnias and cosmos. You can enhance the experiences by planting flowers that attract birds and butterflies, such as sunflowers, snapdragons, and impatiens.

7. Put up a bird feeder. Your child will love watching and caring for the birds. To make your own bird feeder, you will need string or yarn, pinecones, peanut butter, a plastic knife, a plate, and birdseed. Tie the string around the pinecone, spread peanut butter on it, and roll the pinecone on a plate of birdseed. Hang the pinecone from a tree branch. You can attract even more birds by adding a birdbath, which can be as simple as a large plant saucer filled with an inch or so of water.

Remember to protect your children and yourself from the sun when outdoors. Try to plan outdoor times for early in the morning or in the late afternoon; the sun's rays will be less intense than they are midday. Always use sunscreen, and dress children in protective clothing, including hats and sunglasses. Then get your supplies and a few snacks together, and get out!

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Most young children love the exhilarating freedom of playing outside, where they can jump like a frog, swim like a fish, climb like a monkey, and exercise their imaginations - all things that are harder to do inside. But there is more to outdoor play than just letting loose.

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If the weather is not cooperating and you can't go outside, set up camp indoors with a cozy reading fort. Create a comfortable environment where kids can escape into their own little world to read the books they choose.

Building the fort: For most kids, building the reading fort is half the fun. They'll love the rare opportunity to rearrange the living room (or any other room) furniture to make space for a homemade indoor tent. Drape blankets over a chair or on the floor, stack pillows and include stuffed animals for companions inside the fort. If you have a large box from a refrigerator or appliance, kids can cut windows and make doors to create their fort another way. They can decorate the outside with markers, crayons and other craft supplies. Let the kids use their imagination to design their own space where they will be most at ease. Don't forget the most important part...a stack of books and magazines!

Recreate the outdoors: Help kids bring the night time indoors by drawing the blinds and turning out the overhead lights. Hang glow-in-the-dark stars or a strand of twinkle or Christmas lights. Kids love reading by flashlight, which also helps to create a cozy feel.

Snacks to add to the mood: Kids can get hungry spending time in their fort, so be sure to have plenty of snacks on hand. Keep the ambiance going by having them make s'mores with toasted marshmallows on sticks. Once they make the delicious snacks in the kitchen, they can bring their creations inside their tents to eat.

Make room for others: Why not make a tent big enough for two or three and climb right on in there with your kids. Your children will love that you've joined them in their special place. Take turns reading a book together with the designated reader as the person holding the flashlight. Or bring the iPad or laptop inside the tent for a family movie night. Watch a movie of a book you all have read to compare the two. Don't forget the popcorn.

Books related to special places: Have books at the ready for rainy-day forts that relate to the idea of escaping to special places. The Magic Tree House book series, written by Mary Pope Osborne and illustrated by Sal Murdocca, is a perfect match. Kids can use their own imagination to decide where, when, and which adventure their own special fort can whisk them off to once inside it. With more than 50 books in the series, there are sure to be enough to fill up many a rainy summer day.

Keeping it cozy: If kids respond well to the rainy day fort, create a permanent special reading nook in their room or play room that they can go to whenever they want to read. Make it a kids-only zone where privacy is permitted and kids can keep their stacks of books.

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If the weather is not cooperating and you can't go outside, set up camp indoors with a cozy reading fort. Create a comfortable environment where kids can escape into their own little world to read the books they choose. Building the fort: For most kids, building the reading fort is half the fun.

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Whether your child is playing with family or a group of neighborhood kids, these activities will make him want to get up and out of the house.

Sidewalk Games
Remember those games you used to play? Jacks, marbles, hopscotch, and jump-rope build hand-eye coordination, concentration, physical fitness, balance, and dexterity. And you can play all these games as a family! All you need is a strip of sidewalk and simple, inexpensive supplies. Kids can practice on their own, and you can hold family tournaments throughout the summer. There are several ways to play each game. Decide on a family rulebook, and spend your days hopping, jumping, and shooting!

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Whether your child is playing with family or a group of neighborhood kids, these activities will make him want to get up and out of the house. Sidewalk Games Remember those games you used to play? Jacks, marbles, hopscotch, and jump-rope build hand-eye coordination, concentration, physical fitness, balance, and dexterity.

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When we emphasize learning, and embrace mistakes, then children get excited about learning.

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5 Ways to Build Math into your Child's Day

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5 Ways to Build Math into your Child's Day

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5 Ways to Build Math into Your Child's Day

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Math is everywhere. That's great news for parents, because we can talk with our kids about math in fun, natural ways. And that kind of math-talk is really important.

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Math Learning—and a Touch of Science—in the Outdoor World

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The great outdoors is filled with rich opportunities for math learning—with a connection to science—that can interest and engage children in real-life problem solving.

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SplashLearn: Fun Math & ELA Program for PreK-Grade 5

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SplashLearn is an award-winning learning program loved by over 40 million kids for engaging Math and ELA practice. Aligned with Common Core and various state standards.

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Browse Games. Award winning educational materials designed to help kids succeed. Start for free now!

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Starfall Education: Kids Games, Movies, Books & Music for K-5 and above

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At Starfall, children have fun while they learn - specializing in reading, phonics & math - educational games, movies, books, songs, and more for children K-5 and above.

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Virtual Field Trip-California Science Center

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Virtual Field Trip-California Science Center

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Welcome to Virtual Field Trips!

Inspire your students and spark their curiosity with Virtual Field Trips, a new program for grades K‑5. Build your own virtual field trip with FREE activity guides and videos, and/or reserve a LIVE virtual visit from one of our talented educators!

Free On-Demand Video Field Trips

English and Spanish

15-20-min. segmented episodes driven by a question of the day

No prep necessary!

Functional in any learning environment

Visit the California Science Center and meet our staff virtually

High-quality, grade-appropriate, engaging!

Free On-Demand Activity Guides

English and Spanish

Ready to assign through Google Slides or downloadable PDFs

Minimal materials required

Problem-based activities utilizing science and engineering practices

Teacher Guides provided to support student learning

Can be used in any learning environment

Browse by grade level

Live Virtual Experiences

Book a live program for your students to virtually engage with our skilled educators.
Browse by grade level

Explore Activities by Grade Level

Current activities focus on Life Science standards, and additional field trips are in development. Please check back periodically for new options!

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Welcome to Virtual Field Trips! Inspire your students and spark their curiosity with Virtual Field Trips, a new program for grades K‑5. Build your own virtual field trip with FREE activity guides and videos, and/or reserve a LIVE virtual visit from one of our talented educators!

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Virtual Field Trip-American Museum of Natural History

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Virtual Field Trip-American Museum of Natural History

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There will be limited capacity in our halls, theaters, and garage, therefore all visits must be arranged through Central Reservations in advance of your visit to the Museum.

Registration

Please call 212-769-5200 to register.

Payment

Payment must be received two weeks prior to your visit. Your reservation is subject to cancellation if payment is not received in advance. The Museum is not responsible for lost or missing payments.

