Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

11 fun backyard activities that will keep kids entertained for hours

Dawn Miller
By

When the warm weather finally rolls in, you want to get kids outside and off the screens. Since every day can’t be an outing, the backyard is the perfect place for the kiddos to get fresh air, exercise, and have some fun. Kids will be kids, though, and as parents know, it doesn’t take long for the “I’m bored” or “there’s nothing to do” lament to make an appearance.

The key to keeping kids engaged outdoors is similar to inside. Have a few interactive kid-friendly backyard activities on hand that will keep the kiddos entertained for a while. In addition to swing sets and sandboxes, what are some other fun backyard activities kids of all ages will enjoy? Here are 11 fun ideas.

Green and orange pool noodles
Sophia Cole/Shutterstock

Pool noodle obstacle course

Pool noodles really are a handy backyard accessory and not just for the deep end of a pool. Always keep a bunch of pool noodles on hand because they are great for cool backyard games. With a few pool noodles, pencils as stakes, and duct tape if need be, you can fashion a backyard obstacle course the kids will have a blast crawling through, running around, and jumping over.

Recommended Videos

Castle creations

Let the imaginations run wild and make use of all those Amazon boxes in the garage by having kids create their own backyard castle. Kids can design their own castle from the boxes and even decorate with washable paint or markers. All you need is a hose or Mother Nature’s next rain to wash away the paint stains from the grass. Once the castle is finished, kids can play inside.

Related

Cornhole

This popular backyard game is serious business for some adults. (There’s actually a pro cornhole league.) Outfit the backyard with a cornhole set for the kiddos to play with or make one of your own. All you need are beanbags and a laundry basket. For a more sophisticated target, cut beanbag-sized holes in the bottom of a box for a makeshift cornhole board.

Recycling bowling

Reuse 10 empty water bottles by recycling them as bowling pins. Set the bottles up on the deck or patio, and kids can take turns trying to roll strikes with a rubber ball or a plastic bowling ball.

Ring toss

Like cornhole, a ring toss is another backyard game that isn’t just fun at a barbecue. Order a ring toss set for the backyard or make one using pool noodles with pencils as anchors. Pick up a set of rings at a nearby dollar store or order a set online.

Brother and sister on a scavenger hunt
Erica Finstad/Shutterstock.com

Nature scavenger hunt

Kids love a scavenger hunt, and organizing one in the backyard is a snap. Give kids a list of items to find right in their own backyard. Easy-to-find nature scavenger-hunt items include:

  • Bird’s nest
  • Tree
  • Flowers
  • Weeds
  • Blade of grass
  • Rock
  • Leaf
  • Insect
  • Squirrel
  • Chipmunk
  • Bird
  • Dog
  • Cat
  • Garden
  • Dirt
  • Cloud
  • Fence
  • Lawn chair
  • Sunblock
  • Branch
  • Stick
  • Feather

Backyard blanket fort

Whether inside or outside, blanket forts are cool and keep kids entertained for a long time. All you need to make a simple blanket fort are queen- or king-sized sheets, lawn chairs, weighted items for anchors, and a cozy blanket for a floor. Stock the backyard blanket fort with books and toys. Be sure to include a few snacks and water bottles or juice boxes.

Family in a tent on a camping trip
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pitch a tent

Like a backyard fort, camping out right in your own backyard has its perks, too. Use the family camping gear for a fun afternoon of backyard camping or pitch an inexpensive tent just for use at home on those “I’m bored” days.

Nerf battles

Nothing says backyard fun like Nerf blasters. Plus, it’s an activity that can appeal to everyone — even the teens will head outside for a Nerf battle. Keep a set of mini Nerf blasters on hand and always have plenty of darts. Kids and teens will definitely have a blast with these skirmishes on a sunny afternoon.

Water battles

Water balloons can be fun, but unfortunately, they’re gone in a flash. It actually takes much longer to fill them up than for the kids to use a whole basket. Keep the water fun spraying on a hot day with water blasters. Like Nerf battles, kids and teens will have a lot of fun splashing each other for hours.

Baby pool

You can do a lot with a baby pool in your backyard. Fill it with water and toss in some rubber duckies, buckets, and cups. If toddlers are hopping in the baby pool, be sure to have supervision. Fill up a baby pool with sand for a little taste of the beach right in your own backyard. You can also fill a baby pool with mini play balls for a homemade backyard ball pit.

Every day can’t be a family outing day, even in the summertime, especially when moms and dads work from home. Fun backyard games and activities can keep the kiddos outside in the fresh air and getting exercise while having fun. Outfitting your backyard with cool games is a lot easier than you think. With pool noodles, recycling, and empty boxes, you can turn your backyard into a wonderland that the kiddos will enjoy.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller
Contributor
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
When should your child learn how to ride a bike?
Find out what age to take off the training wheels
Parents teaching their daughter how to ride a bike with training wheels.

Learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage for most kids. Children usually learn to ride a bike between the ages of 3 and 8. Bike riding is one of the best outdoor activities for kids, and it's something the entire family can do together. Most kids typically learn to ride a bike with training wheels first, while some are just natural and take to two wheels immediately.

Research shows that the best range for kids to learn a new skill is between the ages of 4 and 12. Teaching your child to ride a bike not only gives them a new experience and skill but the earlier your child learns, the longer they reap the physical and mental rewards of bike riding.

Read more
5 reasons you’ll never regret enrolling your kid in karate
Learn about the benefits of karate for kids
happy kids doing practicing karate

Is karate for kids a good idea? There are karate studios in just about every community across the nation and usually more than one, but should you enroll your child in a program? Karate has a long, rich history with its origin tied to the archipelago Okinawa. This popular martial art has been around for centuries and made its debut in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

The practice has been glorified in classic films like The Karate Kid and has been introduced to the kids in shows like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers. While parents may not want their kids running around the house demonstrating karate moves on their siblings, it turns out karate offers children a lot of benefits, which is why enrolling your child in a karate class can be a great idea especially if your kiddo doesn't show an interest in other sports or extracurricular activities.

Read more
10 fun games kids can play with just pen and paper
Disconnect and challenge kids to think with games to play on paper
A game of tic-tac-toe on a piece of paper

Tired of seeing the kids with their heads bent over an iPad or staring at their smartphones for hours? You're not alone. It's something many parents struggle with on a daily basis. Getting kids off screens is increasingly challenging, especially as children get older. Finding ways for your kids to be creative and explore activities that don't involve an electronic device can be difficult, but sometimes, simpler really is better. There may not be a lot of technology involved in old-fashioned pen-and-paper games, but they can be just as much fun for younger children, tweens, and even teens.

Paper games for kids can be a quick boredom-buster on an inclement weather day when waiting at a restaurant or while traveling or vacationing -- especially when those airport delays crop up. With paper and a pen or pencil, you don’t need to worry about how much battery charge there is or stress out about finding an outlet to plug into. Putting together games to play on paper is a snap. Don't worry if you don't remember the rules to the Hangman, we've got cool games to play on paper that kids will definitely enjoy. It doesn't even need to be game night to play paper games for kids.

Read more