Outdoor activities for multiple children

Tig with a difference – if you’re tigged, you have to stay still until you’re released by another player tickling you! 

Everyone tucks a "tail" into the back of their trousers (this could be a sock scarf or T-shirt). Everyone then runs around trying to capture as many tails as they can. The winner is the person who still has their tail left. You could even try this one indoors if you have the space.

Another variation on a traditional game of tig. Once you’re tigged you have to lie on your back like a turtle with your legs in the air, until another player releases you by pushing you onto your front. Not one for a muddy day!

A fun twist on hide and seek. Decide where "home" will be – this could be a tree or a bench, for example. One person counts to 40 while everyone else hides. The seeker has to find everyone but can only get them out by saying “40-40 seen (their name)” while touching home.  People hiding can beat the seeker if they reach the home before the seeker and say “40-40 home”.   

In this tig variation, players must dance on the spot when caught. They can only be released when another player stands in front of them and copies their dance. If dancing isn't your thing, how about jumping jacks or skipping? 

One player stands with their eyes closed while the other players run and jump around them, the more energetically the better. When the player in the middle shouts “freeze” and opens their eyes, everyone has to stand still until they close their eyes again. Anyone who wobbles is out!

Any kind of race is a fun way, but an animal race is especially fun for wee ones! Jump like a frog, slither on your tummy like a snake, roll in a ball like a hedgehog or run on all fours like a speedy cheetah. You could even ask the other players to guess which animal you are. Two players could also team up for a wheelbarrow race or three-legged race. Just be prepared to fall over!

One person acts as the leader and dances, jumps, crawls and runs in as many different ways as they can. Everyone else must follow – and if they can’t keep up, they’re out. The last person still following becomes the next leader.

On your marks, get set, go for the sports day where everyone’s a winner! Use sticks or jumpers to mark how far people can make it in the long jump, layout sticks for hurdles, pile up coats for high jump or set up a relay race passing a rolled up newspaper.

Divide into two teams. Each team has a larger container filled with water, a smaller container and a sponge or towel. Put the large container at one line and the other a few metres away. The aim of the game is to fill up the second container with the water from the first container using a towel or sponge to fill as quickly as possible. Get ready to get wet!

Why not have a competition to see who can do the most keepy-uppies? Keepy-uppies require concentration and focus so are a great way to exercise the body and the mind.

Find a box or bucket to act as a goal and see who can get the highest score by throwing a ball into it. Who can be the first to 10 goals? Make it harder by moving further away from the goal, or throwing with one hand.