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The feel of the sun, the smell of freshly cut grass, a cold glass of lemonade, a campfire in the back yard, the smell of food grilling, sitting on my deck and porch are just some of the things I await with pleasure. Summertime is my favorite time of the year and the season that I look forward to all year long.
I relish the freedom to throw on my flip flops and walk out the door without a thought of having to bundle up before leaving. All the seasons have their upside, but hands down summer is my favorite. I eagerly anticipate all the activities that are available to us simply because the weather is nicer.
This summer, however, may prove to be like none other we have ever experienced. Many of our beloved activities and festivals have been canceled or postponed and some of us are still under orders to social distance or stay home. Even though some of our plans are unexpectedly having to change, you may find that you can create all kinds of fun within your own yard.
My home and yard are my sanctuary and I love to have family and friends over to enjoy it with us.
I have many memories of 4th of July, birthdays, Father’s Day or just plain get together’s where we have played yard games and have had loads of fun. It gives us a chance to be outside enjoying the long-awaited summer weather while still doing something fun and active. Besides the fact that things may not be the same this year, we can create lasting memories doing something different. The simplicity of being in your home and enjoying either your own family or friends is often overlooked as a way to entertain oneself. So, this summer, I challenge you to open yourself up to doing something that perhaps you haven’t done before or has become a distant memory.
I guess I developed my love for yard games when I was growing up. I spent countless hours in my yard practicing and playing volleyball with whoever would play or just by myself. My grandma taught my sister and I to play croquet when we would come over for our Sunday afternoon get together’s. Oh, the fond memories that are etched into my mind. My sister and I along with our parents or friends would also join in on a rousing game of badminton or bocce ball. Today, there are so many more choices for us to choose from for yard games. If some of those games I mentioned don’t light you up or you are looking to spice things up a bit, there are so many more games to choose from that are clever twists on popular indoor games.
Let’s take a stroll through the proverbial yard and check out what is out there for us to choose from.
One of my favorite indoor games, is Yahtzee. I love this game because you can either play it by yourself or you can challenge others. It’s purely a game of chance, not much skill is needed.
Now, Yardzee which is a yard game twist on Yahtzee is being produced by game manufacturers. I have played Yardzee and it is so much fun!
One company in particular, Splinter Woodworking Company, has a very inventive dice packaging. The bucket that contains the dice, also your dice cup, looks like an old wooden barrel. Not only can you play Yardzee with this set, you can also play Farkle and up to 20+ other dice games. They have score sheet that you can utilize for Yardzee and Farkle and rules for the other games. The dice are also weather resistant which is a great bonus when you may be playing in conditions that could be damp. This company also believes in being environmentally sustainable and trees are planted for every set they sell. In 2019 alone, over 20,000 trees were planted! What an added bonus; not only will you have a great yard game, but you will also know that you are helping the environment simply by purchasing their product so you can have fun. Check out their product at https://amzn.to/2B4hS94
Another fun yard game that we enjoy playing is ladder ball. This can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you have never played this before, it is worth the time to try it out. I’m sure you will love it. You will need to have at least one other player to participate in this game. The goal is to try and throw balls that are connected with string onto a “ladder” of sorts 3 rungs high. Depending on which rung it lands on, you earn a certain score. This game is easy to play and it is sure to fill the day with laughter. Want one for your backyard find one at https://amzn.to/2B9oByB
Another family favorite is washers. We have had many good-natured but spirited games of washers. My family has even created washer tournaments when we are all camping together. This is another easy game to learn for people of all ages and will leave you with a little healthy dose of competition while you have piles of fun. Need one for your next get together find it at https://amzn.to/3Bn54I1
Another old time favorite of mine is bocce ball. This classic has been around for many years but never fails to leave us entertained. This wooden ball game can be as easy or challenging as you would like it to be. We have had people ranging in age from 7-80 playing bocce ball. This is one of those games that brings fun to anyone who plays it and is super easy to learn. Want to have one for your backyard fun go to https://amzn.to/3esMGid
Jenga is another indoor game converted to an outdoor game. With these extra-large pieces, you can try to build your tower on the ground or table. Try your strategy outside and see if you are just as balanced as when you are playing the original indoor game. There are two great options for you to choose from so you can challenge your family or friends https://amzn.to/3ccQnXG or https://amzn.to/2TLHmhW
One of my favorite simple activities from childhood is Frisbee. My parents, sister and I use to play this all the time. We would play it in our yard or when we went camping. Who would think a flying disk could provide so much entertainment, but believe me it produces. I have carried on the tradition with my children. We bring it along on vacation, camping and even up to a cabin. Simple toy leads to simple fun.
