More Summer Fun

Ok....here we go.....I actually did this with my oldest daughter, back when she was about 4 years old and we had a PlayGroup with peers from her Sunday School class and in the neighborhood.  I also did this many years ago when I was teaching full time (back when I had to teach summer school in my prek special needs classroom).  

I call this:

BACKYARD OLYMPICS

(for ages 4-8)

Basically, just collect several classic, outdoor summer type toys.  My list always included the following:

• hula hoops...at least 2 but preferably 5
• large rubber ball (the 10 inch kind is best) or a beach ball
• large cardboard box, big enough for the ball to fit into
• beanbags in a plastic bowl and a beach pail (or plastic wastebasket if no pail)...at least 3 beanbags
• duct tape
• whistle or bell
• one flat (and old!) bed sheet
• stop watch or watch with a 2nd hand/paper/pen

Ok.    Here's what you do:

Spread the sheet in one corner of your yard.

Place duct tape on grass, pressing down firmly, for about 8 feet.

At end of duct tape, place the bowl of beanbags. Take 6 "giant footsteps" and place the beach pail or wastebasket.

Place one hula hoop about a foot away from the beach pail.

Place another hula hoop about 5 giant steps from the first one.

Place the 3rd hula hoop 5 giant steps from #2.  Keep going like that if you have more hula hoops.

NOTE:  you might have to kind of circle around if you have a yard like mine....meaning it is not super long!

For the last "station", place the rubber ball down on an X made with duct tape and then about 8 giant steps away, place the cardboard box.

Gather the children and show them the various "stations".  Explain that each child will go thru the stations one at a time while being timed.  Tell them it is just for fun and that everyone participating will get a prize.  

Write down each name in a column.

Line kids up according to birthday month or age...youngest goes first!

Time each child as they go through the stations.

HOW TO PLAY:

on the sheet, have the kids do a somersault or crabwalk, or bear crawl...decide before you say "GO!"

when they get to the duct tape, they walk like it is a balance beam.

Next, they see if they can toss all 3 beanbags into the pail.  Remind them they are being timed for the entire set of stations.

They move on to jumping into the hula hoop, tip toe to next one, jump in again, HOP to next one, jump in, and CRAWL to last one, jump in.  If you are playing with more than 3 hula hoops, then make up the last 2 moves.

Once they have completed the hula hoops, they should be at the large rubber ball.  They stand on the X and try to "shoot" it into the box.

Once they have done that, they run to you and give you a "high 5" and you stop the watch.  Write down their time and move on to next child.

Reward with popsicles, stickers, candy, etc. Be Creative!  I used to give out "awards" at the end......like....."Best Jumper Award", etc.  EVERYONE gets one.  You can always "reward" the person with the fastest time with an extra piece of candy or  a 2nd sticker.  

Another tip, especially if doing this with preschoolers:  SHOW them each station by doing it your self first!!!

Have kids waiting for their turn, cheer on their friend.  Make a big deal of saying "Keep going.....come on....doing great....", etc. etc.

AND HAVE FUN!!