With technology taking over the world, it is rare for kids to play on the street with their friends nowadays. Electronics like computers, smartphones, and Nintendo take center stage, so children rarely give other activities a chance. Even board games cannot hold their ground as they once did.
So, what kind of games can we offer our kids to make them go outside and spend time in the sun? We have a few ideas that might help your young ones make the most of their playground time, so let’s dive right in.
Kerby
UK kids have been playing Kerby for centuries, and with good reason. This street game even has a championship, with more than 20,000 participants. But what is it? The beloved Kerby street game takes place between two curbs and two players. Each player stands on a curb and tosses the ball to hit the curb so that it bounces back to the thrower.
The game shouldn’t last more than eight minutes, giving players enough time to score 15 points with a two-point difference. Each participant gets one point if they hit the curb and the ball rolls or bounces back to the thrower and two points if it flies through the air back to the thrower. Players get no points if the ball doesn’t hit the curb or the catcher grabs it. The same stands if the ball doesn’t go back to the thrower’s side of the street.
Dodgeball
It’s hard to find a person who hasn’t heard of dodgeball or at least watched the Vince Vaughn movie from 2004 — more about it here. Either way, dodgeball is a fun game for a larger group of people, so you can play with all the neighborhood kids if you want to. The idea is to arrange a couple of softballs at the center of the street, then split into two teams of equal sizes and line up at least a few meters from the balls.
Then, you should all run simultaneously to the balls, grab them, and hit your opponents with them. The goal is to avoid being hit while trying to strike other people with the balls. You can use other softballs that fall to the ground as long as you do not cross the imaginary (or chalk-drawn line) at the center of the street — the last team standing wins.
Street Soccer
Soccer is something we’ve all seen, if not played, at some point in our lives, but street soccer just hits differently. It’s a great action game that you can improvise with your friends. You don’t need to follow the rules to the letter — it’s all about having fun. However, if you prefer to play a full 90-minute game, it might be better to rent a field.
Either way, you only need a couple of friends and a soccer ball. Split into two teams (you don’t even have to make it two teams of ten) and select two goalkeepers. You can improvise the goals and use lawn chairs, buckets, or tree branches to mark the area. Pass the ball around, try to outsmart the goalkeeper, and score as many goals as possible. The idea is to have a good time, so make sure you do just that!
Hide and Seek
Hide and seek is a classic street game. It has been around for centuries, and you don’t even need any additional equipment to play — a couple of your friends will do the trick. You have to pick one friend to count to a certain number with their eyes closed while the rest of you hide. The seeker will then look for everyone hiding: the first person found is the next seeker, and the last is the round winner.
Hide and seek is an international street game, so the rules differ. It’s best to set them beforehand among yourselves to avoid any confusion. For example, you can ensure that some locations are off-limits or explain how the tag system works. It’s quite an active pastime that helps children sharpen their senses, so make sure you suggest it to your kids.
