Crazy Garden Golf
Crazy Golf is great fun but, unfortunately, not many of us have a family set of putters in the garage. As such, why not play Crazy Bowls and inject a bit of fun and adventure into the sedate game of crown green bowls. Simply create a nine-hole adventure course in your garden using things you have lying around the house but, rather than needing putters, you aim to roll a ball towards each object in as few moves as possible.
Game credit: Potty Adventures
The Floor is Lava
The Floor is Lava is one of our favourite garden games. Create a ninja warrior style course around your garden using boxes, chairs, garden slides and swings, and aim to get around it without placing any of your body on the ground. If you have a paddling pool or sprinkler handy, you can even create a lake and water jet to navigate safely through too. If you're a family of four or more, you could even do a blindfolded version in pairs. While you're blindfolded and trying to slowly make your way over the course, your partner is shouting directions to you. Fastest team to finish without touching the floor is the winner.
Game credit: Potty Adventures
Hot Chocolate with a difference
One #GetOutsideInside activity to build hand-eye coordination is ‘Hot Chocolate’. All you need is a bat/tennis racquet/frying pan and something to balance on it such as a ball. One person turns their back and the challenger must creep up and try to reach them. Any time the person turns around the challenger must stop and stay still. If caught moving or if the object falls off the bat/racquet the challenger must return to the start and try again. As soon as the challenger reaches the person, they need to shout "Hot Chocolate". This is a great simple game that the kids love because they do not want to get caught.
Game credit: Dad Adventure Diaries
Garden Obstacle Course
Another activity we have been doing a lot lately is inventing obstacle courses. We get the whole family involved in the building and designing of our courses. We love timing how long it takes to complete the course and then try to beat our own scores, Mum and Dad included! Again, you can make these as easy or as challenging as you want with anything you have lying around.
Game credit: Dad Adventure Diaries
Garden Festival
If you want entertaining over a longer period than just a few hours, why not consider getting your tent out and holding your very own garden festival, complete with music, games and entertainment? We did this over the Easter weekend, and it was a huge hit with the kids.
We created a line-up using playlists and streamed acts from real festival websites. The kids got tattoos, had their faces painted, played games and activities that you'd usually find in the kids' area at major festivals, such as circus skills like juggling, hula hooping and tightrope (slackline) walking. It kept us entertained all weekend!
Game credit: Potty Adventures
Den Building
Den Building is a family favourite. During lockdown we have built dens both inside and outside the house. We've built them for sleepovers, to have picnic lunches and watch movies. Under the dining table with a blanket over the top will make a basic den. You can make them as simple or as elaborate as you like. My six-year-old likes to draw and design them first and then we try to re-create them.
In our back garden we use any materials that we can get our hands on, like old bits of wood, the slide, old painting sheets and tyres. This encourages lots of imaginative play. Often, we pretend we are on a pirate ship or a lookout tower!
Game credit: Dad Adventure Diaries
Head over to our online shop to get your hands on one of the many great OS Traditional Garden Games to enjoy with your family this Spring.
Published 15/04/2020