To avoid this, we’ve highlighted our favourite DIY garden games that are guaranteed to keep the kids entertained this summer. So slap on the sun screen and get playing…
- Lawn twister
Guaranteed to have the whole family in stiches, this quick and easy to make game is one that everyone can get involved in and, unlike the board game, requires no spinner - just one player to shout a colour and a body part!
Create your own outdoor mat by spray painting coloured dots directly onto your lawn - don’t panic as it will only last a week or so depending on the paint you use and will cause no lasting damage to the grass blades. Let it dry and have fun!
- Ten ‘Bottle’ Bowling
Turn your back garden into your very own bowling alley with this DIY version of the classic game. It does take a little forward planning as you will need to collect ten empty bottles in order to play. Not to worry if you aren’t able to collect all ten, aim for five and create a fun mini game. Let the kids imaginations run wild and ask them to paint the makeshift skittles with funny faces or fun, bright colours - it’s a great way to get them involved from the start. Once they’ve dried, head out into the garden, assemble the pins in a triangle and have fun trying to knock them down.
- Treasure Hunt
Depending on the size of your outdoor space, this could keep little ones entertained for hours. It’s a great way to educate them as to what can be found in the garden, but best of all it will teach them to love being outdoors. Decide where and what will end the treasure hunt first and work backwards designing clues. It’s important to keep the clues age appropriate either written as a pun, rhyme, riddle or in one or two simple sentences. As kids love surprises, be sure to throw a few in here and there with small prizes dotted throughout to keep the excitement going during the game.
- Build their perfect hideaway
This is a great way to encourage younger ones to create their own outdoor adventure. Whether it’s their secret den, fairytale castle or pirate ship it doesn’t require a lot just a few bed sheets, chairs and imaginations. If you leave them to their own devices, they will happily build and play for hours. It can be an exciting base for them to read a book, listen to music or play with friends, as well as it being a cool, sheltered area out of the sun on a warm summer’s day.
- Create an obstacle course
Set up buckets to jump over, hula hoops to climb threw and cold water to splash in - the possibilities are endless when it comes to designing your outdoor obstacle course. It’s a great way to keep the kids active and if you’re a competitive family it’s one everyone can get involved with. Why not include a few surprises such as water balloons to keep the little ones on their feet. We guarantee that you’ll have just as much fun building it as the kids will completing the course!