As the COVID-19 pandemic and the days of social distancing stretch on, people have been making the most of their backyard and patio spaces. Those who never paid their outdoor spaces any mind are decorating them to make them perfect for entertaining. Since meeting indoors is still a bit risky, you can plan socially distanced dinner, movie nights or simple hangouts on your patio with a small group of friends and family.
Your children might be feeling antsy staying indoors all day as well. You can apply some sunscreen, install patio covers like those from City Seamless Patio Covers, and follow other sun protection tips and plan a fun game-filled day with the kids out on the patio. Here are some games you can play in your outdoor space.
Tic-Tac-Toe and Hopscotch
If you are looking for something that doesn’t take long to set up and is easy to play, the classic games of tic-tac-toe and hopscotch are perfect. All you need for these games is some chalk and you can draw out the patterns on the floor. It is also easy to clean up after these games as all you have to do is wipe down the chalk markings.
Giant Jenga
Teaching children how to play jenga can be a lot of fun. It is an easy game to get a hang of and both adults and children can play it together. Giant jenga is more appropriate if you are playing it outdoors. You can either buy it or, if you’re looking for a new DIY project, you can make it yourself out of wood or foam.
Tire Swings
Another classic way for children to have fun is on tire swings hanging from a tree. This might not be possible for some as the tires require firm and tall trees to hang from, but if you do have a safe, tall tree in your backyard, you can put together some tire swings with the help of strong ropes or chains, tires and simple hardware. This can be an eco-friendly option, as you can recycle tires. Painting patterns on the tires will make it look more fun.
Slip and Slide
There are many options available to easily set up a backyard slip and slide. Both inflatable and rigid plastic options are available to buy. These can work on flat surfaces but some steepness of ground is preferred. It is also important that the ground you put these on is soft, such as a grass lawn, without rocks, roots or anything else that might cause injury. If you buy a big enough slip and slide, even adults might be able to indulge in the fun.
There are many other games you can set up such as twister, balloon darts and ring toss games to transform your outdoor space into an amusement park. You can even buy giant scrabble or chess pieces to turn the board games into outdoor fun. Make use of your patio by filling it with comfortable patio furniture and creating separate spaces for your children to play in.