Every year, a few weeks before the summer vacation starts, parents are stressing out about what to do during the summer. I did too, a few years ago. Especially when the kids were smaller. Now the kids are bigger and the older kids take care of the younger one. Not only that, but now the kids are bigger, we can do summer activities with the whole family. Some organization is needed, but I’ll do everything right now to get the kids off the computers and iPad and have fun with the family. Here is a whole list with awesome Outdoor Family Activities!
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Outdoor Treasure Hunts
Summertime means outside time. Instead to do Indoor Treasure Hunts (which you still can do if there is a Summer storm or it is too hot outside), it is super fun to organize Outdoor Treasure Hunts. Some of these are easy to set up.
Just read over the “Easter” part of everything. For example the bike ride: You’ll still use the colored ribbons, but the bike ride ends at the ice cream store for example.
Big Outdoor Games
With our new house came a big yard. Unfortunately the yard is mostly slanted, but we figured out 2 places where we could have a pool and a place to play badminton. We love playing games outside!
Before the COVID-pandemic hit, we went to a family friendly place in our town regularly, where they had terrific food, lots of picnic tables and lots of space for the kids to run around. One of the games they had, were “Cornhole boards”. If you are handy, you can make a lot of these games yourself. Below you can find some fun ones and where you can buy them!
Cornhole Boards
If you have the tools to make them, here are some free plans.
Giant wooden Brick Tower
Here is the DIY version on how to make these blocks yourself.
Four in a row game
I would love to try these all. We will a blast this summer. Here is the DIY plan for a big 4-in-a-row-game.
Yardzee Game
At the moment our youngest of 7 is obsessed with this game. A great way to sneak in some math:)
Giant Tic-Tac-Toe Game
If you are very handy, these O’s and X’s can be made out of wood. Here are DIY plans for you.
Dominos
At home we have the Mexican domino version, but we use the domino stones to play domino’s as well. can you imagine to play this game outside with your family? I just have to get our two oldest interested to do family activities.
Pipe Yard Ball game
I have never heard of this game before, but it is an easy one to play and fun for little kids too!
Here are the DIY plans for this outdoor family summer activity.
Boredom Jar
During this summer, my husband is going back to work a few days a week and I’ll be working outside of the house every morning. Our oldest will take care of our youngest and her friend from school for 3 mornings a week. In case the kids get bored, I told my oldest to make a “Boredom Jar”.
This is a jar with popsicle sticks where we will write down activities or games for them to do. They can pick out one popsicle stick and it’ll say what their next activity will be! I hope they’re going to like it. Our oldest also wanted a box with the materials in them, so they could easily pick the materials for the chosen activity, craft or game out of the box.
If an activity or craft needs some time to set up, you can say that you’ll need a few minutes to set up. The kids can either help setting up or they could go and play for a few more minutes.
Examples to write on the popsicle sticks
- make a puzzle
- weaving
- make a stepping stone
- watercolor flowers (with coffee filters and markers)
- perler beads
- play dough (2 cups flour, 3/4 cup salt, 4 tsp cream of tartar, 2 cups lukewarm water, 2 Tbsp vegetable oil, food coloring)
- make wind chimes (pots, paint and beads)
- decorate flower pots with seeds
- Q-tip painting
- ice cream in a bag
- story time
- make puzzle (but hide pieces first)
- play bingo
- make a Japanese paper lantern (and decorate them)
- chalk art
- bubble wands
- make moon sand (in a big flat tub 8 cups flour, 1 cup baby oil)
- make a fairy garden
- paper spinner
- make a robot (boxes, buttons, aluminum foil)
- jump rope
- water bottle soccer (scroll down for the rules)
- string art
- face paint
- friendship bracelets
- God’s eye craft (sticks and yarn)
- tie dye shirts
- Diamond painting Something Dutch, A mandala, something for kids, or something custom made.
Traditional Dutch games
In the Netherlands these are called “Oud-Hollandse Spelen”. These games, we used to play during birthday parties and other events like “Kindervakantie week” (which is a camp for a week for kids).
Here are some of the common ones. Some of them could be a little strange looking. But they are fun!
- Spijkerpoepen
If you translate this game literally, I would say “nailpooping”. You need a bottle (small beer bottles work the best for kids. Tie a string around your waist (or a belt with a string down in the back) at the end of the string tie a big nail. See who can get the nail in the bottle, without touching the nail or string.
- Koekhappen
I think in the US they use donuts (because they already have a hole) for this game. In the Netherlands we usually use “peperkoek”, but you can use any kind of soft cookies, even rice crispies could work. As long as the kids like them. String the cookies on a piece of string and hang the string inbetween 2 trees for example. Hands on the back. Who can eat their cookie of the string first?
- Ballontrappen
Tie a balloon on one ankle of each person. Be careful not to step on your own balloon. When someone says “start”, you try to step on other person’s balloons. Who will be the last one?
- Blikgooien
Stack up 15 cups or cans on a table. Use balls, like tennis balls. Every person will get 3 balls to try to throw the cans or cups off the table.
- Snoephappen
This game has the same rules as “Bobbing for Apples”. But instead of apples we used wrapped candies.
- Ezeltje Prik
This is the same as “Pin the Tail on the Donkey”
- Flessenvoetbal
For this game everyone will get a plastic soda bottle filled with water. You put anywhere on the lawn. You have to guard your bottle with water, but at the same time you need to try to kick a soccer ball around and kick other people’s bottles over. If your bottle falls down, pick it up as fast as you can. Whose bottle will be empty before anyone elses?
- Sjoelen
For this game you need a special game board with wooden discs. Here you can see how to make it.
Races
- Eierrace
For this race you need to figure out the distance. Say 20 feet. Put a cone or chair on that mark. You can make this into a relay race or a timed race. The people who a racing will get a spoon and an egg (can be hardboiled). Put the egg on the spoon. Who is the quickest to go from the start around the cone or chair and back without touching the egg and only holding the spoon.
- Blik of steltlopen
We used to make these ourselves. You need 2 cans and 2 pieces of string. Turn the cans so the open side is down. Make 2 holes on the opposite sides close to the bottom of each can. Tie each string on each can, so you will have a loop to hold onto. Who can walk on top of these stilts the fastest?
- Zaklopen
For this game you need Jute or Burlap bags. You can do this in a relay race or a timed race if you only have 1 bag. Like the Egg race, mark the distance with a cone or chair. Who is back first?
Summer Challenges
Last but not least for these fun outdoor Summer Family activities, the Summer Challenges!
I made these a few years ago when I was at home with the kids and I gave them one challenge a day. The challenges were based on STEAM activities. The kids had a blast!
Hope you all have a wonderful summer!!! Please let me know if you have any other amazing ideas, comments or questions!!!
Hello everyone,
Welcome to my Crafty Dutch Girl blog! Grab a cup of “koffie” and browse through fun blog posts about our Dutch family expat life in the USA, Dutch history, Dutch recipes, Dutch things to do in the USA and all kinds of crafts and activities. Don’t forget to connect with me for new ideas! “Groetjes en tot ziens”.