An outdoor version of the game Hot Potato helps preschoolers to develop gross motor skills while learning to play fairly. Make a circle out of a rope in the grass or chalk on a concrete area of your backyard. Put a medium-sized ball in the center of the circle, and choose one player to be "it." This player pushes the ball with his feet in an attempt to get it out of the circle. Other players try to stop the ball with their feet. Once the ball is out of the circle, another person takes a turn in the center.
On a hot summer day, incorporate water into a backyard game when at least three preschoolers are available to play. To play a game of water tag, fill a bucket with water and give one player a plastic cup. Make sure the children are in bathing suits or clothing that can get wet. Have each child stand with their backs to each other and give them the command to take 10 steps forward. The child with the cup then chases the others, throwing water at people until someone gets hit. The person to get hit first becomes the chaser.
A game of backyard Follow the Leader gives preschoolers practice with their listening skills and coordination. The game can be played with just the parent or a child or a much larger group. One person is chosen to be the first leader and everyone lines up behind him. The leader makes up something to do, such as tweeting like a bird while flapping his arms or hopping forward on one foot. After the leader completes five moves, the next person in line gets a chance.
Preschool children have big imaginations and love the idea of getting to explore. Turn your backyard into a place for an adventure by holding a scavenger hunt. If your preschooler can read, write a list of approximately 10 items that you can find in your backyard. For young ones still learning to read, use pictures to represent the items instead. Give her a basket and list, and send her off to find as many things as possible.