15 Minutes - Nature Play

Head outside to the garden, green or nearby park. Each person picks something from Nature as their "Safety" (like a leaf, tree, stone, grass, flower, twig etc). Everyone starts with say 10 lives. Set an interval alarm on your phone, for example every 2 minutes. When the alarm rings, everyone has to race to touch their "Safety" and the last one looses a life. The Survivor is the person with the least lives lost at the end. The fun comes when you try to distract each other from thinking of the alarm and catch people out - so have them run ahead, skip, hop, walk backwards, sideways or simply stroll along together - simple fun.

Everyone has to guess where they will arrive if you walk for a certain length of time in one direction. See who gets closest with their guess. When you get there, you have to really explore the spot and find something new- get down close to the ground, look all around, listen, and see what you can find. Even better if it's in your garden, the local green or park- there will be lots to check out when you stop to observe. You can play by just counting steps or use minutes to get further away - whatever suits. This is a handy trick for complaining kids on a walk or drive- keep them occupied with a challenge!

Use this easy printable to get the kids chasing down the different leaves in your garden or green space

Let the kids explore with this easy printable

A timeless classic fun activity, works well with pets too! Don't have a frisbee? Get retro and use a disc shaped object from around your home. Large lids work well.

Standing back, try and throw the bean bag (or small ball) through each rung on the ladder - first one to get them all wins.

Tuck a scarf into the child's waistband and play a game of tag. Winner is last one still with their scarf.

Pretend you are a line of elephants, linked trunk to tail. Don't break the chain!

Just add water! Set the kids up outside with a basin, measuring jugs, bucket, plastic bowls, cups, paper straws, ladle or whatever comes to hand. They will invent and experiment to their hearts content!

Set up a target and see who can hit it with a water Jet. Used washing up liquid bottles work great. Who can make the strongest water jet from different used plastic bottles at home? Check out the link and let the older kids take on the challenge!

See who can kick, strike, throw a ball the furthest. Set up round targets, with hula hoops or buckets, around the back garden or nearby open space and ramp up the competition if you like.. Older kids can be challenged to use their weaker foot, do it by hand, do it blindfolded, be a lot further from target etc to level the playing field for a mixed age group.

Grab as many footballs as you can, and play a game of giant marbles. Football Golf is also great fun, set a few buckets on their side around, and a course to follow, and off they go.

How low can you go? Hold the sweeping brush out and challenge the kids to a Limbo. Turn on some dance tunes for extra jizz.

This one needs no explanation - grab what you can, fill it with water, get drenched! Sponges are a great, reusable, alternative to water balloons.

Washing up liquid, some water, a bowl and a wand - hey presto! Check out the link for how to make Giant Bubbles and homemade wands. You can buy Glycerine in most pharmacies and supermarkets and it is useful for lots of home crafts. Eco Tip - Use paper straws instead of plastic ones.

Bring your mini-vehicles with you for a spin round the green

Skipping ropes are great at keeping you super fit and are fun in a group too. Grab an extra long rope to get the kids in your area in on the fun https://buyjumpropes.net/resources/jump-rope-games/. Hopscotch can be as easy or as hard as you like..

Anyone can enjoy a game of football or basketball? Really, kids just want us to take part, stand in goal, pass to them, encourage them, so whether you can actually play the sport yourself is completely irrelevant to them!

Try new moves, reach new heights!

A trip to a local playground could be just the ticket to keep them happy

Put on their wellies. They'll take it from there.

If you have a kite, get outdoors and have fun - if you don't - check out the handy download