Summer is fast approaching and soon enough my children will be on vacation. Summer is so short, therefore let’s do what we can to enjoy it to the fullest! It’s always a memorable time of year when I don’t have to prepare lunches, get up early, and be part of the rat race. Summertime is meant to enjoy the warm weather, relax, visit relatives, new cities and attractions, and spend quality time playing outdoor games with the family.
Fun Outdoor Family Activities
Play as a family
It’s important to play as a family as it builds strong bonds and can help strengthen family ties. Engaging in physical activity as a family can be a fun way to get everyone moving. You can use the time together to try new games and enjoy each other’s company. It’s important to help our kids stay in shape, and to keep them active. Staying active requires ongoing commitment as a family, so if you want to instill healthy habits, you will need to sit down with your children and find out what type of activities, games, and sports they enjoy doing the most. Afterwards, plan new daily physical activities to keep them active and fit.
We live in the suburb on an acre lot, so we are very lucky to have a big backyard to play sports like soccer, touch football, and ultimate Frisbee. Our yard surrounds our house with just a few trees around the edge of the lawn, so we have plenty of open space to play. We divide the grounds in different sections, which helps to play many sports and games throughout the summer.
On the left hand side, we put two nets to play soccer, and at the back on the left side is where we install the badminton/volleyball net. The driveway is meant to play ball hockey, basketball, and to enjoy riding our scooters.
Right behind the house, near the deck, we set up and inflatable 52 inches pool and play water games. You can’t swim too many meters, but it’s big enough for a good soak and some family fun time. The open space behind the pool is reserved for playing lawn games or touch football.
Outdoor Games
After a while, we get tired of playing the same games, so every year, I purchase a new one. I decided to go shopping at one of my favourite store, Canadian Tire, and view their wide assortments of outdoor sports and games. The game I was looking for must requires skills, coordination, luck, and that we could all play the four of us against each other in teams or one on one. I ended up purchasing the 3-in-1 Tailgate game. I like the fact that these 3 games, the Ladderball, the Bean Bag Toss and Washer Toss, can be played in our backyard, but we can also bring them at the beach, on a picnic or at family reunions. You can even bring them inside on a rainy day.
Ladderball Game
I have never heard of the Ladderball game. It can be played with singles or with teams. Each player or team takes turns throwing the bolos at the opposing team’s or player’s ladder. The object is to throw the bolos so they wrap around the rungs of the opposing ladder. Points are accumulated after every round until one team or player reaches 21 points.
Bean Toss
The Bean Toss game is a family favourite. Players take turns throwing the bean bags in the holes of the board. Each hole scores one, two or three points, and the first player or team to reach 100 points wins.
Washer Toss
The Washer Toss game is very challenging as each player or team takes turns tossing washers into a box that has a cylinder center cup. Washers landing in the box get one point, washers landing in the cup are worth three points. The first player or team to reach 21 points wins the game.
Bicycling
We are also interested in purchasing a new bicycle for my son and my husband, so we can ride together in the housing projects near our home. I haven’t ridden in years, so it will be very interesting to see if the saying “you never forget how to ride a bike” is true.
Which outdoor activities, games or sports do you play as a family during the summer? Share them below in the comment section.
Have a wonderful summer!
Your backyard looks like a dream for outdoor activities! I am very tempted to get that ladder ball game. We played it once at a friend’s BBQ and everyone of all ages enjoyed it. Great fun!
I love your pick of the idea behind the ladderball game (I’ve never heard of it either). Great way to work on hand-eye co-ordination even if kids aren’t sports oriented. My kids are big fans of throwing things 🙂
Ladderball sounds like fun!
Great post! I’ve actually been looking to buy a washer toss game for family get-togethers! Such a fun game!!
I love bean bag toss! I suck at it, but it’s so much fun!
We will be spending lots of time outdoors swimming this summer
Looks like you all had a blast. I love the warm weather and spending time outside. We recently did outside twister and giant jenga at a family event and we had a ball. I will have to look into that 3 in 1 Tailgate Combo, looks like my family and I would have a ball with that!
Love the soccer ball nets. What a gorgeous backyard. Bikes for the whole family are on my list of things to buy as well.
I am jealous of your huge backyard! Our backyard has barely any grass and dog poop so we play out front which is really small and has no fence. We sometimes go across the street to play in the Science Center yard but it’s not the same as being our own yard.
Kathleen when I see my hubby take an afternoon to maintain the lawn (at least 4 hours) every week, I envy city people that can cut their grass in 15 minutes lol! It`s definitely nice to have the space to play with the kids.
I love games that are 3 in 1. the kids can never say there are bored. the best part about the games you choose is that they can be played by both the young and old!! Thanks for sharing!
Love the pictures – looks like your family is having so much fun!
I grew playing lots of games as a kid and it really was such a fun way to spend time outside being active.
Love that the games you showcase can be played at all different ages. With young boys I am always looking for games they can play but older kids can too!
You are lucky to have such a big backyard…love it! That 3 in 1 game looks amazing! I looked at the game and it would make such fabulous Father’s Day Gift. And I agree with you…getting moving with fun, informal games it the best kind of family fun! Great post! Angie
Wow! What fun! I love doing outdoor activities with the family! Great post, my friend!
I love it. We may have much fun this summer!!!
Thank your for info.
Ohhh, this is a cool time for family to play this kind of game. I’ll tell my mom we will be doing like this too. It’s exciting!
Ladderball sounds like a lot of fun!
Ladderball sounds like a blast !