Children's imagination really has no limits, and therefore games and competitions in nature should be special for them. Any adult can envy their inventions. Children can come up with a game out of nothing, but it won’t necessarily be safe. To avoid this, you should prepare in advance and select several interesting activities that your child will enjoy and will be safe.
"Smart Thief"
To play you will need: a ball, a rope, 15-20 small objects (coins, pebbles, shells, small children's toys, candies, nuts...).
The rope is tied to a tree branch so that it hangs down evenly. A ball is tied to the rope below. This must be done so that there is no more than 2 centimeters between the ball and the ground. All small objects are randomly placed under the ball on the ground. This completes the preparatory stage.
Next, one of the players approaches the ball, takes it in his hands, steps back 2-3 steps, lifts it high above his head and pushes it forward with all his strength. While the ball is swinging, you need to collect all the wealth laid out on the ground as quickly as possible. And, of course, the ball should not touch the player. After which the total number of collected items is calculated. Then the items are returned to their places and all players go through this procedure. The winner is determined by the number of items collected.
Important: if the ball still touches the player during the theft, then his entire score is reset to zero.
"Twist the rope"
For the competition you will need an unusual set: a ball, a rope, a net. We put the ball in a net, tie a rope to the net, and tie the rope around a tree. Next, we unite the children into two teams, each of which is placed on different sides of this tree.
The essence of the game is to kick the ball hard and wrap a rope around a tree. Each team takes turns striking: the first - in a clockwise direction, the second - counter-clockwise. It is logical that the stronger the blows, the more revolutions are obtained.
There are no restrictions on the number of hits, which means the game continues until one of the teams winds the entire rope around the tree in this way.
Ultimate
Ernest McGray, Jr./Flickr.com
This is a team sport involving a frisbee. Ultimate competitions were first held in 1968 and have been held regularly since then. Ultimate was brought to Russia by Canadian schoolchildren who came to St. Petersburg on exchange in 1989. Now ultimate has its own community and thousands of fans, many cities have their own teams.
Purpose of the game : earn points by passing the disc to your team's players. Number of players : two teams of 5–7 people. Playing court size : 100 × 37 m (central part 64 × 37 m plus two 18-meter goal zones on the edges). Equipment : Frisbee.
Rules of the game
Players line up along their zones. The team that wins the toss puts the disc into play. Opponents must either catch the frisbee in the air or wait until it touches the ground.
The player holding the disc cannot run with it. You can make a pass within 10 seconds, but you cannot lift your supporting leg off the ground. The opponents' task is to interfere with an accurate pass and intercept the Frisbee. There are no judges in Ultimate: everything is built on mutual respect between the players. Therefore, when selecting, you cannot touch the person holding the disc.
To earn a point, you need to pass the disc to your player who is in the opponent’s goal zone.
The intricacies of playing ultimate are shown in the following story.
Ultimate is a very dynamic game in which there are no age or gender restrictions. Ideal for outdoor recreation with a large noisy group. All you need is a frisbee and markers to mark the boundaries of the playing and scoring zones. If there is not much space, then the size of the site can be reduced.
"Hot Ember"
For this game you will need a ball. He can be anything. The number of participants is at least four. But the more people involved, the better.
Everyone stands in a circle. One of them is appointed as the driver and placed in a circle, blindfolded. He will have to give commands to the others. He begins by declaring: “Keep the potatoes from the fire, take care of your palms.” After that, the rest of the players quickly throw the sports equipment to each other in a circle, as if they had grabbed a really hot potato. And when the driver unexpectedly says: “Stop!”, the one who still has the ball in his hands is “burned,” that is, he lost and leaves the game. And so on until only one of the most persistent remains. The winner becomes the driver.
Our favorite outdoor games with our preschooler son
My son and I often walk together, and every time we have to think about what to do with him in the yard, what to play. I decided to make a list of things to do for a walk.
- Various yard swings, climbing frames, slides. We bypass them, that is, we visit them, first of all, fortunately, now most of the courtyards are well equipped.
- Sandbox. It is equally captivating for both one-year-olds and 7-8 year olds. You can make Easter cakes with molds, build castles and highways (it would be nice to take cars with you). Children are especially delighted when I take a 5-liter bottle of water with me; here the degree of joy is directly proportional to the degree of grimyness of the child. It is better to take warm water and take it out into the yard in hot weather.
