Audrey batting.
Credit: Theresa Wiza | ©Theresa Wiza
17 Inexpensive or Free Outdoor Activities with Links to EVEN MORE!
Ever hear, "I'm bored" after only two weeks of summer vacation? It's time to try some obvious and some not so obvious summer activities (listed in alphabetical order):Ball Basics
From baseballs to basketballs to footballs to soccer balls, and even to plastic, rubber, or beach balls, every ball has its specific function, but for preschoolers, a ball holds limitless possibilities beyond bouncing, throwing, rolling, pitching, and sitting on them. Preschoolers love playing with colorful balls - the more colorful, the better -and if you allow them, they will design their own ball games.
Babies notice that when balls roll, they abruptly change direction when they come in contact with another object. So by the time they become toddlers, children enjoy bashing the balls against various objects to see what results. Sometimes what gets bashed is somebody's face.
Try slapping a ride-on bouncy ball into the floor when you are at ground level and you can imagine the repercussions. Toddlers will experiment with all kinds of ways to play with balls.
As far as catching them is concerned, though, because of their age, preschoolers find larger ones easier to hold. But smaller balls attract them too.
Here is one game for younger preschoolers (toddlers) using small rubber balls: Have everyone sit in a circle with legs spread apart, their feet touching each other. Roll the boll back and forth. As they master the art of holding onto the ball, they will learn how to grasp the ball when they stand.
When throwing the ball to children, stand as close as possible to the younger children, then move one foot at a time backward until you reach a reasonable distance that is somewhat easy but also challenging.
For older children, play a game similar to egg-toss, where you line up and everyone backs away one foot at a time until somebody drops the ball.
Blind Piñata
Kids love games. Period. But this one requires 100% adult participation. It involves blindfolding one child and instructing that child to find the other children with guided commands.
Comments
Great activites, thanks!
Great list!
Love, love, love it, Theresa! I, too, had my own day care home in the 70's & 80's. We did some of these outdoor games, & you've got a few I hadn't thought of. You're fantastic at adapting games to young kids' levels! Even though I'm openly "ballophobic" (as explained in my early humor article on How I Became a Ballophobic), I did do the rolly ball games w/ my kids. In fact, for 2 of my sons, ball ("baw") was their first word! One game we did was to put some pebbles in plastic pop bottles & line them up loosely like bowling pins on a flat surface. Balls rolled in their direction sometimes got a strike! We had a sandbox & usually combined it w/ water play, like hosing down after in hot weather. Or body painting w/ washable paints. Water play is great! Ever just make it "rain" w/ the hose & let them run under? I bet kids love playing at your house. I know I would! ; ) Audrey is a beautiful little batter, BTW! My granddaughter (9) is into baseball, too.
Fun, I did a few of these activities when I was a kid.
great ideas for kids!
Neat ideas.
So much fun to be had! I love picnics more than anything! There is just something so earthy about a picnic! Fun stuff, my friend!
These are all great ideas (except for maybe the sandbox, I can't keep up with the vacuuming!!). I don't have preschoolers anymore, but I will be using some of these ideas for my seven-year-old. She especially likes sidewalk chalk.
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