5 Quick Outdoor Games for Between the April Showers

The weather in April and leading up to May can be unpredictable and can change in a blink of an eye! One moment, the sun is shining, the odd rainbow appears, and the next, you’re diving to find shelter from a sudden downpour.

However, we have the perfect solution for kids who just want to play outdoors. Here, we offer you 5 quick outdoor games to keep kids entertained in those brief moments of sunshine!

1. Piggy in the Middle

A classic game that only requires a ball and a group of kids or family. One player stands in the middle of the group (the piggy) whilst the other players stand around them, passing the ball to one another. If the middle player intercepts the ball, then whoever threw it last would swap with the person in the middle.

Ps. You can use anything in your home as the ‘ball’ such as any soft toy to prevent injuries.

2. What’s The Time Mr Wolf?

In this game, one player is assigned the role of the ‘wolf’. That player must stand on one side of the playing area with their back to the other players who are stood on the opposite side of the area facing the wolf. These players then ask, “What’s the time, Mr Wolf?” The wolf responds with a time (for example, “It’s 6 o’clock”). The players then take that number of steps towards the wolf. At any point the wolf can say, “Dinnertime!”, and try to chase the other players, who must race back to the finish life to be safe. If the wolf manages to tag a player, then they swap, and the new player becomes the wolf!

3. Captain’s Orders

In this popular game that has been played for decades, one person is known as the ‘captain’ and gives all other players orders. First, you want to let the kids know which areas will be known as ‘North, East, South and West’. This can be labelled on a piece of paper if playing with younger kids. The kids then must listen to instructions given by the captain. The captain will say “East!”, and all players must run to the ‘East’ area or fence. In between the players running, there are several commands the captain can give such as:

• “Scrub the decks” – players go down on their knees, making scrubbing motions.
• “Man overboard” – players must get into pairs.
• “Shark attack” – players run around screaming but must completely stop when the captain raises their hand.
• “Sweep the decks” – players pretend to sweep.
• “Climb the rigging” – Players pretend to climb a ladder.

The last person to obey these commands, or a player who obeys the commands incorrectly is out! The captain can increase the difficulty by saying a variety of commands together with little time in between to try get players out quicker.

4. Stuck in the Mud

A classic game of tag with a little twist! One player is designated as “it” and tries to tag other players. Once tagged, players must freeze and stand with their legs wide apart and are officially ‘stuck in the mud’. To unfreeze, another player must crawl between their legs without getting tagged. The game continues until all players are stuck in the mud, or after a set timer!

5. Jump Rope

This game can be traced back to the 1600s in China, and until this day, never gets old for the kids. All you need is a skipping rope and maybe a little coordination. Two players swing the rope while another player must jump over it, timing their jumps with the rope reaching their feet. For an added challenge, players can try Double Dutch, where two ropes are swung in opposite directions and players must try jump in and out without getting tangled!

So, there you have it! Next time the sun decides to peek out from behind the clouds, don’t let it go to waste, and get the kids outside for some quick and entertaining outdoor garden games. To discover new ways of having fun with the kids outdoors, take a look at ‘15 Traditional Garden Games’ for endless fun, or ‘A Parent’s Guide to Garden Dens’ for a fun project!

Happy playing.

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