Ring toss
Cut down a cardboard box so you’re left with a shallow base that’s just about four inches high. Fill it with empty glass bottles packed side to side. Another option is to make a simple stick ring toss. Rings are usually available at craft stores.
Giant Jenga
Go oversized with Jenga by cutting 2x4s in identical rectangular sizes and painting them in bold and bright colors. Stack your wooden blocks crisscrossed up to about 15 blocks high. Each player will take a turn removing a block and hoping the tower doesn’t tumble.
Obstacle course
Create an obstacle course in your backyard. Tie ropes to trees for participants to dodge. Roll up sleeping bags to jump over and place cones to maneuver around. Line up obstacle courses side-by-side so players can challenge an opponent.
Searching for buried ice treasure
Keep kids busy during the heat of summer by freezing toys into a big block of ice and giving them spoons to dig up the treasures. This game will cool children off and occupy hours of their day.
There’s no end to the outdoor yard games you can come up with to entertain family and friends this summer. Just let your imagination wander and think about what you would have liked to play as a kid.