The Museum accepts checks, money orders, Discover, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Please make checks/money orders payable to the American Museum of Natural History, include your confirmation number and date of your visit on your check.

Purchase orders need to be sent in advance and a copy with the confirmation number must be brought in on the day of your visit.

NYC Camp Groups Pricing

General and Special Exhibition admission to the Museum is free Wednesday-Friday for New York City camp groups. Preregistration and complimentary tickets are required.

Admission to Space Shows and giant-screen filmsis $7.00 per show/per person Monday-Friday for New York City camp groups. Preregistration and tickets are required.

Camp Groups Outside of NYC Pricing

General Admission (Includes admission to more than 40 permanent Museum halls and the Rose Center for Earth and Space, but does not include special exhibitions, giant-screen film, or Space Show.): $12.00

General Admission + One (Includes General Admission plus one special exhibition, giant-screen film, or Space Show.): $15.50

General Admission + All (Includes General Admission plus two or more special exhibitions, giant-screen film, and Space Show.): $19.50

Preregistration and tickets are required.

Important Information About Your Visit

The Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Subway entrance is closed for entry.

All camp groups must check in with a Museum representative upon arrival at the Museum. Camp groups arriving by bus will check in at the school group reception area. Camp groups arriving on foot or via mass transit will check in at the Rose Center entrance at 81st Street.

If payment has not been made, please make sure you have your check filled out or if you have a purchase order, please have a copy ready. If you have a purchase order, you will be asked to sign an acknowledgement of the balance due.

The Museum's Ross Terrace and select lawns in Theodore Roosevelt Park are available for camp lunches. There are no indoor lunch spaces currently available at the Museum.

No drinking fountains are available.

The Museum will not hold items for groups; please carry all belongings or leave them on the bus.

Masks are required for all visitors ages 2 and above. Please review the Museum's complete Health and Safety  requirements.

If your group requires any accommodations, visit the Museum's Accessibility page for more information.

Download Explorer, the Museum's free mobile app! Includes a Museum map, turn-by-turn directions to exhibits and amenities, and more.

Reservations for Giant-screen Film or Space Show

Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled show time.

Seating for all shows is based on availability.

We cannot guarantee space or seating for any additional adults or students.

In consideration to our other visitors, groups arriving late will not be seated if a show is already in session. No refunds will be issued for shows missed due to a late arrival.

Visiting the Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals

All visitors are required to join a virtual line once onsite at the Museum.

Museum entry time does NOT include a spot in the virtual line.

Join the virtual line as soon as your group arrives at the Museum. Look for signs near the entrances for instructions or ask a staff member.

Due to high demand, spots in the virtual line often fill up before by early afternoon. Visiting the Museum and joining the virtual line early in the day is highly recommended. Admission to the Museum does not guarantee entry into these halls.

Code of Conduct

Any school group not following the below guidelines will be asked to leave the Museum. Thank you for your cooperation.

One adult chaperon is required for every 10 students. Chaperones must remain with their group at all times.

Please use "inside voices" throughout the Museum at all times.

No running, yelling, listening to radios, or using Museum exhibit cases as drawing surface is allowed.

Many of the Museum's artifacts, specimens, paintings, and murals are not to be touched.

No food drink, candy, or chewing gum allowed in exhibition halls. Dispose of all your trash in trash receptacles.

Please keep all coats, hats or backpacks with you at all times.

Rose Center for Earth and Space: Please be advised when using the escalators to use caution, hold handrails, and exit promptly.

Photography is allowed with handheld cameras (except where noted) and with available light or electronic flash attachments. Tripods and lights may not be used. Reproduction or sale of photographs is not allowed without permission. Photography is not permitted in the theaters and in special exhibitions.

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Field Trips for Camp Groups: Summer 2021 | AMNH

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There will be limited capacity in our halls, theaters, and garage, therefore all visits must be arranged through Central Reservations in advance of your visit to the Museum. Please call 212-769-5200 to register. Payment must be received two weeks prior to your visit. Your reservation is subject to cancellation if payment is not received in advance.

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Virtual field trips are a game changer. Not only do they fill in for real field trips when budgets and other roadblocks prevent in-person options, but virtual field trips also open doors to educational experiences all over the country and the world, both past and present. No fundraising or permission slips required!

(Note: For anyone who needs it, YouTube offers a closed-captioning option. Just click the CC button in the bottom right-hand corner.)

Amazon Career Tours are free virtual field trips that inspire students to pursue careers of the future. Tour whenever, wherever on Kahoot! Each tour comes with a Teacher Toolkit that includes a facilitation guide and student worksheets.

2. The Zoo

There are so many amazing online options when it comes to zoos that we couldn't narrow it down to just one. Most zoos have live webcams in some of their most popular exhibits, such as the KC Zoo Polar Bear Cam and the Giant Panda Cam at Smithsonian's National Zoo. However, some zoos offer a more in-depth look. You'll definitely want to check out the San Diego Zoo as their site for kids includes behind-the-scenes videos and stories, as well as a variety of printable activities and online games. Check out our full list of virtual zoo goodness.

3. The Aquarium

It's a similar story with aquariums. You have your pick of live webcams, but our favorites are the Georgia Aquarium's Ocean Voyager webcam (wait for the whale shark!) and the "Jelly Cam" at Monterey Bay Aquarium (so soothing). The Seattle Aquarium even has a 30-minute video tour. Want more under-the-sea fun? Here's our ultimate list of virtual aquarium field trips.

4. The Farm

The classic preschool field trip goes online! You can have your pick of dairy farm field trips, but we like this one from the Dairy Alliance and this one from Stonyfield Organic. Farm Food 360 gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in Canadian farm and food tours-from raising pigs to making milk and cheese. We're also loving these virtual egg farm field trips from the American Egg Board.

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5. An Art Museum

We found 20 art museums with virtual tours, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art's # MetKids and its awesome Where's Waldo? setup. And you can't miss the world-famous Louvre in Paris (no passport needed!). Check out the current virtual tours: Traveling Materials and Objects, the Advent of the Artist, the Body in Movement, and Founding Myths: From Hercules to Darth Vader!

6. A National Park

From webcams at Hawaii volcanoes to a virtual run along the rim of the Grand Canyon, you have tons of options here. Our top pick would have to be Yellowstone. The interactive maps are a great way to see the Mammoth Hot Springs and Mud Volcano, but we think kids will be psyched about the Old Faithful Geyser livestream and the opportunity to make their own predictions for its next eruption. Check out everything the National Park Service has to offer virtually.

7. A Planetarium

Through Stellarium Web, kids can explore over 60,000 stars, locate planets, and watch sunrises and solar eclipses. If you enter your location, you can see all the constellations that are visible in the night sky in your corner of the world.

Take your students on a virtual field trip of a recycling center and a modern landfill. Plus, there's a full-on curriculum that includes lesson plans, take-home handouts, and more.

