Favorite outdoor games
When asked to contribute to a list of outdoor games kids could play this summer, Deseret News staffers responded with an overwhelming list. You could also try: www.gameskidsplay.net for additional games. Here are our favorites:
Ditch:
Divide into two teams. One team hides while the other searches. If a player who is hiding is caught, they are taken to a jail. They can be released if a team member tags them free. The game continues until every member of the hiding team is in jail.
Freeze Tag:
One person is "it." If they tag someone, that player must freeze until another player crawls under their legs. The last person to be frozen is "it."
Ghost in the Graveyard:
Pick one person to be the ghost. The ghost will hide, and then other players will look for him/her. If they get close to the ghost's hiding place, he or she will jump out and try to tag the opposing player before they reach home base.
Hide and Seek:
One person hides while other players try and find him/her.
Johnny, Johnny Butcher Boy:
Split into two groups. Group 1 walks up to Group 2 and says: "Johnny, Johnny Butcher Boy, looking for a trade." Group 2 says: "What's your trade?" Group 1 says: "Hot lemonade." Group 2 says: "Get to work and show us if you're not afraid." The first group will then act out a chore: watering the lawn, changing a tire, etc. If the second group guesses the chore, they can run after members of the first group and try to capture them.
Kick the Can:
Divide into two teams. One team will guard the can while the other team tries to kick it.
Marco, Polo:
Play in a swimming pool. One person is selected as "it." He/she closes his/her eyes and call out "Marco." Other players respond, "Polo." If you can tag another player, you are no longer "it."
Mother, May I?:
Select one person to be "it." All other players stand in a line, facing "it," who will address them by name. "It" asks "Joseph" to take three steps forward or "Sally" to hop forward once. The player must then ask: "Mother, May I?" If "it" says yes, they can move forward. Players can also sneak forward, but if caught, they return to the starting point. First person to reach "it" takes their place.
No Bears are Out Tonight:
Pick a few players to be bears. The bears then hide while the other players skip around in a group, repeatedly singing "No bears are out tonight, Daddy shot them all last night." The bears should wait until the group gets close and then try and tag one of the nonbears before they can return to a predesignated safety zone. The last person tagged wins.
Ditch:
Divide into two teams. One team hides while the other searches. If a player who is hiding is caught, they are taken to a jail. They can be released if a team member tags them free. The game continues until every member of the hiding team is in jail.
Freeze Tag:
One person is "it." If they tag someone, that player must freeze until another player crawls under their legs. The last person to be frozen is "it."
Ghost in the Graveyard:
Pick one person to be the ghost. The ghost will hide, and then other players will look for him/her. If they get close to the ghost's hiding place, he or she will jump out and try to tag the opposing player before they reach home base.
Hide and Seek:
One person hides while other players try and find him/her.
Johnny, Johnny Butcher Boy:
Story continues below
Kick the Can:
Divide into two teams. One team will guard the can while the other team tries to kick it.
Marco, Polo:
Play in a swimming pool. One person is selected as "it." He/she closes his/her eyes and call out "Marco." Other players respond, "Polo." If you can tag another player, you are no longer "it."
Mother, May I?:
Select one person to be "it." All other players stand in a line, facing "it," who will address them by name. "It" asks "Joseph" to take three steps forward or "Sally" to hop forward once. The player must then ask: "Mother, May I?" If "it" says yes, they can move forward. Players can also sneak forward, but if caught, they return to the starting point. First person to reach "it" takes their place.
No Bears are Out Tonight:
Pick a few players to be bears. The bears then hide while the other players skip around in a group, repeatedly singing "No bears are out tonight, Daddy shot them all last night." The bears should wait until the group gets close and then try and tag one of the nonbears before they can return to a predesignated safety zone. The last person tagged wins.
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Recent comments
No Bears are out tonight. I remember playing this with my Uncles...
annonymous | July 7, 2008 at 9:03 a.m.
