5 Schoolyard Games for Kids That Don't Require Toys

Kids create memories and get exercise when they play outdoors. Here are 5 Schoolyard Games That Don’t Require Toys that will get kids of all ages moving!

The games that we played out on the schoolyard are some of the most endearing parts of our childhoods. Most kids don’t get to enjoy those games anymore. Gym class at school has become much more rigid and sports centric. The basic games have lost their allure and need to be brought back. Here are 5 Schoolyard Games for Kids That Don’t Require Toys. They require absolutely no toys at all, just a wonderful imagination!

5 Schoolyard Games for Kids That Don’t Require Toys

Tag- It is hard to imagine a kid going through childhood without playing tag, but it happens. Whatever the case, a kid should get to enjoy this schoolyard classic the right way. The original tag game that I enjoyed was based around themes. We would switch it up depending on who was it and what they wanted. Here were our 3 favorite variations:

Freeze tag – You can’t move once you are tagged by whomever was “it” but are freed up when anyone else touches you.
Home base tag – You have to reach a destination before being tagged in order to be safe.
Flag tag – You have to grab someone’s flag to eliminate them. (This works great with arguing kids because it is obvious whether they were “gotten” or not.)

Red Rover- This is a great game for younger kids and it is easy for everyone. Basically, you line up two teams horizontal to one another and have them join hands. Then take turns “sending over” someone from the other team to try to break through the joined hands. This game is not as good for older kids because they will eventually hurt one another.

Simon Says- One of the most basic schoolyard games out there is also one of the most enjoyable. My wife and I actually enjoyed playing this with our girls better than any of them. Have one person be ‘Simon’ and the others are given simple commands. These commands should be proceeded by the phrase “Simon says” for the others to do it. If you call out a command and don’t say Simon Says, they should continue what they are already doing. If they get it wrong, they are eliminated. This is great fun and requires nothing but imagination to enjoy.

Hide and Seek- This simplistic game is about as straightforward as it gets, but few games have endured longer. To this day, Hide and Seek is still one of the first games chosen when seeking something to do. Someone tries to find everyone else after hiding their eyes for a count of 30. Fun for all ages and loaded with excitement, hide and seek is a wonderful schoolyard game that requires no toys to enjoy.

Dizzy Races- To get some serious fun and laughter going, have them run a few dizzy races. The premise is simple but you need a large open area with plenty of soft grass because they might fall down. Have kids line up two at a time for a race making sure to put plenty of distance between them. Have them each spin around as fast as they can ten times before saying go. Point them initially in the right direction and then watch the fun!