Nickelodeon teamed up with two astronauts on the International Space Station to demonstrate how slime reacts to microgravity and had kids reproduce those same demonstrations back here on Earth. It makes for an amazing 15-minute virtual field trip.

The Nature Conservancy has a brand-new virtual field trip entitled "You're the Scientist! Citizen Science, Frogs & Cicadas." Check out their full library of videos on topics like climate change and water security.

Discovery Education hosts a variety of virtual events -each with a companion guide with hands-on learning activities. Current offerings include "Making a New Life: The Courage of a Refugee" and "The Future Is Now" (architectural and engineering innovations). Stay tuned for their upcoming civics virtual field trip, "The American Ideal."

This virtual field trip from Great Lakes Now has three components: coastal wetlands, algae, and lake sturgeon. Each video is a quick five minutes long.

Explore online exhibits and discover the history and evolution of play. Check out board games that changed play, sports video games that shaped digital play, and the making of Monopoly to name a few.

Kids can learn about the most recent Census and how census data is collected and used. This virtual field trip also features interviews with subject matter experts and an interactive challenge.

The "Museum of We the People," the Constitution Center serves as a "headquarters for civic education." Check out the Interactive Constitution section, and be sure to watch the virtual tour.

Houston, we have a virtual field trip. Three, actually. All with companion educator guides. The star of the show is the behind-the-scenes tour of the Johnson Space Center.

Boise State put together this fully interactive virtual field trip with text, photos, audio, and video about the history of music. The four featured music locations are: Vienna, Austria; New Orleans, Louisiana; Cleveland, Ohio; and Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia.

This living-history museum provides a look into life in an early American community. The website offers five different webcams featuring areas such as the tavern and the armory.

This virtual experience of George Washington's home is incredibly well done. Enter the different buildings-from the opulent mansion to the chilling slave quarters-and click on different items for video and text explanations.

This virtual tour comes with a real tour guide! Blaine Kortemeyer is the Assistant Chief of Interpretation and Education, who lends his expertise on the building of this national monument. The 3D Explorer is also an excellent tool.

Take a visit to the National WWII Museum for "a cross-country virtual expedition to discover the science, sites, and stories of the creation of the atomic bomb." Don't forget to download the classroom guide!

For a look inside the iconic building, check out the 360° tour of some of the most historic rooms of the People's House, from the Situation Room to the Oval Office. Examine each room and check out the contents up close.

The National Museum of Natural History's virtual experiences are self-guided, room-by-room tours of permanent, current, and past exhibits. Be sure to send kids to the second floor Bone Hall so they can take a look at all different kinds of skeletons.

A collaboration with over 1,200 leading museums and archives, Google Arts & Culture is an incredible storehouse of monumental works of art. We recommend the Street View and Play sections.

Boasting the world's largest collection of 360° image videos, 360 Cities provides kids with the opportunity to see stunning panoramas across the globe, including their video of the ice floe on the Vistula River in Poland.

It's the official residence of the Queen of England, and boy, is it opulent! Get a peek inside the gorgeous Grand Staircase, White Drawing Room, Throne Room, and Blue Drawing Room.

See one of the wonders of the world with this amazing, thousands-year-old fortification system known the world over. This virtual tour has four scenes available (you have to pay to get access to all 14). The bird's-eye view of Mutianyu pass is a highlight.

Most of us recognize the giant stone statues of Easter Island, but what's the story behind them? Nova's online adventure "Secrets of Easter Island" delves into the mystery with a virtual tour.

National Geographic lets you explore the world's largest cave, located in Vietnam. Use the interactive map to enjoy the fully immersive experience (sound on!).

You don't need a time machine! Discovering Ancient Egypt has a ton of free resources, but it's the interactive pyramid map and 3D temple reconstructions that really give it a field trip feel.

Virtually visit Turn Back the Clock, a museum exhibit that ran for two years at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. Through compelling personal stories, innovative interactive media, and pop culture artifacts, the exhibit takes guests through seven decades of history-from the dawn of the nuclear age to significant policy questions our leaders face today.

No, really! You can absolutely "go" to the red planet. With Access Mars, you can see the actual surface of Mars, recorded by NASA's Curiosity rover. Trust us-don't skip the intro. And if your kids liked that, check out this 4K tour of the moon. These may go down in history as some of the best virtual field trips your students get to experience.

Take a virtual tour of this historical battleship located on the Camden waterfront. This battleship has traveled more miles than any other!

No need to travel to Rome! Take in the amazing art and architecture located in the Vatican Museums with these 360-degree views.

Download the app and climb aboard the virtual tram line! Take a virtual walk through the Space Center Houston with informational stops along the way.

Virtually visit museum rooms in the famous Louvre located in Paris. Even check out The Louvre kids' site for student-friendly galleries and stories. You can't visit The Louvre without seeing the Mona Lisa, so check out their immersive Mona Lisa experience available in the app store.

This interactive tour of Ellis Island lets students explore places like the Baggage Room and the Stairs of Separation through short stories, historical photographs, videos, and audio clips. Students can also hear the stories of real kids who recently immigrated to the United States, explore colorful charts and graphs with immigration data, and watch a 30-minute movie that includes a Q&A with National Park Service Rangers who explain what coming to America was like for many immigrants.

38. Plimoth Patuxet Museums

Travel back to the 17th century with options for free, on-demand, digital resources or a live, 1-hour virtual school program led by a Plimoth Patuxet Contemporary Indigenous Museum Educator. Students explore Wampanoag daily life and history; discover the real history of Thanksgiving and the legend behind it; meet a 17th-century Pilgrim; get an interactive sneak peak into 17th-century wardrobes; and learn about simple machines and water power at the Plimoth Grist Mill. There are also options for virtual hands-on history workshops, including Wampanoag Pottery and Write Like a Pilgrim.

When you can't visit the museum in person, 3D virtual field trips to the Children's Museum Houston are the next best thing. All videos are produced and curated by museum educators and feature hands-on activities that can be done in the classroom. Topics include nutrition, math, states of matter, forces and properties of water, and more.

Beyond the Battle Field is a virtual field trip for grades 2-8 hosted by Lauren Tarshis, author of the I Survived historical-fiction series for kids. Students will meet a museum educator as well as the museum curator, and explore artifacts and documents from the American Revolution. Plus they'll hear the stories of teens who served during the war. There's also a Classroom Kit available with a vocabulary list and discussion questions by grade level.

If you liked this roundup of the best virtual field trips and want more resources like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters.

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40 Amazing Educational Virtual Field Trips

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You can't always get there in person, but lots of places will let you "visit" online. These are the best virtual field trips out there!

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Looking for some fun games and activities to do at home with your kindergartner? Check these out!

This activity will help your kindergartner build reading and writing skills.

By sorting and categorizing beans, your kindergartner will begin to build math and problem-solving skills.

This fun activity engages your child's curiosity and builds observation skills, which will become important as your child studies science.

