Outdoor Play Ideas

Giant Steps

  • One person is the leader. Players stand in a line, about 20 feet away, facing the leader.
  • The leader tells one child at a time to take one to ten steps, specifying what kind: baby steps; regular steps; or giant steps. For example: “Karen, take three baby steps.”
  • Players must ask, “May I?” The leader must answer, “Yes, you may” before the player moves. If a player does not ask permission, he or she returns to the line.
  • The first player to reach the leader becomes the new leader.

Pass the Hoop

  • Organize two groups into two lines. Have the players in each line stand about an arm's length apart.
  • Give each line a Hula Hoop. The first child performs an action with the hoop and passes the hoop on. Each child in that line repeats the action.
  • Actions with the hoop can include bouncing it, rolling it, and any other actions children create.
  • After the last child performs, he or she walks to the beginning of the line and leads the next action. Continue until each child has been the leader.

Variation: Add a beat to the activity with a drum or tambourine, increasing and decreasing the tempo.

Obstacle Course

Set up an obstacle course. Here are some suggestions:

  • 2" x 4" piece of wood to walk along
  • hula hoops or inflatable swimming tubes to step through
  • several cones or upright objects to walk around
  • objects to jump over (not too high)
  • small pieces of cloth, arranged in a pattern to be walked on one foot at a time
  • a horizontal bar on which to hang or swing.

Show children the course, describing each action. Invite children to complete the course.

Variations:
  1. Encourage children to complete the course faster each time.
  2. Rearrange the course on other days.