- If there are 2 or more guys, you can play small games. We like frogs, the sea is agitated, edible and inedible.
By the bear in the forest
A bear is selected and “falls asleep.” About 10-30 meters away (depending on the age of the participants) there is a “house” for the rest. While the bear is sleeping, we begin to walk in his direction, making movements as if we were picking berries and saying the words: “I take mushrooms and berries from the bear in the forest, but the bear is not sleeping, he growls at us.” After which the bear “wakes up” and runs after the players, and they must run away to the “house”. Whoever is caught becomes a bear.
Owl
The owl that sleeps in the nest is selected. At the word “day” the other bird players fly and have fun. When the host says “night,” all players freeze, and then an owl flies out. She must find a moving man, then he becomes an owl.
- Bicycle, scooter, roller skates. We have a battery-powered car, we go for rides in it, but only with dad, it’s a bit heavy for me. We recently got a bicycle for my birthday.
- Ball games. You can simply kick, throw at a target, or break piles of pebbles.
- Colored crayons. We draw on the asphalt everything we can imagine.
- Role-playing games. Several children play family in the yard, especially if the girls have taken dolls and strollers. My son (“dad”) usually leaves for work.
- You can fly a kite , but I have not yet mastered this art. Therefore, all this is done only with dad.
- Bubble. As a rule, those interested are immediately available for bubbles. We let it go until the bitter end, that is, as long as there is a solution in the bottle.
- Catch insects. You can use a net, or you can use your hands, for example, grasshoppers. Children are very interested. But it is very important to release these insects into the wild!
When going outdoors, almost all of the entertainment options listed are suitable, with the exception of swing slides and chalk on the asphalt.
"Pigs Don't Dance"
This game can be called entertaining and intellectual. She will also need a ball and a good vocabulary.
All participants stand in a circle and pass the ball to each other. This can be done either in a circle or in random order. The difficulty lies in the fact that the first player must name any noun, the second - an adjective that would fit the meaning of the first word, and the third - a verb, so that it also fits logically into the sentence. If, for example, at the end you get the phrase “The big pig is dancing,” then the player who said the word “dancing” is eliminated, because this does not happen. It is important to pronounce the words quickly - a maximum of 3 seconds is given for the answer. While the participant is thinking, others are counting out loud. The most resourceful one wins.
The presence of competitions at the camp site will improve your mood
If you decide to relax, celebrate your birthday or any other holiday at a camp site, then many competitions will also be useful to you. After all, in the absence of games, you can get bored, and to prevent this from happening, we offer the following options.
"Rhyme"
Several people can be involved in this fun competition at the same time. Participants sit in a circle, and any prize is placed in front of them, in the center. The entire competition is held in verse. The presenter begins:
- If you hear the number three, then quickly take the prize.
Then the presenter pronounces rhymed phrases, one after another, where the logical conclusion should be the word three. The participants, who are expecting to hear the treasured word, are already beginning to reach for the gift, but the ending turns out to be unexpected.
- The lights were turned on - there were exactly eight of them.
- We waited for her inside, maybe an hour, or even five.
And the presenter can say many similar phrases, but word three should be where no one expects to hear it, for example:
- On a special occasion, I wrote you three words.
In this phrase, participants may not even hear the right word, and wait further, and whoever first understands that it has been heard will receive a prize. The winner will be the most attentive of the participants.
If suddenly there are children on vacation, then they can also be involved in the competition, even as a prop.
“Can’t pull its load”
How many children are on vacation, there will be as many teams in this competition. Each player must place one child on their shoulders. Next to each team there will be a container, and at the distance that will be measured for the race, a bucket of water. The task is for the runner, with a glass in his hand and a child on his shoulders, to run to a bucket , draw water, return just as quickly and pour the water into the container. Then the next player in the group takes the child, the glass, and repeats the actions of the previous participant. The winner is not the team that finishes the competition first, but the one with the most water in their allotted container. It is better to hold this competition after the first drink so that the children do not get hurt.
Very interesting and popular competitions at the camp site are also competitions from the series of throwers and tossers.