By sharing family stories, you will reinforce an understanding of family and how things are similar or different from generation to generation. This provides a building block for studying social studies.

By delving into the art of ancient Egypt, you'll be giving your child a glimpse of art history.

Forming letters out of clay is a fun and easy art project that gives kids a hands-on feel for learning handwriting.

Using a computer word-processing program and a digital camera, your kindergartner can learn basic computer skills by making this name book. Once the book is complete, he can read it over and over, and practice his reading skills.

This easy project will help your child begin to learn the letters of the alphabet, and how to spell her name.

Banging pots and pans, and beating on an oatmeal tin can teach the basics of finding the musical beat.

By counting pennies, nickels and dimes, your child will learn how to count by ones, fives and 10s.

Pick shoes for your kindergartner that are designed for ease of movement.

Have your child make a story map to sequence the beginning, middle and end of a story.

Go outside with your child and look for shapes.

Have your child explore the sense of smell by having her guess different scents.

In this activity your child explores letter sounds by making a collage.

Have your child create this fun flip book to practice reading.

Try printmaking to make your own wrapping paper!

Here's a clever and tasty way to review fractions with your child.

In this activity your child acts out a story with a hand-made storyboard.

Have your child find living things and nonliving objects.

In this activity your child makes a puzzle that helps her spell and recognize her name.

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Kindergarten learning games and activities | Parenting

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Looking for some fun games and activities to do at home with your kindergartner? Check these out! This activity will help your kindergartner build reading and writing skills. By sorting and categorizing beans, your kindergartner will begin to build math and problem-solving skills.

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​If you have a backyard, make it a safe play for your children to play by checking for potential hazards. Five tips to keep in mind:

1. Boundaries & supervision. If you don't have a fenced yard, teach your child the boundaries where he should play. He may not always follow your guidelines, so watch him very closely. Always have a responsible person supervise outdoor play, as young children may wander off or get injured. Never allow your children to play unattended near traffic or in the street, and don't let them cross the street by themselves, even to a waiting school bus. Also, always supervise children on trampolines. Provide constant, touch supervision around pools or other bodies of water ( see Pool Dangers and Drowning Prevention-When it's Not Swimming Time).

2. Dangerous plants. Teach your child never to pick and eat anything from a plant, no matter how good it looks, without your permission. Among preschoolers, plants are a leading cause of poisoning. If you are unsure about the plants in your yard, call the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) and request a list of poisonous plants common to your area. If you have poisonous plants, either replace them or securely fence and lock that area of the yard.

3. Lawn & garden chemicals. If you use pesticides or herbicides on your lawn or garden, use only organic-approved products, and read and follow the instructions carefully. Don't allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least forty-eight hours.

4. Lawn mowers. Don't use a power mower to cut the lawn when young children are around. Mowers may throw sticks or stones with enough force to injure children. Never have your child on a riding mower even when you are driving. It is safest to keep young children indoors while the lawn is being mowed.

5. Hot grills. When you cook food outdoors, screen the grill so your child cannot touch it, and explain that it is hot like the stove in the kitchen. Store propane grills so your child cannot reach the knobs. Be sure charcoal is cold before dumping it.

​Just like you childproof your home​, remember to check for hazards in your backyard. Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions about keeping your child safe in and around the home.

Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 7th Edition (Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Pediatrics)

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garden~ backyard~ playgrounds~ fence~ dangerous plants~ poison~ lawn mower~ pesticides~ herbicides~ poison help line

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Playing in the Backyard: 5 Ways to Make it Safer for Kids

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​If you have a backyard, make it a safe play for your children to play by checking for potential hazards. Five tips to keep in mind: Boundaries & supervision. If you don't have a fenced yard, teach your child the boundaries where he should play.

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Outdoor Activities for School Age Children

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Outdoor Activities for School Age Children

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.

Fun Outdoor Games for Kids

If you need some fun outdoor games for kids, look no further. Below you will find an extensive list that can be played in a variety of weather types. Outdoor winter games can be some of the most memorable for a child and summer games can be some of the most fun.

Warm weather or cold weather, you'll want to get the children outside to play. In this category, you'll find a nice variety of games for mixed-age groups... Some old games and some new games -but you'll certainly rate high when you introduce or facilitate the following fun!

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35. Traditional Tag Game

It's best played with lots of places to hide. The person who is the counter (or seeker) stands next to a designated tree and closes their eyes while counting to ______. The rest of the players run and hide. When the seeker is done counting, they call out "Ready or Not, Here I come!" and begin searching for everyone else.

The goal for those hiding is to get back and touch the tree before being tagged. Those who are tagged before touching the tree are also "It" and join the seeker. The last one to reach the tree or be tagged is the seeker for the next game. Check out our other page for more tag games.

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34. Spikeball

Last update on 2022-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

A fun game that was pitched on Sharktank.

To start play, you need two teams of two. Spikeball is played similar to team volleyball. At the center of the game is a small circular net best described as a trampoline.

Team members must be standing next to each other at the beginning of each serve. Gameplay starts when a team member serves the ball off the net to the opposing player standing across from them.

Once the ball is served to the opposing team, possession has changed. The team then has three hits or less to spike the ball off the net to the other team. As in volleyball, there are no double hits. You can either pass the ball to your teammate or spike it off the net.

You are free to use any part of your body to hit the ball such as your feet, head, hands, or chest.

There are no boundaries or sides in Spikeball. Teams can spike the ball in any direction.

If a team hits the rim, the other team receives a point. If the ball double bounces on the net, the opposing team receives a point. Team members must try to avoid contact with the opposing team. If an opposing team tries to interfere with your shot it's called a "hinder" and the point must be replayed.

When a team fails to hit the net within three hits, the other team gets a point. The first team to 21 wins.

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33. Elbow Tag

Divide children into pairs leaving one child who is "It" and one child who will be the first to be chased.
Have each group of partners link elbows- and all of the pairs form a large circle, allowing 10 feet of space between each pair.

"It" runs after the other "not joined by the elbow" child inside the circle--as in a traditional game of tag.
If the child being chased needs a break-he or she can run to a pair of children and link elbows with one of them.
The child in the pair who WAS NOT linked by the chased child -is now "It's" new target and must break away quickly to avoid being tagged by "It."

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32. Dead Ants Tag Game

A cooperative game...
One or two people volunteer to be ant-eaters, the rest start out like ants. By tagging them, ant-eaters attempt to stun all of the ants on the anthill-while the ants struggle to avoid the ant-eaters -and rescue their friends.

Start by creating a boundary for play (i.e., the anthill).
Use landmarks such as trees or cones to create the ant-hill and have everyone step inside.

The ants must avoid the ant-eater and work together to save their ant friends who have been stunned.

When an ant is tagged by the ant-eater, the individual sits on the ground and calls for help.
Stunned ants cannot move from the spot, but may wave their arms and legs to alert other ants to their situation.

To make a rescue, four ants must surround a stunned ant-lock their arms in a circle-and escort the individual off the anthill to a location just outside of the play area.

