Backyard summer activities: fun ways to keep the kids active and engaged!

Backyard summer activities

There’s nothing quite like the magic of summer — long days filled with sunshine, laughter, and plenty of outdoor adventures. And we know parents are often looking for ways to keep their kids active, engaged, and entertained without constant screen time or expensive outings! 

Luckily, you don’t have to leave your backyard to create unforgettable summer memories. From exciting games and creative play to cooling off with water-based activities, there are endless ways to turn your outdoor space into a haven of summer fun.

1. Outdoor games and challenges

Transform your backyard into the ultimate play zone with a mix of classic games and exciting challenges. These activities are perfect for getting kids moving, laughing, and enjoying some friendly competition.

Classic games

You can’t go wrong with these timeless favourites!

  • Tag/chasey/whatever you like to call it: Mix it up with variations like Freeze Tag or Shadow Tag.
  • Hopscotch: Draw a hopscotch grid with chalk for a simple but fun activity.
  • Hide-and-seek: Let the kids use their imagination to find the best hiding spots in the yard.

Obstacle course fun

Turn your backyard into a mini adventure park with an obstacle course!

  • Use household items like chairs, cones, or ropes to create different challenges.
  • Incorporate our monkey bar sets for climbing, swinging, and upper body challenges.
  • Make it a timed race to add a little excitement and competition.

Beanbag challenge

  • Beanbag Toss: Pair up and see how far you can toss without dropping it.
  • Target Practice: Set up targets for kids to aim at.
  • Beanbag Dodgeball: A fun twist on a classic game — just make sure to play it safely! 
Beanbag challenge

2. Water-based activities to beat the heat

When the summer sun gets a little too intense, it’s time to cool things down with some water-based activities! These ideas will turn your backyard into a mini oasis where kids can splash, play, and stay refreshed all day long.

Backyard water park

Create your very own water park at home:

  • Set up a sprinkler for kids to run through.
  • Add an inflatable pool for splashing and cooling off.
  • Create a water slide using a tarp, a gentle slope, and a hose.

Water balloon dodgeball

Put a refreshing twist on a classic game:

  • Divide the kids into two teams and give each a bucket of water balloons.
  • The goal? Dodge incoming balloons while trying to soak the other team!
  • Emphasise safe, gentle throws to keep the fun going without any bumps or bruises.

DIY water play station

A water play station is perfect for younger kids:

  • Set up buckets, tubs, or large containers filled with water.
  • Add cups, sponges, and toys for scooping, pouring, and splashing fun.
  • Incorporate coloured water or bubbles for extra excitement.

Creative play and imagination

Let your kids get creative by transforming your backyard into a canvas for imaginative play. These activities let kids explore, create, and dream up adventures that are as magical as they are memorable.

Outdoor art station

Bring out your kids’ inner artists!

  • Set up a table with paint, brushes, and paper for outdoor masterpieces.
  • Use sidewalk chalk to create colourful drawings or hopscotch grids on the pavement.
  • Try water painting — fill a bucket with water and let kids “paint” on fences or patios with brushes.

Nature-based play

Encourage kids to use the natural world as their playground:

  • Create a leaf collage using leaves, sticks, and flowers found in the backyard.
  • Make mud pies or pretend “soups” using dirt, water, and natural ingredients.
  • Go on a nature scavenger hunt to find different plants, rocks, or insects.

Backyard camping adventure

Take playtime to the next level with a day of pretend camping:

  • Set up a tent or fort using blankets, pillows, or even a monkey bar set.
  • Create a “campfire” circle using rocks, and pretend to roast marshmallows or tell stories.
  • End the day with some stargazing or a backyard picnic under the evening sky.

Hot tip: our swinging cubbies are PERFECT for this! 

Backyard camping adventure

Backyard fitness and active play

Keep your kids healthy, energised, and having a blast with backyard fitness activities that make exercise feel like play! These simple ideas will inspire movement, build strength, and get the whole family involved.

Fitness challenges

Turn exercise into a game with fun fitness challenges:

  • Kids’ Yoga: Teach simple yoga poses like tree, warrior, and downward dog.
  • Mini Boot Camp: Set up a circuit with exercises like jumping jacks, squats, and push-ups.
  • Timed Challenges: See who can hold a plank or balance on one foot the longest.

Monkey bar adventures

Make the most of your Funky Monkey Bars with active play:

  • Create a daily swinging challenge to see how far they can go across the bars.
  • Try a pull-up competition to build upper body strength.
  • Invent new challenges like crossing the bars with one hand or timing how fast they can get from one end to the other.

Check out our monkey bar accessories!

Family-friendly workouts

Get everyone moving with simple exercises the whole family can do together:

  • Walk & Talk: Go for a backyard stroll and chat about your day.
  • Follow the Leader: Take turns leading different movements like skipping, hopping, or jogging.
  • Fitness Bingo: Create a bingo card with exercises, then complete them as a team. 
Family-friendly workouts

5. Evening activities under the stars

When the sun goes down, the fun doesn’t have to end! Transform your backyard into a magical evening playground with these after-dark activities that make the most of warm summer nights.

Backyard movie night

Turn your outdoor space into an open-air cinema:

  • Set up a sheet or portable screen and use a projector for a movie under the stars.
  • Provide cosy blankets and snacks for the full experience.
  • Choose family-friendly favourites or let the kids pick the movie of the night.

Stargazing and storytelling

Bring a bit of wonder to the night sky:

  • Lay out blankets and gaze at the stars together.
  • Use a stargazing app to identify constellations and planets.
  • Combine astronomy with a little imagination by telling magical stories inspired by what you see.

Glow-in-the-dark fun

Light up the night with some glowing fun:

  • Play flashlight tag for a thrilling game of hide-and-seek in the dark.
  • Have a glow-stick dance party and let kids show off their best moves.
  • Set up a glow-in-the-dark treasure hunt by hiding glowing objects around the yard.

Make the most of summer in your backyard

There’s nothing like the magic of summer play — especially when it’s right outside your door. From water games and imaginative adventures to fitness challenges and movie nights under the stars, your backyard can be a place for endless fun, laughter, and connection.

You don’t need expensive outings to create unforgettable memories — sometimes the best moments happen with a little creativity, some sunshine, and a space designed for active play.

Ready to transform your backyard into the ultimate play paradise? Explore how Funky Monkey Bars can take your outdoor space to the next level this summer. Because when it comes to active, adventurous play, the possibilities are endless!

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