16 ESSENTIALS: TOYS
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FUN OUTDOOR GAMES
OUR TOP OUTDOOR TOYS
We’re optimistically predicting a long hot summer – so get out there with your kids and teach them some old-fashioned outdoor games.
Traditional wooden rounders game, €41.93, Dotcomgiftshop
Chad Valley castle ball pit and pool, €77.99, Argos
1
Red Light, Green Light
This is a pretty simple game and can be played with as many or as few people as you want. One person is the traffic light and stands down one end, while everyone else stands at the other end of the area. When the traffic light is facing towards the players, he/she says ‘Red Light’ and everyone must freeze. Then he/she turns her back and says ‘Green Light’ and the group tries to get as close to the traffic light as possible. The traffic light then turns around quickly, saying ‘Red Light’ and anyone spotted moving has to go back to the start. The goal is to be the first person to get to the traffic light.
2
Simon Says
This one is easy peasy too, and can be played anywhere. One person is Simon and begins the game by saying ‘Simon says [insert action]’.
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Everyone playing must then do the action. Simon continues to give out instructions, but if he/she gives an instruction without saying ‘Simon says’ at the start, anyone who does the action is out. The last person standing is Simon for the next round.
3
Hopscotch
Grab some chalk and draw out a hopscotch grid from numbers 1 to 10. Use a small rock or a coin for playing. Start by throwing the rock onto Square no. 1. Avoiding the square with the coin/ rock in it, hop with one or two feet, according to the hopscotch grid, all the way to the end, turn around and repeat to the square with the rock. Bend down and pick up the rock and go back to the start. Continue by throwing the rock onto the second square and repeat the process. Continue to the 10th square. If you throw the rock and miss the square, your turn is over and the next person gets a go.
4
Duck, Duck, Goose
Everyone sits in a circle on the ground except for one person who is ‘it’. The person who is ‘it’ walks slowly around the circle tapping each person gently on the head saying ‘duck’ each time until he/she decides to call one person ‘goose!’. The goose then gets up and chases the person who is ‘it’ around the circle – if ‘it’ gets back to sit in ‘goose’s’ place without getting caught, then ‘goose’ becomes ‘it’.
5
Piggy in the Middle
This can be played with three people, or with many people all in a circle. The person designated the piggy stands in the centre and has to try and intercept the ball as it’s thrown from one person to another over his/her head. If the piggy gets the ball, the person who threw the ball is now the piggy.
Water Play Table, €54.99, ELC @ Mothercare
Little Tikes Easy Store Giant Slide Green, €139.99, Smyths
Pop-Up tunnel, €12, Tiger
15/05/2017 15:56