When all four ants have locked into positions for a rescue, they cannot be targeted by the ant-eater.

Once an ant has been rescued, he or she returns with the rescuers to the game.

Play as many rounds as you wish, and switch ant-eaters frequently.

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31. Four Square

The player who is out waiting in line to re-enter the game once square 1 is open again. Whoever is now in square 4 serves the ball to resume play.
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30. Tug of War

Draw a line in the dirt or field and get a rope.
Number off the same amount on each side of the rope.
The first team that gets the other team across their side of the line wins. Caregivers and teachers-join in!!!
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29. Kick the Can

To play kick the can, place a coffee can in a large open area to be home base.
"It" counts to 50 while the other kids hide.
When "It" SEES a child, he/she calls their name.
They both race to the can, and try to kick it first.
If "It" kicks the can, the hider is caught and placed in "prison" in a pre-selected area.
If the hider kicks the can, he/she and all players in prison are free, and "It" must count again
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28. Hula Hoop Freeze Tag

Scatter out several hula hoops around the play area.
Assign taggers to freeze the other players.
Students inside a hula hoop can not get frozen, but can only stay long enough to count to 10.
Only one child per hula hoop is allowed.
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27. Hopscotch
Equipment
✓ Pavement
✓ Stones
✓ chalk
Instructions
Draw the layout with the chalk - From bottom to top-
3 single squares, 1 double square, 2 single squares, 1 double square, 1 single square.
Number the squares.

The two basic rules of hopscotch are:
1) One foot in each square only
2) Hop over the square with the rock in it.
Use a rock to throw into the first square.
Hop on one foot over the square with the rock in it.
Land with two feet on the double squares.
On the second turn, throw the rock into the second square, and so forth.
The tricky part is staying on one foot when the rock is in one of the side-by-side squares.
If you have a sidewalk-you can also play by marking two sidewalk squares with an "X" going from corner to corner on each square.
The part of the "X" portion closest to you (at the very bottom) would be #1...
#2 would be above that to the right
#3 is to the left of 2-and #4 goes in the top portion of the "X"
Mark the square above the same-with #5, 6, 7, and 8...Proceed to play as above.
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26. Pick-Pocket Tag

You will need some flags or a strip of cloth to be used as a tail.
Players have a tail inserted into his/her belt or pocket that is hanging at the back-side.
All players chase one another trying to collect tails while protecting his/her own.
Players with the most tails collected at a specified time are the winners. (Game is good in the gym or outside)
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25. Prisoner of War

Divide the children into teams.
They each select one child from each team to be the prisoner of the other team and the two prisoners are placed in jail. This can be a designated area or a chalk box if playing outside.

The teams each line-up and the object of the game is to free the prisoner from the other team.
The teams must get to the prison by going to the other team's side to free the prisoner.
If tagged, that child then becomes a prisoner too and must go to jail.
If a child makes it to jail, however, he or she is safe as long as he is inside the prison.
The rescuer can only rescue one person at a time and can choose the right time to "break for it."
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Have children pretend to be gold miners.
Paint very small rocks, gold.
Hide them in the sand.
Give your children small sifters to sift through the sand looking for gold.
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23. Snakes and Worms

(You can call this game anything you want. An idea is to use brown and green yarn and call it snakes and worms...)

Cut two colors of yarn, each about 20 feet long. (If you have a large group playing at the same time-you may need 3 colors of yarn and cut the pieces longer)

Next cut the long length into many pieces.

Hide the pieces of yarn outside.
When the time to play, carefully explain rules and regulations to children.

Form two teams with one or two kids on each side as captains.
They will tie each yarn piece that is brought to them, to the next yarn piece.
The team with the longest finished yarn string wins!
Idea: This game would also be good for a party -and adapted to the inside.

Great for a worm themed day.
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22. Mother May I?

All the children line up side by side except the player who is the caller. The caller stands at a distance from the lined up players.
He calls on each player in turn to take a number of steps toward him. The steps allowed are: baby steps, giant steps, and scissor steps (like forward jumping jacks.)
The player answers "Mother, may I?"

The mother answers "Yes, you may."
The player takes the given number of steps toward the caller.
If the player forgets to ask permission after they get directions- and takes steps toward the caller- they are sent back to the starting line. The first player to reach the caller is the winner and new caller.
Idea: Change the name to the season: Teacher May I? Santa, Snowman, Cupid, Leprechaun, Bunny, etc.

21. GoFindIt

Last update on 2022-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

A nature scavenger hunt card game. Great for getting kids involved in the outdoors.

Pass out an equal number of cards to each player and the first one to collect all their cards items win!
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20. COMMOM 'TABLE GAMES' ARE MORE FUN OUTSIDE!

Tic-tac-toe can be scratched in the dirt and is more enticing than on paper-Hangman, too. (or use chalk for pavement)
Sketch a checkerboard on the sidewalk and fabricate markers out of stones and acorns.
Or just spread a blanket on the grass for Monopoly or Candyland played in a whole new venue...
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19. Keep Away

Also called 'Pickle' or ' Monkey in the Middle'...
Two or more players must pass a ball to one another, while a player in the middle attempts to intercept it.
The game could be considered a reverse form of dodgeball-instead of trying to hit people in the middle with the ball, players attempt to keep the ball away from them.

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18. Balloon Badmitten

An idea inspired by World Pre-School Mom is to use fly swatters (At Dollar Store about 2 for $1.00)...Children simply hit the balloon back and forth to each other!

OR...

Another great idea is to make paddles simply taping tongue depressor sticks to the back of paper plates. Use the paper plate 'paddles' to keep a blown-up balloon up in the air- This game can be played in a gym or outdoors- played individually or in a group! It's also a great way to repurpose paper plates and balloons! Images by KidActivities.net
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17. Robots

Divide the group into groups of three or four; in each group, one person has designated the 'Master'- the others are his 'Robots'.

'Robots' keep moving only in a straight line (walking like robots, of course) until they encounter an obstacle (edge of the area, a tree, another robot, etc.) of any kind.
They then stop and start "beeping" an S.O.S. to their 'master' -who must come and start them moving again in another direction.
Perhaps a Master may want his robots to have a "unique" styled distress beep.
Periodically change the Masters in each group.
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16. Baseless Baseball

This is a game played much like pinball.
Players aim at targets & award hits (singles, doubles, triples, and home runs) for striking each one.
You need a rubber or tennis ball & targets.

Players need to decide upon a throwing line & targets--Rocks, boxes, toys, trees, piles of leaves, old sweatshirts, hula-hoops can be targets.
When decided-for safety reasons- mark off the playing field

Make the scoring system equal to the task.
Each target is worth a certain kind of hit. Easy targets are singles, harder ones are doubles and so on.

Players take turns throwing at the targets.
If the target is hit, the player's team gets the corresponding award (points).
If the target is missed, the player's team is given one out. When the thrower has 3 outs, the next thrower comes to "bat".

