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Ideas for Outside Games for Kids Ages 1-4

Children increasingly spend more time indoors playing on the computer or playing video games. Sedentary lives go hand-in-hand with obesity, high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis, sometimes showing up in children as young as 5 years old. Outdoor games and activities allow children to exercise their larger muscles and develop skills, such as running, jumping and playing with balls. Children burn off excess energy and have a chance to be loud during outdoor games. The following outdoor games for children ages 1 through 4 use inexpensive materials and can accommodate differences in skill levels.
  1. Bowling

    • For a bowling game suitable for the younger set, you need a playground ball and items that are light enough to be knocked over by a playground ball. Try items such as oatmeal cartons, empty plastic milk jugs, empty cans or towers of blocks. Divide the children into groups. Place younger children closer to the "pins" than older children. Tell the children they have two turns to roll the ball, trying to knock over the "pins." When a player finishes her turn, she should go to the back of her team's line while another child has a turn.

    Flying Disc Tower

    • To play this game, you need 10 mini flying discs per child. Divide the children into enough groups that everyone can place at least one disc on the pile before it topples. Tell the children to take turns within their group, placing one disc on top of another until the tower falls.

    Pop the Bubbles

    • For this game, you need bubble soap and a wand for each child. Divide the group according to age, or pair an older child with one or more younger children. Designate one or more children as bubble blowers. The others in each group try to pop all the bubbles before they can blow away. Rotate children as bubble blowers to give everyone a chance.

    Up

    • Another fun game with bubbles uses enough bubble soap, wands and folded newspaper for each child to have one. Each player blows a bubble and tries to keep it aloft using the folded newspaper or their hands. Show the children how to fan their hands or newspaper in an upward motion near the bubble, but not too close, or the bubble will burst.

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