We have had all kinds of Frisbees over the year from just your plain ordinary Frisbee to ones that light up when you throw them. The light up ones are especially fun to play when the sun starts to go down. Don’t leave home without it.
As you can see, the field of yard games has expanded greatly over the years. There are so many more that I didn’t even mention but would provide hours of entertainment. Don’t get down about how different things might be this summer. Embrace the change and try some new games or if you have some games dust them off and go have some good old-fashioned fun. You might find that you can have just as much fun this summer! Have a great backyard adventure!
I really enjoyed your blog about Back Yard Games. They are so much fun, especially when the entire games is in involved. Love it! Thanks!
Thanks so much. That’s the beauty of yard games. Almost anybody can play which makes it fun. Hope you try some out this summer.
I love yard games- this is a great list of games that are great for almost all ages too! I have to confess that I don’t recall ever playing Yahtzee (kind of weird, I know!), but I recently learned how to play bocce ball and really enjoyed it!
Hi Robin,
Glad you enjoyed the list. Bocce ball is one of my favorites as well. You will have to try Yahtzee sometime, you’ll be hooked.
Thank you for a great post! I love the idea of Yardzee, and even something as simple as a frisbee. I just wish I had enough outdoor space to play 😂
Thanks Beth. Perhaps you could take your fun to the park? It just might inspire a few more people to have a little fun.
I love playing bocce and haven’t in about 20 years. Time to find a set and teach it to my kids!
It’s such a fun game. My kids like to play it as well. Easy to learn and loads of fun. Have a great summer.
Wow! Your house looks like the place to be this summer! Thanks for the great recommendations. I gotta check some of these toys out!
Hi Laura,
So much fun to be had. You’ll have to try some out and join in on the fun. Hope you have a great summer.
Great ideas! We don’t play out in the summer, unless it’s in a pool but Oct-May these would be amazing! Thank you
You bet, Holly. Hope you get a chance to play.
We love yard games! The light up frisbee looks awesome! Our favorites are cornhole and horseshoes.
Those are fun ones as well. When I was growing up, we had a horseshoe pit in our yard and played it often. That was a lot of fun.
Love the jumbo Jenga game!
That is a fun game to play.
These all look so fun! I love playing ladder ball, and giant Jenga. The yard sized Yahtzee is also brilliant.
These are all so much fun. The Yardzee is so much fun. We played a lot of ladder ball recently and had many of laughs playing.
Great post! We usually travel around this time, so we had to get creative with the kids to figure out fun things to do instead. Lots of backyard time this Summer!
Isn’t it fun how even though our plans change, we can still discover new things and have a bunch of fun in the process.
Always been a frisbee lover, but you’ve highlighted some fun looking new yard games to try!
Thanks Maggie. There are so many fun option today. So much fun to be had.
Yardzee looks like fun! I do enjoy bocce ball too. I am also with you. Summer is my favorite season too.
Yardzee is so much fun! We love this one. So many great things to do in the summer.
We do not have a yard at the moment, and I hate not having one. So many wonderful memories are made just in one’s own backyard. I can’t wait to have one again soon.
You are very right about the memories that are created in one’s yard. Hope you are able to get a yard again soon.
Love this post and your pictures! I’m also a big fan of yard games.
Thanks so much Alexis. Glad you enjoyed the post.
