Five Free Ways to Have Fun with your Family this Fall

Most of our kids are back in school, sitting 8 hours a day, often times wearing a mask. Getting out in the backyard, enjoying fresh air and family time is perfect for fall.

The temps are more mild and kids are ready to burn some energy after a long school day. Playing together not only helps you and your children ‘de-stress,’ but also strengthens the bond with your kids!

Here are FIVE free games to play with your family! 

1. Dog tail:

• Pull out the longest socks you own.
• Everyone tucks one sock into the back of their shorts, like a dog tail.
• The object is to grab everyone else’s “tail” (or sock) while keeping your own.
• Say GO and the last one wearing a sock wins! 

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2. Mr. Fox, what time is it?

• Select one person to be Mr. or Mrs. Fox. This person will stand with his or her back to the rest of the players. 
• All other players line up on the other side of the yard/field. The players take turns asking Mr. Fox what time it is. (“Mr. Fox, what time is it?)
• The fox will then respond with a time, such as 3 o’clock. The players must then take the same number of steps forward (in this case, 3 steps). These steps may be as large or small as the players wish, no matter how close they get to the fox.
• When Mr. Fox is ready, he will respond to “What time is it?” with “LUNCHTIME!”
• When the kids hear ‘lunchtime,’ they will run back to the starting line and try not to get “tagged” by Mr. Fox.

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3. Create an Obstacle Course

Work with your kids to design an obstacle course in the backyard and time each other to complete the course.

4. “Vote with your Feet!”

This is a take on the “Would you rather?” game, except your kids have to run to one or the other side of the yard.

If they “vote” for the first one, run to the right. If they vote for second, run to the left. 

Would you rather….

Be Superman or Batman?

Eat Pizza or Hotdogs?

Ride a roller coaster or a water slide?

Go to Target or Walmart?

Laugh or cry?

Jump high or run fast?

Have summer all year or winter all year?

Be really smart or really funny?

Drive a truck or a sports car?

Go back in time or go to the future?

Be able to fly or be invisible?

Have ONE great friend or 20 pretty good friends?

Be in the Mountains or at the Beach?

Take a ride in a speed boat or helicopter? 

Go Skydiving or Swim with Sharks?

Build a Sand Castle or Play in the Waves?

Go Skiing or Ride a bike?

Watch a Movie or Read a Book?

Go Rock climbing or Swimming?

Own a Cat or a Dog?

Write a Story or a Draw picture?

Clean the Bathroom or Vacuum the carpet?

Ice Skate or Roller Skate?

Drink Pop or Water?

Play Inside or Outside?

Take a Shower or Bath?

Take a trip to Australia or Italy?

Go Fishing or Make slime?

Play a Video game or Board game?

Have more time or more money?

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5. Be creative with sidewalk chalk:

• Lay down and trace each other – then decorate with clothes, faces, etc.
• Write a word of encouragement for passers-by
• Use tape and color in the spaces like stained glass 

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What game will YOU play outside this fall? Leave me comment!

Thanks for reading!

Love,
Kathryn Egly