Play as many innings as you like, keeping score.
The player with the most hits (points) gets to pick the next targets.
This can also be scored as a TEAM EFFORT.
Source: Tonya at tennsaca.com

Take a look at some of our other fun throwing games.
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15. Ring Toss

Last update on 2022-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Players: 1 - 4

There's a number of different ways to play this fun outdoor game. With points being numbered on board, you can go until a play reaches a certain number of points.

Another option is, mark off a certain distance, then ring each peg from the smallest to the lowest from that distance. Once the player accomplishes that distance, you can move back to another chosen distance. The first player to complete the toss from each distance wins.
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14. Find Your Friend

This is a great cooperation game. For this kids outdoor game (it could also be played in a gym) make sure the land is flat and there are no trip hazards.

Blindfold all children, set them a distance apart from each other, spin them gently/slowly around, and then turn them loose. They must find their friends, link arms, and then find the rest of their friends. They will have a good time shuffling around and bumping into each other!
(Be sure an adult is present at all times)

We have more fun games using a blindfold.
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13. Coin Hit
Need:
✓ Quarter
✓ Sidewalk with sections
✓ Playground Ball

Players: Two players
Instructions:

Each player stands behind a sidewalk section 'facing each other'. They place a quarter standing upright in the sidewalk crack between them.

The first player will stand behind the line of the next sidewalk section and try to hit the standing quarter by bouncing the ball at it. If they hit the quarter they get one point and if it is knocked out of the crack they get two points.

The ball will bounce to the other player from across the crack. The second player will take a turn.

The first person to get 21 points is the winner.

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12. What Do You Think

(Can be played outside or inside gym area)
This game is for 5 or more players and should be played outside or in an open area.

To play, select four objects to be bases and give each base a name:
"Don't like it," "Love it," "It's OK," "Never tried it."

Make signs for each base to make it easy to remember which is which!

Pick someone to be "IT." "IT" stands in the middle and the players stand on any base they want. "IT" calls out the name of the food.

Players then have to run to the base that describes how they feel about that food. "IT" tries to tag a player before he or she reaches the base. The player who is tagged then becomes the new "It "

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11. Red Light - Green Light

Any movement by a child means she is sent back to the beginning.
The stoplight can also call out "yellow light" which means the children can only walk very slowly. Variations to this game include yelling "red light" two times in a row or adding body movements.
Say "green light" with your arms up one time and then say "red light," but throw your arms up again to confuse runners into thinking your body language says "green light."

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10. Running Bases
Need:
✓ 2 Bases
✓ At least 3 players and a rubber ball or tennis ball
Instructions
There are several versions for playing this game. This one is the most basic.

1. Set up two bases on a play area about 20 to 50 feet apart.(The distance depends on the skill level of the players)

2. Two players are 'fielders'. They each stand at a base and toss the ball to each other. All other players are 'runners'. If there is more than one runner-they divide and go to the bases.

3. The object is for the runner(s) to move from base to base without being tagged as the fielders toss the ball back and forth. If a runner is touching a base, he or she is safe. If they make it to the next base without being tagged out they score a run. If they are tagged it's an out.

4. A runner cannot hug a base. He/she must run at least every second time the ball is thrown. The fielder does not have to stay on the base to catch the ball. They may go after each runner.

5. The goal of the game is to touch the bases as many times as you can without being tagged out. The runner must keep track of how many times they touch the base before a fielder tags them out. When that runner gets out, they rotate positions so that the fielders can be the runner. After everyone has run, they compare scores. (bases touched).

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9. Inflatable Bowling Set

Last update on 2022-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Who doesn't love a good game of bowling? This inflatable bowling set makes for a great outdoor game to be played at family reunions or kids' parties.
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8. Blind Man Bluff

This game does not really have an object, but it is fun.
One person puts on a blindfold while the others spin him around a few times.
The blindfolded person is led around the yard in winding circles, etc. - until they get to their destination point.
The blindfolded person then gets to guess where he is and then has his blindfold removed to reveal his location.
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7. Kill the Cockroach

Divide the players into two teams. Line them up, one in front of the other and set an odd object in front of the first players in line. They must kick the object across the yard (or gym) and across the finish line to win a point for their team. Kick things like a pillow, empty can, a sock, and so on.
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6. Rainbow Tag

Need:
✓ Four or more players
✓ Five tongue depressors, each one marked with a color of the rainbow
✓ Water-based face paint crayons in the same rainbow colors
✓ A pink or rainbow-colored article of clothing
✓ Wet wipes

1. HOW TO PLAY:
To prepare, hide each tongue depressor along with the matching color of face paint in a different place around the yard.

2. Next, choose someone to be Pinkie, the player who sneaks around trying to tag the other players and undo their progress. Give Pinkie something pink or rainbow-colored to wear.

3. To play, set everyone but Pinkie out in search of the sticks.

4. Each time a player finds one of the colored sticks he should:

Not give away the location to others.

Paint a stripe on his face.

Leave the stick and paint in place.

Bluffing is encouraged to keep the locations secret.

5. The catch: Pinkie will be lurking, trying to tag the players. Every time he/she does, she wipes off one of their stripes.

6. The first player to get one stripe in each color wins.
Source: familyfun.go.com

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5. Trigon

Trigon is a game that goes back to ancient Egypt. ( Ball State University says this game was also played by the ancient Greeks and Romans.)

1. In the modern version of 'trigon', three players stand at the outer points of a triangle, each side being about 20 feet long.
2. A baseball or softball is thrown by a player using the left hand to the player on his right. That player catches the ball with his right hand and throws the ball to the third player with his left.
3. The third player repeats this, throwing to the first player, keeping the action going in a counter-clockwise direction.
4. If a catchable ball is dropped, the thrower gets one point.

Variation: Any player can reverse the direction of play by batting the ball with either hand to either of the other two players.
A player can also hold the ball, stopping play, and a friend throws to confuse opponents. A player may also place a second ball in play, which increases the difficulty of this game. The game is ended when a player reaches 21 points, at which time he/she is declared the winner.
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4. Target Throwing

Paint a target on the sheet and tie or sew bells to it; hang the sheet in a safe place. Have children throw balls or safe beanbags at the target. Encourage children to make the bells ring. If there is a visually impaired child, have one child give verbal directions in throwing. Allow a child with poor motor control to get very close to the target.

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→ DON'T FORGET GAMES OF...Croquet, Sidewalk Art Contest, Lawn Darts, Shuffle Board, Volley Ball, Horse Shoes, Paddle Ball, Badminton...etc.

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This tag game can be played in a pool, open field, or a gym.

One child starts out as the shark and all others are minnows. (If the group is large start out with two sharks)
Minnows stand in a straight line at one side of the field/gym-facing the shark that is in the center of the play area.

The shark shouts, "Minnows swim to me!"
All the minnows run to the other side of the field. If they reach the other side they are safe.
If they are tagged they also become a "shark" or "seaweed". The game continues with the leader shark saying, "Minnows swim to me" and the minnows try to get to the other side...

