Looking for backyard game area ideas? We created some easy and inexpensive games for our yard on a budget. With a trip to the Dollar Store, some backyard games were easily made!
My kids are home for the summer and there is nothing we like more than endless outdoor fun in the fresh air with the whole family. Lawn games are a great way to involve the whole family in active play and these diy backyard games can be adapted for kids of all ages. I wanted to come up with some fun diy yard games for my kids, their friends and really the entire family.
Backyard Game Area Ideas Video
Backyard Game Area Ideas
Water Toss
This fun outdoor game is a great way to improve hand-eye coordination. It is similar to a bean bag toss or the classic outdoor game of corn hole with bean bags, but it uses water filled buckets instead. Fill 6 buckets with water. You can use more or less if you like.
Place three of your buckets in a pyramid shape on opposite sides of your yard. You can decide how far apart you want to place them based on the age of those playing. If you place the buckets farther apart it will be more of a challenge for older children. Add some water balls or water balloons and it’s up to you how many each player/team gets.
How to play:
Take turns tossing the balls back and forth. If you land in an opponent’s bucket that bucket is removed. The winner is determined when all of their opponent’s buckets are removed.
Optional – This is a great game to play on a hot summer day. You can adapt the game so that if your ball lands in the opponent’s bucket you can dump the bucket of water on your opponent.
This is a popular game with my family.
Optional – On a hot summer day, if your ball lands in the opponent’s bucket you can dump the bucket of water on your opponent.
Flamingo Ring Toss –
You’ll need 2 flamingos and some diving rings.
Put the flamingos together according to the package instructions.
Stake the flamingos into the ground facing each other. The distance depends on the age of those playing. This is similar to the traditional ring toss game
The goal is to toss the ring around the flamingo’s neck.
Take turns tossing back and forth until all the rings are on the flamingo’s neck.
These are just two of my favorite outdoor games and I hope you will try them in your own backyard.
And… let’s not forget about the classic games:
- Why not set up an outdoor scavenger hunt for friends and family members.
- If you have a swimming pool, Marco Polo is always a hit.
- Set up a disc golf course in an open area using inverted tomato cages.
- Why not set up an obstacle course. You can adapt it for younger kids or older kids.
- Red light, green light is one of the best outdoor family games.
- Try relay races with a group of kids.
The best part of summer is having a good time in the great outdoors.
More Backyard Game Area Ideas
You might also like my Frisbee Golf tutorial that you can find here – Frisbee Golf
Easy and Awesome Pool Noodle Games, Fun for Everyone
Easy Dollar Tree Fall Games for All Season Long
Or my sprinkler/Mister House which you can find here – Sprinkler/Mister House
Backyard Game Area Ideas Video
Shop any of these stores and I receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Great ideas. I giggled when I saw the flamingos…I’ve always thought their long necks would make a good ring toss — fake flamingos of course!
Thanks Snap 🙂 – love the fake flamingos comment that made me giggle. It’s so true, I have thought the same thing and it was finally time I actually made the thought a reality. Sending hugs!
we love these type of games especially the water games on hot days
Thanks Angie, I’m glad you like them. Thanks for stopping by.
These are such great ideas! I really love water games with the kids in my life. I really like the water toss game that you shared. I look forward to trying this game out soon! I’m sure it’ll be great fun and a great way to cool off!
Thank you Natalie, I love that you want to give it a try. Let me know how it goes 🙂
The flamingo game made me think of Alice in Wonderland, though they use them for crochet in that don’t they?! You have such fun ideas.
Thank you Julie, and You are so right! That was funny and another good idea!
I want to play these myself never mind have the kids play. I like the throwing the bucket of water over the opponent part but we live in Northern Ireland and even with the great summer we are having this year it is not warm enough for that.
Thank you Sandra and I love that you want to play them too. I am so flattered you are reading these from Ireland!
What fun ideas! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Encouraging Hearts and Home. Pinned.
Thank you so much Joanne, we love being outside and enjoying the nice weather.
These games look like a lot of fun! I should try them out with my nieces this summer. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Ann – we love spending time outside together
I love these yard games. I’m going to try out some of them this weekend!
Thank you so much Amy, we love playing games together and what great memories you’ll create with those grand kids.
Great idea for busy kids!
Thank you for sharing with Creative Compulsions!
Michelle
mybijoulifeonline.com
Thank you so much Michelle. We love spending time outside having fun.
Love all these fun ideas! The flamingo toss is so cute! I can’t wait to set it up for my grandkids! Please come and link up to my Linky Party- Centerpiece Wednesday on my blog and share your post with us. The party starts at 7pm tonight! 🙂 Hope to see you over there. karinskottage.com/2020/06/centerpiece-wednesday-linky-party-2.html
Karin
Thank you so much and I’m thrilled you want to give it a try too! I’ll be sure to join the party, thanks for the invite.
Great ideas my daughter will love these!!
Thank you so much Brooke, I love that you’re going to try some of them too 🙂
So much fun, and loving that lawn! My kids only get to experience lawn games on our yearly trip to the USA which, hmmm, may not be happening this year. thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Thank you so much Sara, what kind of area do you live in – are there parks near by? I hope that you can travel to see family when it’s safe.
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Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
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Thank you so much Marilyn! See you at the next one.
Very nice idea. Good play of kids in backyard.
Thank you so much
Great ideas and a good reminder that with just a little bit of thought and creativity there are a lot of things we could be doing. Thank you #happynow
Thank you so much Jeremy, and I’m so glad you think so to 🙂 Thank you for stopping by
I’m loving all your fun ideas! Thank you for sharing with Charming Homes and Gardens!
Thank you so much Kim, I’m thrilled you are enjoying them.