"Potato Throwing"
It is better to divide those who want to participate into two equal teams of 6 people, more is possible. A bucket of potatoes is placed next to the team; it is better if they are small, and each group must have an equal number. Another bucket is placed at an average distance from the participants, only this one is empty; it will be the target. A line is marked that cannot be stepped over; if the player does step, the throw will not be counted. The task is simple - get potatoes into a bucket, each player has 3 attempts. The team with the most potatoes in its bucket will win. The winners take potatoes as a prize.
Wherever you relax, wherever you celebrate holidays, wherever you gather with a large friendly company, your fun and good mood will be enhanced by competitions and games, no matter what age you are.
In conclusion, the article can highlight the types of competitions listed above.
- Throwers and throwers. The essence of such competitions is to hit the intended target with an object from a certain distance. It’s better to use them at a camp site and in nature, so that you have room to spread out.
- Catching up. The name speaks for itself, only the whole process will be supplemented by either some condition or props. These competitions are held in open areas where you can run any distance.
- Relay races. Relay races involve completing several tasks in one timed competition. They also assume a vast territory.
- Fights. This is a kind of competition between two people, preferably of the same gender, to make it fair, until a victorious final. They can be carried out both outdoors and in the country, right in the house, for example, a pillow fight on the sofa.
- Comic games. This type of competition involves the use of funny jokes to amuse the viewer by pranking the participants. They are popular anywhere you go, they are very interesting and in demand.
In conclusion, I would like to say, no matter how old you are, at heart you always remain a child. And a birthday is the best holiday when you can feel like a child. And only on vacation, in competitions and games, can you show your true self and sincerely enjoy the little things.
"Zoo"
This game is a little similar to the previous one, but there are significant differences. Firstly, there is a driver who stands in a circle of other participants. Secondly, there is no need to form phrases here.
At the beginning of the game, the driver says: “We came to the zoo and saw what is here...” Then he throws the ball to one of the participants, saying “beast.” The participant must quickly name some animal and return the ball to the driver. Next, the driver throws the ball to another player and says “bird,” and he quickly says the name of a bird and returns the ball. The third player gets the word “fish”. The words “beast”, “bird” and “fish” can be named in any order and even several times in a row. The one who answered incorrectly, hesitated, or named the animal that another player named is eliminated from the game.
The competition continues until one player remains. He then becomes the next driver.
"Breakthrough"
The game can be quite traumatic, so it should only be played in the presence of an adult. Children stand in a circle, and one child with a ball stands in the center of the circle. This ring should be as tight as possible: the distance between the participants should be 15-20 cm. The task of the central player is to break through the defense, that is, push the ball outside the circle. You can push the ball only with the help of your legs, knocking it out only at ground level. That is, aiming at the heads or stomach is strictly prohibited - the ball must roll on the ground.
The remaining players do their best to prevent the central one from making a breakthrough. But they can only act with their feet. At the same time, closing the circle into a narrower ring is prohibited. The one who misses the ball takes the place of the driver. There is no one winner here. But if you want to create a competitive moment, then you can keep track of losses. Whoever has the fewest is the winner.
"Tail of the Dragon"
This kind of entertainment is perfect when you don’t have any equipment at hand. Unite the children into two teams and line them up in two lines. These will be two dragons. Determine where the dragons have their heads and where their tails are. Place the ranks opposite each other so that the “heads” are face to face at a distance of 1 meter. Next, you announce that there will now be a competition in which the fastest and most dexterous dragon will win. And in order to find out, each dragon must, at a signal, catch the tail of another dragon, but not get caught himself. Only the dragon's head can catch.
All children place their hands on each other's shoulders and, at a signal, begin to move. The team whose tail is caught loses. And two of the team are eliminated - the “tail” and the “head”. The game continues until only one player remains on one of the teams. If this happens, then this dragon is recognized as the weakest.