There are two versions to the game at this point ...

#1.Method: Once tagged the minnows (who are now sharks) also help run and tag the remaining players. The lead shark is always the caller.
The last 'safe minnow' becomes the new leader shark.

#2.Method: Once tagged the minnows sit down and become seaweed. The seaweed reaches out as the minnow run/swim by and if tagged-also sit and become seaweed.
The last untagged minnow is the new shark.

THREE GAMES TO PLAY IN THE SAND (Also, check out the Sand Theme!)

2. Numbers in the Sand

Required: Sand Play area, Numbered tags and prizes
Players: Small to medium groups. Play this game at a sandy area like a volleyball court or a large sandbox. The object of the game is to hide small tags or slips of paper that have been labeled, in the sand. There are two options for labeling the slips of paper.

One would be using a point system by labeling the tags 2 points, 5 points, and/or 10 points.

Bury the tags with the higher points deeper in the sand, so that it takes a little bit more effort to find them.
A point system would work better for a small group. For each player, you should make and bury about 5-8 tags.
The other option rather than the point system for labeling tags is winning a prize.

Purchase various prizes for the group to win from small items like candy pieces, bags of chips and cracker snacks, to large items that might have even been donated. Have each number on the tags represent a different prize.
By Bob Brickner at funattic.com

_____________________
Need: Two flags (you can make flags with two sticks and bandanas) Divide the kids into two teams and decide on the teams' territories. Be sure to specifically state the boundary lines of each team's territory because once a player crosses that boundary line they are subject to being caught. Also, decide where each team's jail will be located.

For the first few minutes of the game, each team decides where to place its flag. It must be visible and it cannot be moved by its team. A 10-20 foot circle around the flag is a safety zone that cannot be entered by its team unless the opposing team enters the circle first.
Play:

The object of the game is to grab the other team's flag and carry it safely back to your team's territory.

Part of the team stays to guard their flag and part of the team goes on the capture mission in enemy territory.

If a player sees an opposing team member enters his territory, he can catch him by tagging him long enough to say "Caught!" three times.

When a player is caught, he must go to the jail area.

The player stays in jail until one of his teammates sneaks in and tags him.

Only one prisoner at a time can be freed.

When a player grabs the flag, he/she must make it all the way back to their home territory without being caught. If they do make it back, their team wins!
Adapted from about.com

_________

TIP: WHEN YOU GO OUTSIDE- Always put some CHALK IN YOUR POCKET!!!
CHALK IDEAS _______________
Consider having a JUMP-ROPE MARATHON (DAY OR WEEK...) Keep track of numbers of jumps reached-and the kids try to beat their own highest number by the end of the day or week...
Some other categories on this site may also work for you! Just click and you're there!

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35 Fun Outdoor Games for Kids of All Ages | Outdoor Games | Kid Activities

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here. If you need some fun outdoor games for kids, look no further.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.

Indoor Group Games for Kids

Is the weather outside unpleasant? Don't worry! Enjoy these indoor group games and activities for kids on that rainy day. These ideas are sure to bring hours of entertainment and engagement.
How About...
1. Aerobics/exercise.

2. All you can eat popcorn and movie time. (Visit Popcorn theme and Recipes)

3. Bean mosaic. Sketch design on cardboard. Cover a small portion of the design area with thick glue and arrange beans on top following the drawn shape. Fill in the shape and continue until complete. Dry before placing upright.

5. Brainstorm program, classroom, or family activity ideas for the month/year.

6. Build a house from cards; start by balancing 2 against each other.

7. Build a Lego/block /toy animal and people village; keep adding to it.

8. Play Charades.

9. Nail Polish-have a supply of nail and hand products for days like this! (First, get parents' permission)

10. Compile a list of things you like to do at your program, home, school, and out-and-about! Put it in booklet form. Can you get to 100 or more? Complete the list with dreams and goals of what you'd like to do in the future! Illustrate if you like. ( This can be an on-going project).

11. Cooking: pizza, smoothies, desserts, something ethnic, candy, tomorrow's snack, no-bake, anything!

12. Create from recycled material bins/tubs. Don't have a recycled art/project box? Start one. Kids both at school and home love them! (Ideas here)

13. Creative story telling. If you have a group...form a circle and have one person start a story. Use an object such as a small ball; when the first person is done with his/her two or three lines, the object is passed along, until the story is complete. Telling the story works best when the sentences are stopped at mid-point. The last person completes the entire sentence. ( My grandchildren and I do this when in the car. (I'm not driving) We started it when they were very young-and recently at 14, 12, and 9 they asked if we could do it!)

14. Creative story on long roll paper. The procedure is the same as above; however, it is written on paper. Have each child use a different color marker and stop in mid-sentence, until the last sentence completes the story. This can be on-going.

15. Design and build with Popsicle sticks/tongue depressor sticks.

16. Dramatic play day! Do you have equipment/supplies to play: House, Acting/Movie Star, Bank, Court, Doctor/Nurse/Hospital, Animal Hospital, Office, Restaurant, School, Travel, T.V. News/Weather?

17. Face painting.

18. Favorite . ( Small group games )

19. Group draw. Have groups draw together on one large piece of paper... self-portraits are an idea.

20. Graffiti Wall. Put up a large sheet of roll paper in an area where there are no black/whiteboards. Write the title 'Graffiti Wall' on it. Put any subtitle you like. It can be Draw on Me, Write on Me or change it every week with sub-headings of ...Things That Make Me Happy! Favorite Things to Do, Pet Peeves, etc. (Good for sharing feelings).

21. Group puzzle.

22. Guess how much it will rain! Put a cup outside and measure it when it's finished raining. You can also leave a cup out overnight. Make a chart for estimates; the closest estimate gets a prize.

23. Have kids look at gym gamebooks and choose some new games to play! (All kinds of 'Game ideas' here)

24. Help a teacher.

25. Ice-cream sundae bar.

26. Invention bags. Fill bags with identical items for kids to create something original-1 bag for 1 to 3 children.

27. Jewelry making: yarn, cord, beads.

28. Jewelry making: cord or 'licorice string' and lifesaver candy and/or Froot-Loop/Cheerio cereal.

30. Jump rope marathon (contest with self-beating your own highest score).

31. Karaoke.

32. Lanyard lace or Lanyard and pony beads.

33. Learn new card games; play favorite card games.

34. Learn/practice juggling.

35. Learn/practice magic tricks-then have a magic show!

36. Learn/practice playing with a yo-yo.

37. Learn yoga.

38. Line dancing: Limbo, Conga line, Hokey Pokey, YMCA, Macarena, Chicken Dance, and Hustle.

39. Lip Sync.

40. Magazine Scavenger Hunt: Divide the children into groups or individually. Give kids a list of things that would be found in magazines. Children search, cut, and glue items to a sheet of paper.

