Backyard Games
July 19th, 2007 | by Jeff Myers |Summer is in full swing and children have moved from the “I’m so glad to be out of school for a while” attitude to the “I’m so bored that if you don’t entertain me constantly, I will go insane and rip the toilet out of the floor and put it in the hallway” attitude. Where can you safely house two crazed children intent on the destruction of all things calm and unbroken? One word: backyard.
There are many great games and activities for the backyard, and they usually don’t cost a lot of money. Here are some of my favorites:
- HORSESHOES is a great game that I used to play all the time over my grandparent’s house when I was a kid; however, you need a fair amount of room and the horseshoes if not thrown correctly can be dangerous to children and property. If you have a really big backyard, then go for it.
- LAWN DARTS are just an accident waiting to happen if you ask me. I don’t want pointy projectiles flying around the backyard. It’s all fun and games until someone gets impaled.
- CROQUET is a great backyard game. The rules are simple and it’s pretty easy for all ages. Croquet sets are pretty inexpensive and they can be taken elsewhere for picnics and other outdoor gatherings.
- BOCCE is not a game that I’ve had a lot of experience with, but I did play it once and I really enjoyed it. This is a great game if your lawn is in excellent condition and trimmed with a close cut.
- BADMINTON is a lot of fun, but it does take a while to set up the court. Once it’s all set, badminton will provide hours of fun, especially if your in-laws have taken badminton in college and then get really competitive as they play. That’s entertainment.
- FRISBEE is a fabulous backyard game. It’s easy for all ages and abilities, and the equipment is very inexpensive.
Make sure that your gates are secure if your kids spend a lot of time in the backyard. You may trust them not to go out of the yard, but don’t assume that someone wouldn’t just walk in.
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