I have never heard of the game “Washer Toss”, but it looks like a lot of fun! My family have played most of the others you mention and love them, so now we will have to give Washer Toss a try as well!
Washer toss is so much fun! Our family has had a lot of fun with that one over the years.
Summer is my favorite time of year too. I spent a lot of time fixing up my yard this summer since travel and socializing were out. I love outdoor games but have nobody to play them with at the moment except my dog, Ziggy, who would absolutely LOVE the light up flying disc!
I’m sure he would.:) That is one of the fun parts of Yardzee. You can play that one by yourself as well.
We discovered Washers as a friends house last summer and we loved it. Yard games are so much fun and the whole family can enjoy playing them together.
You are so right Sara. It is always fun to discover new games as well.
Such a great idea to have yard games that even fun for adults! I’ll have to remember them for when my grown kids come for a visit!
As adults, we have so much fun with them as well. That’s what I love about them; they are so good for all ages.
I loved yard games as a kid but did not do them much with my kids. They had a pool though and we lived in FL so it was pretty hot in the yard. It is a great way to bond with your kids. I will definitely be doing this with the grands! Thanks!
Thanks Tricia. Glad you enjoyed the post. Having a pool is a lot of fun as well.
I love getting together with friends and playing yard games. Some of these I did not know they made yard games like the indoor games. Good post.
Thanks so much. It is so great that they have taken some of the classic indoor games and made them for outdoors now. So much fun.
Wow! You sure did cover the best yard games! I have most of them and you’re totally right, these are great for the backyard. I love our grass volleyball net, bocce ball, washer toss, of course corn hole. I don’t have the glow in the dark frisbee. But I love that idea!
Thanks so much. The glow in the dark frisbee is really fun. Glad you enjoy yard games. Simple fun can be had by all.
We have all of these outdoor games except for the light up frisbee. I’ll have to get that once the kids are older. Being outdoors is our favorite do I love all the backyard game options!
That’s so much fun. They are a simple way to have all kinds of fun!
I’m trying to make my home and yard a sanctuary also. A place with many happy memories for the grandkids. Thanks for all the ideas.
Glad you enjoyed it Michele. Hope you get a chance to have some fun with yard games with your grandkids.
This brings back good memories. Love the new twists and ideas on games!
It is so much fun what they have come out with recently. So much fun to be had.
Awesome ideas! Frisbee is one of my all time favorites! We loved playing hide and seek, and playing with bubbles growing up!
My bigger kids just were doing bubbles this weekend while we were camping. I don’t think you ever outgrow the fun bubbles creates.
This looks so fun! I would love to have some of these games in my yard!
Yard games are so much fun. We always end up having so much fun and laughing as well.
They are all so much fun. Hope you get a chance to try some out.
We have fabulous fun with ladder golf! Great game!
We were just camping and had so much fun with ladder ball. The kids even had tournaments with their cousins,parents and grandparents. Many laughs were had by all.
Indeed. It sure is a great one!
All of these games look like so much fun!
They are a blast! Hope you get to try one out.
These are awesome yard games. So many memories to be had with these. Love it.
Thanks Lina. Creating memories is the bonus of playing these games.
Our ladder ball game was called lasso golf. We used to play outside so much! It’s definitely something people don’t seem to do anymore. I’m hoping to instill lots of technology-free activities in our kids.
We need more technology-free activities for all where we can just take some time and have some good old fashioned fun!
So fun! We love backyard Jenga, but I really want those giant dice now too!
The giant dice are so much fun to play! Glad you enjoy these kinds of games as much as I do.
I love yard games! I remember playing croquet at my grandma’s house with my cousins. There are so many new games available now! We love Corn Hole and even had a custom set of boards built with the school logo on it for my daughter’s graduation party.
Hi Charlene. I spent a lot of time playing croquet with my grandma as well. Such great memories. It is true that they have created so many new fun games. How fun that you were able to create Corn Hole with your daughter’s school logo. That will surely be a great memory.