41. Make a god's eye with yarn and Popsicle sticks.

42. Make friendship bracelets from embroidery yarn.

43. Make some original word-search puzzles.

44. Make a Theme wall mural.

45. Make your own video. Pick a topic, write, practice, direct, shoot!

46. Make play dough....goop/gak/flubber from favorite recipes.

47. Make puppets: bag, paper plates and sticks, socks, mittens, lunch bags, foam and felt.

48. Michelangelo Painting: Tape large pieces of paper to the underside of tables or desks. Put out a variety of art supplies. Kids paint/color/draw lying on their backs-just as Michelangelo did! Discuss how he spent four years doing this to complete the Sistine Chapel frescoes.

49. Music /dancing of own choice.

50. Musical chairs.

51. Teach/Talk Pig Latin: To all words beginning a vowel (a-e-i-o-u, add the syllable 'way' to the end of the word. 'Eat' becomes eatway and 'over' becomes 'overway'. For words that begin with a consonant, move the first letter of the word and add it to the end-add 'ay' after the consonant.
Example:
Man = Anmay
Cat = Atcay
Ice Cream= Iceway reamcay

52. Name that Tune!

53. Obstacle course.

54. Origami.

55. Paint to music and how it makes you feel.

56. Paper airplanes-Make them and then fly them in the gym.

57. Plan a family event.

58. Plan a morning breakfast.

59. Play 'Follow the Leader'.

60. Play, Skit, or Puppet show: Write, Produce, Practice, Perform.

61. Play or skit from a favorite short book, poem, or chapter book.

62. Pasta/rice/bean collage

63. Play some lively background music (or soothing depending on the emotional climate of the room); it often cheers up a rainy day!

64. Pound nails in boards.

65. Pound nails in a tree trunk part - at different levels for a unique art object. This can be on-going.

66. Pull out easel and paints. Paint Recipes here...tons of Fun Art ideas here.

67. Rain Art. Kids put on rain gear and take heavy-duty paper plates outside. Sprinkle a few drops of food coloring onto plates and watch as designs appear. For a batik effect, first, draw on the plate with white crayon and then add the food coloring.

68. Random Acts of Kindness: Decide on a RAK activity.

69. Relay Races. Play inside instead of outside!

70. Relay Races wearing mittens where objects are on a spoon.

71. Reverse writing. Take a sentence or paragraph and try to write it backward.

72. Rhyme Time-Think of words. Children take turns seeing how many "real" rhyming words they can think of. When one word is worn out, choose another word. Remind them 'nice' words only! Spring, ring, bring, thing, fling, ding, king, ping, sting, and zing!

73. Run laps around the gym.

74. Shaving cream-put some on a flat surface and paint in it using fingertips.

75. 'Simon Says'. Play 'Simon Says' based on the season or theme: 'Bunny Says', 'Elf Says', 'Santa Says', 'Pumpkin Says', etc.

76. Sing some favorite songs; sing in rounds.

77. Spaghetti painting: Cook pasta with some cooking oil added. Allow a handful of pasta for each child, Drain rinse, cool. Shape pasta-cutting lengths as needed-and place on card-stock sheets. Cover with wax paper and a heavy book to dry flat. Pasta will adhere when dry. (Add food coloring to the water for colored pasta) Other directions and ideas in Pasta Theme.

78. Spontaneous/Spur of the moment party.

79. Special craft/craft kits.

80. Start a Community Service project.

81. Start an Idea Box. Have each person put activity ideas they would like to do, in the new box; keep idea box going. Already have one? Pull out some ideas to do or refresh with new ideas! Think about making this part of your program. Each week, Bi-weekly or monthly, pull out one of the ideas and do it! ( Previously, screen ideas)

82. Start a Paper Maché project.

83. Start a photo journal/Take photographs.

84. Start learning a foreign language.

85. Start learning sign-language.

86. Start or add to 'Who's Who Book' (pages about each child in the program); look at previous yearbooks and journals.)

87. Static Electricity-Rub a balloon vigorously against hair or a sweater. Chart how long it will stick to different items and laugh at what it does to hair.

88. Stickers: Use 'office labels' and kids decorate them with markers or paint.

89. Take apart a broken appliance; put the appliance back together or re-invent it.

90. Tape record voices. Ahead of time, tape-record different voices. Play the tape at group time. Try to guess 'who is who'.

91. Teach a craft (knitting, sewing, patchwork, leatherwork, woodworking, etc.).

92. Tell stories/to add on stories.

93. Trace your body: fill with things about yourself-either drawn or cut out from magazines.

94. A version of #93: Make a collage of yourself with things cut out from magazines, and glued on card-stock

95. Trivia or Jeopardy - played tic-tac-toe style.

96. Try to learn 'ABC's' backward.

97. Umbrella Painting. Rainy days on the way? Have interested children bring a solid color umbrella. Cover floor, open umbrella, decorate each section with fabric paint or pens. Let dry for a day before closing or using.

98. Use an overhead to project large pictures for kids to color/draw/cut for murals.

99. Treasure Hunt- remember to have 'outside nature and buried treasure hunts' on sunny days!

100. Watermelon eating (save seeds to spit outside for a sunny day contest).

101. Wild Hairdo Contest (one or two children do another's hair). Have a 'Hair-Fasion' show.

102. Write an original (positive) rap song about your program or school.

104. Make some bookmarks.

105. Have you met 'Flat Stanley'? Check out the Flat Stanley to get you going.

106. Read some books

107. Have a 'Cleaning/organizing party'...kids sign-up for what they want to do-when complete-all participants celebrate. ( I've done this in child-care programs as well as at home. At home-we all cleaned what we chose for 20 minutes and the house was spotless-kids' bedrooms don't go on list LOL! The rest of the day was devoted to FUN)

108. Use your 'Raiy-Day' Grab Bag! : Scoop leftover sequins, pieces of felt and pipe cleaners into zip-top bags and containers. When it's full, challenge kids to use the contents of your "grab bag" to make something new, such as a collage or free-form sculpture. Larger pieces of unwanted artwork can be cut into strips or squares and used to make collage cards or decorate a back-to-school book holder or pencil pot.

109. Whew! Your turn!

There you have it, 108 indoor group games and activities for kids. No need to worry about being bored on a rainy day. These activities are great a great way to stay entertained and have fun. Have some laughs along the way.

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108 Indoor Group Games and Activities for Kids - Kid Activities

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here. Is the weather outside unpleasant? Don't worry!

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Camp BOOK IT!

Parents, join us for Camp BOOK IT! and keep rewarding your kids all summer long. Track and reward your kids' reading for June, July and August in our digital dashboard. When they meet their monthly reading goal, they'll receive a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza® from Pizza Hut! We'll also share fun activities and book recommendations each week to keep the fun going throughout the summer! Enroll today!

Enroll Today!

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Parents, join us for Camp BOOK IT! and keep rewarding your kids all summer long. Track and reward your kids’ reading for June, July and August in our digital dashboard. When they meet their monthly reading goal, they’ll receive a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza® from Pizza Hut! We’ll also share…