Plan a fantastic family reunion with our ultimate guide to outdoor games for exciting, inclusive activities for all ages, plus expert tips!
Incorporating family reunion outdoor games into your event is a surefire way to guarantee everyone has a fantastic time. These activities entertain and strengthen bonds among family members of all ages, abilities and interests.
In this thorough guide, we will explore various fun games for family reunions, categorized by age groups, to help you plan an unforgettable gathering. Whether you’re organizing a picnic in the park or a backyard barbecue, these outdoor games for reunions will add that special element to your memorable celebration.
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Family Reunion Outdoor Games and Ideas by Age Group
To help you choose the perfect activities, we’ve organized the games into age groups. This way, you can ensure that everyone, from the youngest tot to the oldest grandparent, can participate. In addition to the games below, readers can check out other resources like Playworks’ Game Library for more fun ideas.
Outdoor Games for Young Children (Ages 3-8)
Family reunion outdoor games for kids ages 3 to 8 include mini obstacle courses, which are also fun to build! Photo credit: Freepik
Mini Obstacle Course
Setup: Create a simple course using cones, hula hoops, and pool noodles.
How to Play: Children navigate the course by jumping over hurdles, crawling under obstacles, and weaving through cones.
Tip: Keep the course short and straightforward, adjusting challenges based on the children’s ages.
Sack Races
Setup: Provide burlap sacks or pillowcases for each child. Mark a start and finish line in your outdoor space.
How to Play: Children climb into their sacks and hop from the start to the finish line. The first one to cross the line wins.
Tip: For safety, ensure the race area is free of obstacles, and consider shorter distances for younger kids.
Water Balloon Toss
Setup: Fill several water balloons and pair up the children.
How to Play: Partners stand close together and toss the balloon back and forth, stepping further apart with each successful catch. The pair that lasts the longest without breaking their balloon wins.
Tip: Use biodegradable balloons and have an adult supervise the filling process to prevent accidents.
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Popular multi-age games include capture the flag for an exciting group activity. Photo credit Freepik
Outdoor Games for Pre-teens and Teens
Capture the Flag
Setup: Divide the area into two territories and split players into two teams. Each team hides a “flag” (a bandana or scarf) in their territory.
How to Play: Teams try to find and capture the other team’s flag without being tagged in enemy territory.
Tip: Establish clear boundaries and safe zones to keep the game fair and fun for everyone.
Scavenger Hunt
Setup: Create a list of items to find or challenges to complete around the venue.
How to Play: Players or teams search for the items or complete tasks within a set time limit.
Tip: Incorporate family history or inside jokes to make the hunt more personalized and engaging.
Family-Friendly Kickball
Setup: Set up bases like in baseball, using cones or markers.
How to Play: Similar to baseball, players kick a rubber ball instead of hitting it with a bat.
Tip: Encourage mixed-age teams to promote inclusivity and use a softer ball to accommodate all skill levels.
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Cornhole is easy to set up and adds competitive fun to your event. Photo credit Freepik
Outdoor Games for Adults
Cornhole
Setup: Set up cornhole boards about 27 feet apart, with bean bags for tossing.
How to Play: Players take turns tossing bean bags at the opposite board, aiming for the hole or landing on the board for points.
Tip: Keep score to add a competitive edge and consider hosting a cornhole tournament.
Bocce Ball
Setup: You need a set of bocce balls and a relatively flat playing area.
How to Play: Players or teams take turns tossing their balls, trying to get closest to the smaller target ball (the pallino).
Tip: This game is leisurely and allows for conversation, making it perfect for adults who want to relax and catch up.
Lawn Darts
Setup: Place target rings on the ground and provide lawn darts.
How to Play: Players stand at a designated distance and toss darts into the target rings for points.
Tip: Choose safety darts with rounded ends to prevent injuries.
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Tug-of-war engages all ages in an outdoor activity that tests strength and balance. Photo credit Freepik
Mixed-Age Outdoor Games
Tug-of-War
Setup: Use a sturdy rope and mark a center line on the ground.
How to Play: Two teams pull on opposite ends of the rope, aiming to pull the other team across the center line.
Tip: Balance teams by mixing ages and strengths and having a soft landing area in case someone falls.
Relay Races
Setup: Set up a course with different stations for various activities.
How to Play: Teams compete by completing tasks like spoon-and-egg, three-legged, or sack races.
Tip: Make the races humorous by adding silly challenges, like wearing oversized clothes or funny hats.
Family Trivia Game
Setup: Prepare questions about family history, fun facts, or general knowledge.
How to Play: Divide into teams, and have an emcee read out questions. Teams write down their answers, and points are awarded for correct responses.
Tip: Include questions suitable for all ages and encourage older family members to share stories related to trivia.
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By Billy Stampfl, Contributing Writer
