Outdoor sports
Kubb, croquet, spikeball: eight cool outdoor games for young and old
Spikeball is one of the trend sports this summer. There’s hardly any more action. A short portrait of this and seven other outdoor games for young and old.
© Jaap Arriens / Picture Alliance
Warm days are the perfect hosts for action and fun outdoors. The best game ideas for everyone who wants to let off steam on the beach, in the park or on the meadow behind the house. Eight outdoor games in a short portrait.
“Dad, I’m bored” is probably one of the most common sentences that many fathers have heard from their children in the past few weeks and months. Daycare centers and schools are completely or partially closed, the weather is mixed – just like the mood of young and old. When the puzzle has been completed for the fifth time, the Lego minifigures have lined up in the children’s room and the doll’s pram has hot wheels from wild tours around the apartment, some fresh air is needed. And because every stone in the playground around the corner is familiar, it’s time for new challenges. The following outdoor games are fun for young and old. Yes, it’s also about awakening the kids’ ambition. Above all, the boredom killers are intended to get families outside and encourage them to exercise. In addition, skills such as dexterity, concentration and coordination are trained and trained.
1. Croquet: outdoor game for the garden
Croquet is a historic outdoor game that dates back to 16th century France. The idea is quite simple: small wooden balls are hit with a wooden bat through a course of small metal goals with as few attempts as possible. Croquet is usually played on a lawn so that the goals can be firmly anchored in the ground. Your own garden or the meadow behind the house is the perfect terrain. This hitting game is all about skill, motor skills and precision. The game is here.
2. Cornhole: Fun for the patio
This cult game, which has spread to Europe from the USA, is also primarily about accuracy. The stars of this outdoor game are several small bags filled with corn (or sand) that fit in small and large hands. The aim of the game is to place the bags on a sloping platform – or better yet: to sink them into the holes. In addition to the classic version, there are now also special cornhole versions for children and families on the market. Cornhole is perfect for children’s birthday parties, but also for small family duels, for example on vacation on the Baltic Sea beach. The game is available here in a monster edition with a transport bag.
3. Table tennis: outdoor game for young and old
Table tennis is one of the most popular ball sports, played primarily in leisure time, not only in Asia. Thousands of outdoor tables are busy eating and chopping. Mini table tennis tables are becoming increasingly popular. They are not only suitable for smaller ball artists, but can also be set up in the garden or on the terrace in just a few steps. Most are around one meter long, weigh less than ten kilograms and can be folded down to a manageable size. In addition to hand-eye coordination, table tennis also trains your ability to react. But above all, it’s incredibly fun.
4. Darts: throwing game for the balcony
The pointed steel arrows of classic dart games have no place in children’s hands. And yet the popular throwing game magically attracts even small children. Child-friendly versions use Velcro or magnets. They are usually easy to install anywhere, protect floors and walls and are completely harmless. In addition to the throwing fun, the mini darters can also start their first mathematical attempts by adding up the points from their attempts. The game is available here as a magnetic version.
5. Kubb (Viking chess): THE game idea for the park
The undisputed number one among mobile games for the park and garden. In hardly any German green space have wooden sticks not been aimed at the opponent’s blocks in order to get them out of the way. The entertaining outdoor fun for young and old is about which team was the first to hit the king in the middle of the playing field. All of the wooden ruler’s “guards” must first be moved aside. The traditional outdoor game has its roots in Scandinavia and requires coordination, precision and some tactical skill. As always, a little bit of luck is part of it. The game is here.
6. Basketball: fun to play on the terrace or lawn
Ball games of all kinds are usually at the top of the list of favorite activities for children aged two and over. Most people kick rubber balls around playgrounds, others marvel at bouncing bouncy balls. For little basket hunters and Nowitzki fans, there are mobile basketball systems that can easily be set up on the terrace or in the garden. Many are height-adjustable so that even the smallest ones can gain a sense of achievement early on with spectacular baskets. To ensure they are stable, the base is usually filled with water or sand. The basketball stands for children are usually made of plastic to reduce the risk of injury. There is a basketball hoop for kids here.
7. Bowling: Top game for a child’s birthday party
Like many other leisure activities, bowling and bowling alleys are closed due to the corona pandemic. But there are now also outdoor game variants for the traditional game with balls and skittles. The idea is quickly explained: nine or ten cones are set up as a triangle with the tip facing forward. Then it goes into full swing. The formation must be cleared with as few attempts as possible. Depending on the recommended age, the cones are made of plastic or foam and are usually depicted as funny figures. Garden bowling also belongs on every game list for children’s outdoor birthday parties. There is a bowling game for kids here.
8. Spikeball: action game for the beach and garden
Spikeball – also known as Roundnet – is probably the fastest and most action-packed game idea on this list. In the center is an elastic net that is stretched over a ring on four feet on the ground and basically looks like a small trampoline. The game is played in two against two mode. A small ball must be smashed onto the net with the palm of your hand in such a way that the opposing team cannot play it back. As in volleyball, each team has three touches of the ball. The first person to get 21 points wins the game. Spikeball can be played on any surface. This trendy sport is most fun on the beach and in the meadow. Children can perfectly train their hand-eye coordination with this game. For quick and easy transport, most sets can be easily disassembled and stored in a practical bag. There’s one here complete spikeball set with three balls.
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