73 Backyard Activities to keep kids busy all summer

Summer is here! Are you prepared to keep the kids occupied at home? Read on to get ideas for backyard activities to keep the kids busy and actively learning through play all summer. They will build important foundational skills for their body and brain all while having fun! Don’t forget to grab the free checklist printable to post on the refrigerator!

It’s summer!

My kids are super excited to be done with school this year.

Me….I’m feeling a little overwhelmed thinking about how I’ll keep them busy and off the screens all summer while continuing to work from home.

Anybody relate?

I wanna share what made me feel better today.

The fix was quite simple.

I’m not sure why I didn’t do it sooner in the week but I’m glad I did today.

Wanna know what it was?

A long walk outside while catching up with a neighbor.

It was that simple!

We NEED physical activity and social connection to feel our best!

What are the benefits of outdoor activity?

Here are just a few:

• Better sleep

• Boosts immunity

• Builds strong muscles and bones

• Improves mental well-being

• Reduces anxiety

What are the benefits of social connection?

• Increased happiness

• Leads to a longer life

• Higher immune function

• Better cognitive function

• Prevents loneliness

The benefits of the social connection and outdoor activity together pack a powerful punch.

There are many studies that show the strong connection between movement and learning.

This list of activities will boost body and brain development more than any worksheet can while still targeting lots of fine motor, visual perceptual, and sensory skills.

I’ve chosen activities that can be done at home in the backyard (or front). Most of the activities just require a ball, items that are already found in most homes, or inexpensive new games that can be purchased or DIY’d.

There has been way too much screen time over the past few months (my home included!)

I’d really like to see a long break from screens this summer to learn through play and build on all those other important foundational skills (namely, core strength, connection, bilateral coordination, balance, hand strength, motor planning, and regulation).

How to use the Backyard activity list

• You can grab the list in a printable version at the end of this post to share with your students (or use with your own children).

• Challenge them to complete the list before school resumes! I’m giving incentives by telling my students and my own children there will be prizes for those that complete the list! (the prizes will most likely be in the form of some simple and inexpensive games or writing tools)

• The best part….they will be learning through play and socially connecting with their families and friends…win, win!

• The best place to keep this list is on the refrigerator so it can be given to kids when they complain they are bored! (so that should be at least 10 times a day, lol!)

73 Backyard Activities (One for each day of summer break!)

1. Bubbles

2. Jump rope

3. Cut the grass

4. Pull weeds

5. Water the flowers

6. Plant a garden/flowers

7. Fishing

   If you don’t have a real fishing rod and a place to fish check out this DIY game

8. Camping in the backyard

9. Soccer

10. Baseball

11. Flag football

12. Fence volleyball

13. Tennis/ping pong

14. Ride bicycles

15. Swimming

16. Basketball (Horse)

17. Build a fort

18. Hoverboard/skateboard

19. Roller skates

20. Badmitton

21. Freeze tag

22. Fly a kite

23. Frisbee

24. Water/sensory table

25. Bike/toy car wash

26. Hide and seek

27. Ghosts in the graveyard

28. Marco Polo in the pool or backyard

29. Slip and slide

30. Sprinklers

31. Kickball

32. The floor is hot lava

Take the indoor version of this game outside by using large rocks, logs, patio furniture, step stools and other outdoor sturdy items that the kids can stand on top of. The moving of these objects to create the game is a great strengthening activity!

33. Star gazing

34. Pogo stick

35. Scooters

36. Stomp rockets

This is by far the best brand we have owned!

37. Nerf gun target practice

38. Water balloons

39. Catch bugs

40. Hiking

41. Making S’mores

42. Lemonade stand

43. Sidewalk chalk

44. Playground

45. Picnic

46. Ladderball game

47. Roofball

The name says it all! Take a tennis ball and grab your baseball glove. One person throws the ball onto the roof of the house (works best with a 1-story home) and the other catches it. 3 points are awarded if you catch it, 2 points if you catch it on the first bounce and 1 point if you get the ball in your glove before the ball stops moving. Great way to sneak in some math too!

48. Horseshoes

49. Bean bag toss

50. Fly paper airplanes

51. Walk the dog

52. Play catch

53. Obstacle courses

54. Hammock/blanket swing

55. Paint rocks

56. Flashlight tag

57. Wash the car

58. Animal walks

59. Nature walks

60. Roll down a hill

61. Photography

62. Jump the brook

A classic! Just get 2 ropes or 2 sticks and have a jumping contest. Continue to create a greater distance between the 2 ropes/sticks after everyone has jumped over. Don’t fall in the brook or you’re out!

63. Dodgeball

64. Gymnastics (practice cartwheels, somersaults, handstands)

65. Hopscotch

66. Tug-of-war

67. Beach/Lake/Mountain day

68. Golfing

69. Climb a tree

70. Hula hoop

71. Pillowcase races

72. Bocce ball

73. Scavenger hunts

Hopefully, you found some new things on the list that will get your kids moving. Feel free to add any that you’d like for your kids.

Post it on your refrigerator today and let your student’s families know to do the same! I want to see all of these lists filled in by the end of summer.

Please don’t forget to share this post on Facebook and Pinterest by clicking the buttons below so we can get more kids outdoors and moving this summer!

FREE PRINTABLE

Don't forget to grab your free printable!