Fun relay race
Shouldn't we have a relay race? A flat forest clearing, a green meadow, and even a sandy beach are quite suitable for it. Families can compete, marking the start and finish. First, moms and dads cover the distance, showing their children how to move. And then the kids try their hand. You can run like a horse, raising your knees high, or you can waddle like a penguin. Try running backwards, sideways, on all fours, or jumping while holding a ball between your knees. Cover the distance on a stick. Walk like a spider, walking on your hands and feet, face up. Elevate your baby's legs and let him try to walk on his hands. Build an obstacle course where you will need to walk along a fallen tree trunk, crawl under a branch, jump over a hole or stump. Organize a competition for the most dexterous family member. Who can carry a bump on their head without dropping it? Who will walk without slipping along a ribbon lying on the ground or a winding path drawn on the sand? You can conduct the relay race a little differently. We divide into two teams (each team can have one or more families). Mom and dad clasp their hands with a “chair” or “armchair”, the baby sits on the “throne”, and the competition begins. Each family runs to the designated tree, runs around it and returns to its team. Now only dads are joining the fight. They are given two balls. They dribble one ball in front of them with their feet, the other they throw and catch. If one of the balls falls or rolls to the side, we pick it up and continue the race. Doing these unimaginable exercises, dads run the required distance and return to the starting line. Now it’s the mothers’ turn to compete. They can, for example, cover the distance to a tree and back by tossing a shuttlecock with a badminton racket. And for the kids, prepare a bunch of pine cones in advance. The competing kids run to the cones, take one at a time and return to their team. Then he goes for the next cone, and so on until all the cones have migrated to the starting line. The one who brought the last one first wins. And the prize for everyone will be lunch in nature. After all, after such an active movement, it won’t hurt to eat properly. If you come across a fallen tree in the forest, play this fun game. Divide into two teams and stand at both ends of the trunk. The first two players walk along the “bridge” towards each other. Their task is to separate in the middle of the trunk, without pushing each other, and move to the opposite side. If one of the players could not resist, the pair completes the task first. Then the next two players show their dexterity, etc. Let the kids imagine that this is a narrow bridge over an abyss. Then they will complete the task with special zeal and passion. Try different ways to overcome the obstacle. For example, walk sideways and support each other by the hands. Or: one player crouches, and the other steps over him.
"Until the thunder struck"
To play, you will again need a ball. Only you don’t have to tie it down. The number of players here is unlimited, but not less than three.
To begin with, a driver is selected and the ball is handed to him. Everyone else stands around him. The ball in the hands of the driver is “thunder”. While it is in the hands, everyone must stand still. As soon as the ball is in the air or on the ground, everyone runs in different directions (the further the better). At the very beginning, the driver throws the ball above him, and until it falls into his hands again, the players scatter. When the driver catches the ball, he loudly shouts “Thunder struck” and everyone stops. Then the driver throws it at one of the players. If he misses, he runs after the ball, and at this time everyone scatters again. If he hits, he changes places with the one who was shot and the game starts again.
Children's quiet games: twister on the grass
The favorite outdoor activity, Twister, can be easily played outdoors. If it seems like you'll have to struggle with preparation, think about the reward being fun.
Moreover, children play this game with pleasure even without the participation of adults. But parents do not refuse to take part in it.
So, to make a field for Twister on the grass, you will need aerosol paints in cans, as well as a cardboard sheet with a circle cut out in it with a diameter of 20-25 cm.
We apply paint in the form of multi-colored circles directly onto the grass.
Let us remind you that in the classic version there are four rows of 6 circles. The colors used are red, yellow, blue and green, meaning each row is drawn in one color.
But you can complicate or diversify the task for the players by drawing a whole field of multi-colored circles. Moreover, let the colors not be in one row, but scattered.
The presenter will need a roulette wheel, which determines the actions of the players. There is a store version of Twister at home, take the tape measure with you.
But its production is not particularly difficult.
On a square white sheet we draw a circle, which we divide into four sectors. Each sector corresponds to a participant's leg or arm.
Now we divide each sector into four more parts, and paint it with a certain color or simply sign it.
All that remains is to fix the arrow in the center, which can be cut out of cardboard or made from wire.
All the props are ready - you can start the game. At the command of the presenter, who turns the arrow of an improvised dial, the participants move their legs and arms to the circle of the desired color.
It is prohibited to occupy cells on which an opponent is standing. The one who could not maintain balance leaves the game.
The result is the most intricate poses and, of course, a lot of positivity.
"Black Mark"
In this game, all participants, except one, stand in one row facing forward. One (the driver) stands a little further away (2-3 meters from the others) with his back to everyone. At this time, one of the players throws a ball at his back. You just need to throw it lightly so that the driver doesn’t get hurt. The driver then turns to face the players and tries to guess who sent him the “black mark”.
If the driver guesses correctly, he changes places with the thrower. If he doesn’t guess, he turns away and everything repeats all over again.
