Liven up a summer picnic with games that allow the kids to run, jump and play to work up an appetite. Before you plan the kids' picnic games, check out the event location to evaluate the space and available playground equipment. Then consider the kids' age group to choose activities that will keep the children refreshed, challenged and entertained throughout the festivities. Does this Spark an idea?
Bottle Bowling
Design a quick and inexpensive picnic game using a ball and empty two-liter soda bottles from the feast. Set the bottles up like pins on a hard surface since they'll tip over too easily on the grass. Reset the pins after each roll and see which child can knock over the most pins in five tries. Make the game easier for younger players by letting them stand closer to the pins.
Bucket Brigade
Organize a refreshing game that uses materials from home to cut costs and keeps the kids cool on a hot afternoon. Divide the children into two teams and tell the teams to stand behind a "finish line." Give each group a bucket full of water and a large sponge. Place an empty bucket for each team 15 feet away. The first member from each team must soak the sponge to fill it with water, race to the empty bucket, squeeze the water into it and run back to hand the sponge to the next player. Award prizes like squirt guns or bottles of bubbles to the team that fills the empty bucket the fastest.
Park Obstacle Course
If you're picnicking at a park that features a playground area, devise a kids' picnic activity using the equipment. See which child can run across the sand, go down the slide three times, cross the monkey bars and run back to the picnic table in the fastest time. Be sure that other children aren't using the playground equipment before each player runs the course to guarantee that the timed contest is fair.
Food Relay
Create a food-related relay that utilizes items you've packed in the picnic basket. Break the kids into groups of four and assign each player a task. Once the first team member completes his assignment, the second player on the team can begin his mission. Devise tasks like shelling 10 fresh peas, eating a cupcake without touching it, drinking a glass of water while spinning in a circle or making a sandwich with cold cuts, lettuce and mayonnaise. Give prizes like ice cream parlor or toy store gift cards to the team that completes all of its missions the fastest.
Tags: empty bucket, each player, each team, kids picnic, playground equipment, prizes like