Getting the whole family moving doesn’t need special equipment, a big budget, or a sports pitch. It just needs a bit of space and a willingness to be a little silly together. These fun games to play with kids that will get the family exercising are all free, quick to set up, and work for children of every age and ability — nobody needs to be the fastest or the strongest to join in and have fun.
Play them in the garden, at the park, on the beach, or in any open field. And if the weather turns, most of these games adapt easily to a hallway, sitting room or garage, so a rainy day doesn’t have to mean a screen day.
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Active Games to Play with Kids
#1. Obstacle Course
Build a simple obstacle course to get everyone running, jumping, hopping and crawling. Use cushions to hop over, a chair to crawl under, or a line of cones to weave through. Time each family member and see who can beat their own personal best — it’s more fun as a challenge against the clock than against each other.
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#2. Musical Creepy Crawlies
Lie on your back with arms and legs wiggling in the air like an upturned beetle. When the music stops, jump up as fast as you can. The last person up is out. Keep going until there’s a winner.
#3. Penguin Shuffle
Stand side by side with a bean bag or something soft balanced between your feet. Shuffle across the floor penguin-style without dropping it. First to reach the other side wins the round.
#4. Tug-Of-War
All you need is a skipping rope or a length of sturdy rope. Split into teams and try different combinations — youngest versus oldest, or everyone against one strong adult — to see which team pulls it off.
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#5. Hit the Deck
Pick four simple activities the whole family can manage. Using a deck of cards, take turns drawing one, and do the activity linked to its suit. For example:
- Hearts = Skip for 1 minute
- Diamonds = Play hopscotch
- Clubs = Run around the garden 3 times
- Spades = 5 star jumps
#6. Tightrope Walk
Mark out a line, or lay down a rope, to act as your tightrope. Walk heel-to-toe along it without stepping off. See how many times each person can cross without wobbling off balance.
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#7. Freeze Tag
Whoever is “It” tags players, who must freeze exactly where they are. Frozen players are freed when a teammate crawls through their legs. The game ends once everyone is frozen at the same time.
#8. Cotton Wool Race
Give each player a bowl of cotton wool balls and an empty bowl placed a little distance away. Using a spoon, players race to move all their cotton wool balls into the empty bowl, one at a time, without dropping them.
#9. Family Frisbee
Head into the garden for a round of Frisbee — or try a twist on it with Frisbee bocce:
- Give each player a Frisbee and line everyone up.
- The first player rolls a tennis ball forward as far as they can.
- Each player then takes a turn tossing their Frisbee, aiming to land it on the ball.
- Landing a Frisbee on the ball wins that round and two points.
- Otherwise, whoever’s Frisbee lands closest to the ball wins one point.
- First to five points wins the game.
#10. Blob Tag
Whoever is “It” tags a player, and the two join hands to chase everyone else together. Each new player tagged joins the chain, until the whole family becomes one giant “Blob” chasing down the last person standing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do these games need any special equipment?
No. Most need only things you already have at home, such as a rope, a deck of cards, cushions, a Frisbee or some cotton wool balls. A couple of the games need nothing at all beyond a bit of floor space.
What ages are these games suitable for?
They’re designed to suit mixed-age families. Younger children can join in fully, and there’s no requirement to be the fastest or strongest — the aim is participation and fun rather than competition.
Can we play these games indoors on a rainy day?
Yes. Games like Musical Creepy Crawlies, Penguin Shuffle, Freeze Tag and Cotton Wool Race all work well in a hallway, sitting room or garage when the weather keeps you indoors.
How long should we play for?
There’s no fixed time — even 15 to 20 minutes of active play makes a difference. Mix a few games together for a longer session, or pick just one or two on a busy day.
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- 10 Games to Play on the Trampoline Guaranteed to Make the Kids Giggle
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