

A lot of people today spend so much time cooped up in their room playing video games or streaming on Netflix. Such a small amount of time is spent, if any at all, outdoors playing with other kids or enjoying a good ‘ol fashioned barbecue with the neighbours.
All of that should change this coming summer and you can start by playing any of these awesome backyard games. So let’s say that after so many years and countless First Home Buyer’s Guide articles you pored through, you finally have a house and are planning an awesome party. Let’s remind friends and family how exciting it is to drop everything you’re doing to play outside.
Water Balloon Dodgeball
A fun twist to an old favourite, this game is pretty self-explanatory. Load up balloons with water, team up, and get ready to dodge like your life depended on it. You can invite more people to join this game and turn it into your little backyard tournament. Limit the number of people on the field to maybe four or five, and around four teams. The winners of each elimination round will then compete each other and win the title of “Best Backyard Dodgeball Team.” Just remember not to aim for the face, and wear protective gear if you have them.
Picnic basket relay
Divide everyone into teams and give them a complete picnic set, which includes: plates, utensils, glasses, and even food. Each team member must set up a picnic as fast as they can and the put it back in the basket. Once they are done, the next player needs to do the same. The team who can finish the fastest wins.
Try to avoid using materials that will break easily just in case people get too excited and accidentally drop plates and glasses.
Reverse charades
For this version of charades, only one person in the team is guessing. Other members will pick from your pool of topics or phrases. They will not act it out though, instead they will form a picture and freeze, a bit like a tableau. Then the team member will have to guess what the ‘picture’ is. You can do themed charades so that it is easier for them to guess the picture like movies or songs.
Treasure hunt
Do this “Amazing Race” style. Which means you will have to prepare riddles and tasks that the teams will have to figure out and accomplish. The goal is for them to form a puzzle or look for an item around the house. Make sure you go wild with it, too. You can hide items in places they will not think you will make use of and ask them riddles that will really mess with their wit.
You can limit the team members to three or four, and around four teams only. When you are setting up the tasks, make sure there instructions and guidelines so that the game remains safe to play.
Stop Dance
This is the perfect game to show off those dance moves. Everyone joining the game should partner, face each other, with a whole page of newspaper laid out in front of them on the ground. The rules are simple: they will start dancing once you play music. When you stop the track, they should stand on the newspaper, making sure that both of them are on it. After each round, the players will fold the newspaper in half, and then they will start dancing again once you play the song. This goes on until only one pair remains.
So clear up the backyard, call all your friends and family, and get ready for an awesome summer bonding!