Garden games for children

Dens, old sheets, towels, clothes horse etc - maybe the older children can make their own then help the younger ones.

The thing that everyone loves in our family is bubbles.
Especially the giant sort.

You can make the mix up the day before and let it settle.

There are dozens of versions now.
Ours are still going from the late 1970s (and we have made some too).
This is the sort of thing I mean.
Cheap options are available!

www.bubblyheaven.co.uk/product-category/giant-bubble-kits/#

Here's a website that shows you how to make them but I made our "best" ones with some stretchy lace rather than string/rope - it holds a lot of liquid and is easy.

Swingball, frisbee, water pistols!

Water balloons
Coloured chalk
Decorating and eating biscuits
Water - plants, garden, wash off chalk and biscuits

Sorry. Forgot the link:
rhubarbandwren.co.uk/giant-bubble-wand-tutorial/

Lots of different ones out there - this looks straightforward (below).

You can wrap coathanger hoops in fabric for tiniest people.

Put the mix in a big container - we have even used a paddling pool.

happyhooligans.ca/homemade-giant-bubbles/

freegurumk.best/product_tag/112405093_.html

When my grandchildren were young their favourite garden pastime was “painting” the paving slabs with water. A few seaside buckets so they could have one each and a 2 inch emulsion brush. They’d draw pictures on the patio and compare notes before they quickly dried off and they could start again.

When my now 15 yr old grandson was little he’d leave his pavement artist siblings and cousins to water paint on the slabs and he’d work his way round the fence with his bucket and paintbrush.

Now they are all older they do enjoy a game of Jenga with a garden set. Or if you don’t mind the mess and high pitched squealing water pistols are good cheap fun.

Our kids liked the "balloon snatch" game.
We used a ½ straw to blow them up (and kept the straw in a pocket for next time).

You can do this in teams if you want.

pin.it/2ls08tHMP

Ours never tire of hide and seek and sardines.

The energetic bigger ones climb trees and the quieter ones make daisy chains or pick currants.
I have a swing too.

Badminton is popular and simple enough to set up. I think Lidl have cheap sets at present.

I was going to suggest a bubble machine. Bubbles are always great.
Water in buckets with decorators brushes for younger children to “paint” walls or paved areas.
Mark out hopscotch on paving stones and use a beanbag.
Large roll of decorators lining paper with pens crayons etc. They could draw round each other.
Challenge the older ones to make paper helicopters ( just need paper a paper clip maybe blu tac) planes or fortune tellers. You will find lots of templates online. These would transfer indoors too.
Hope you have a lovely time.

Sorry I realise now you intended to buy something.

I'd say buy a couple of balloons wands and bubble mix and also some balloons.

Apologies.

Not balloons wands "bubble wands"!

When ours were small the game they enjoyed the most was hunt the peg. We hid these round the garden each had a container and off they went.
They also loved planting veg or flower seeds and latterly potatoes which they Woukd come to harvest months later. Then a competition fir biggest smallest most least etc etc,
A paddling pool is fun too.
Enjoy your garden. I love mine.

Also
Don’t know if you are anywhere a The Works store? They sell lots of outdoor toys and craft stuff including bubbles and bubble machines skittles etc. May arrive in time if you order.

www.theworks.co.uk/c/toys-and-games/outdoor-toys?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADybf6fGltEzhIu1MrBhbnMh7476n&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzKmAlb69hwMV949QBh3xQjKFEAAYASAAEgLmZfD_BwE&tsz=40

My minded children like having a snail race.
They start by finding a snail for everyone, then write their initial on the shell with a felt tip pen.
Put them all on one paving slab, or together on the grass, and watch!
It's surprising how fast a snail can move 😂
🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌

Grannynannywanny

When my grandchildren were young their favourite garden pastime was “painting” the paving slabs with water. A few seaside buckets so they could have one each and a 2 inch emulsion brush. They’d draw pictures on the patio and compare notes before they quickly dried off and they could start again.

When my now 15 yr old grandson was little he’d leave his pavement artist siblings and cousins to water paint on the slabs and he’d work his way round the fence with his bucket and paintbrush.

Now they are all older they do enjoy a game of Jenga with a garden set. Or if you don’t mind the mess and high pitched squealing water pistols are good cheap fun.

Water painting! What a simple but great idea, bet they had loads of fun😃

They all loved it Oreo and just last weekend the 2 oldest age 15 and 17 were reminiscing about it. They spent the weekend with me and volunteered to paint the garden fence. They were laughing about how they used to love painting the slabs and fence with water when they were little. No water this time, they set about it with Ronseal 😊

It sure how much you want to spend but Aldi have a range of outdoor games on sale at the moment. Giant Jenga, giant connect 4 and also a badminton set. All about £12

you can buy the chalks for the patio slabs in most supermarkets, they love them

For the older children I'd recommend Giant Jenga or Connect 4. Our youngest GC, aged 17 months, loves sitting in a small paddling pool (just a couple of feet wide and two rings high) with play sand and some simple cups to fill up and empty, build little sandcastles and generally just have fun with the sand. I'd avoid anything that flies about, like frisbees or balls - as you say, the little ones will probably get hit on the head or knocked over!

Bubbles are great too, as long as the older ones understand that they shouldn't get too rough when trying to catch/pop them...

Try Kubb game. It's Swedish I think but easily bought here. It's great for children and adults alike. It involves throwing sticks in order to knock down other sticks. Sounds silly and it is simple but hours of fun. Great find!

Plant pot or 'bucket' stilts - image search - easy to make at home - if you have suitable sized plastic pots and string.

Get/make Beanbags cut target holes in a big cardboard box, they can also play catch / hopscotch with them, make hacky sacks & the boys can play keepy uppy - if you’re not able to make these you could use balloons filled with rice/lentils/polystyrene balls (the latter would be softer if hit by one)
What about organising a garden treasure hunt

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacky_sack

Hire a bouncy castle all ages enjoy that and a reasure hunt