20 ball games that will keep kids entertained
Miscellaneous / / April 22, 2022
There are interesting options for both the house and the street.
Modern children spend a lot of time on gadgets and often sit on the street, staring at smartphones.
Many outdoor games are a thing of the past, and this is not only a fun pastime, but also a great way to develop dexterity, speed and accuracy, not to mention social skills.
Below we list 20 ball games you can teach your child. Some of them are suitable for the home, others will be a great way to have fun while walking on the playground or on a trip to nature.
Home games
Even though these games do not require a lot of free space, the ball can still accidentally hit something fragile. So get away from your new TV and your favorite vase so your fun doesn't end in tears.
1. edible-inedible
One player throws a ball to another and calls out a word that can mean something edible or not. In the first case, the ball must be caught, in the second - to hit. If the player makes a mistake, he becomes the leader.
This game is suitable for both toddlers 3-4 years old and older children. In the first case, you can use simple and familiar dishes like porridge, soup or bread, in the second case, try more complex names, such as profiteroles, ribeye or artichokes.
There will also be trick questions. For example, peacock-eye or silkworm larvae are quite edible, at least in the cuisines of Asia and Africa.
2. home bowling
Another game for kids of all ages. For it, you can use both a medium-sized rubber, and a tennis or even a massage ball, if you have one.
An obstacle is built on the floor, such as a tower of cubes or several empty plastic bottles. Players then take turns trying to knock things down from a given distance.
3. Bouncers sitting
Players sit on the floor, forming a fairly wide circle, and the driver drops in the middle. Children throw the ball, trying to hit the person in the center, and he dodges by any means. The one who manages to hurt him goes to the middle and becomes the leader.
If dodging is difficult, you can set a rule - do not throw the ball, but roll it on the floor, like in a bowling alley.
4. Who was who
One player throws the ball to another while simultaneously naming an object or living being. The second person must catch the ball and answer the question without a hitch.
For example, a chicken was a chicken or an egg, a cow was a calf, glass was sand. If the player does not know the answer, then he becomes the leader and asks the question himself.
5. rhymes
One player throws the ball to another and at the same time calls any word of his choice. The second must catch the ball, name the rhyme as quickly as possible and throw it to the next.
If a lot of people participate in the game, you can exclude those who did not come up with a rhyme, if not enough - write down penalty points for a hitch and keep score.
6. I know five...
The player says: “I know five female names” and begins to hit the ball with his palm on the floor, accompanying each hit with a new name. When everyone is named, the ball goes to another child and he does the same without repeating.
If all the children completed the task, the following is given - for example, five male names, trees, birds, domestic or wild animals, brands of cars, fairy-tale characters, and so on.
If a player cannot name five of anything or loses the ball, he is out of the game. As an option - receives a penalty point.
7. Earth, air, fire, water
The players sit in a row, the driver stands in front of them. He throws the ball to the first in line and says one of the four words. When you hear “earth”, you need to name an animal, “water” - a fish, “air” - a bird, and at the word “fire”, wave your hands above your head.
If the player to whom the ball flew did not catch it, did not give an answer, or mixed up the commands, he becomes the driver.
8. Sabzhe (honey)
The players line up. The driver asks the first question: “What is your name?” and begins to offer answers by throwing the ball to the first player. If he doesn't like the name, he hits the ball, if he likes it, he catches it. Now that's his name.
If the player does not hit the ball or accidentally catches it, he is given the name that was called at the time of the throw. Also, the driver sometimes has to say “Sabzhe” or “Honey”, and if the child manages to catch the ball, he can be called by any name of his choice.
Thus, all the people from the line pass, after which the following question is asked: “What is your last name?”.
The list of questions is something like this:
- Where do you live?
- What is your profession?
- Name and surname of the future husband/wife?
- What is your pet?
- How many children do you have and what are their names?
You can fantasize ad infinitum. The funnier the options, the better.
9. Catch - don't catch
There are several variations of this game - with simple commands and with various tasks.
Players stand in a circle and throw the ball to each other, giving commands. If the throw sounds "catch", you need to catch the ball, if "do not catch" - hit it. Anyone who does not follow the command is out of the game or receives a penalty point if there are few participants.
You can make the game more difficult by adding some task. For example, if the name of the animal was heard during the throw, the ball is caught, if something else, it is beaten off. You can take absolutely any category: countries, pieces of furniture, insects, male or female names, and so on.
Outdoor games
1. Whom they called, he catches
The game is good for getting to know each other and helps to learn the names of all the people in the company.
Children move freely around the playground, and the host throws the ball higher and calls the name. Having heard his own, the child must catch the ball.
2. catch the ball (doggy)
This game requires a minimum of three players. Two people are located at a distance from each other, and the third - the driver - stands in the middle between them.
The participants throw the ball to each other, and the driver tries to catch it or at least touch it. If he succeeds, he switches places with the last thrower.
If more than three people participate in the game, you can stand in a triangle or circle and throw the ball over the center, where the driver will be.
3. Shtander-stop
Participants stand in a circle, the driver is in the center. He tosses the ball or throws it away and says the name of one of the participants. The named one runs after the ball, the rest - in different directions.
There is also another selection method. The driver closes his eyes and extends his hand. The rest of the players walk in a circle, and when he shouts: "Stop!", Stop. Whom the hand shows, that and run after the ball.
When a child, whose name was called (or who was pointed at by the hand), catches the ball, he shouts: “Shtander!” or "Stop!". At this point, all players must stop and freeze.
A child with a ball estimates the distance to the driver and names the number of steps in which he can reach him. The steps could be:
- "giant" - as wide as possible;
- "Lilliputian" - when the heel of one foot is placed close to the toe of the other;
- "umbrellas" - turns around yourself;
- "camel" - a step to the distance of spitting;
- "Frog" - jumping forward from a full squat.
Typically, these steps are mixed. For example, a child might say, "He's got three giant steps, two camel steps, and three frog steps." When he goes the distance in the chosen way, the driver folds his hands in the manner of a basketball hoop, which you need to hit with the ball.
If this succeeds, the child becomes the leader. Everyone returns to the circle and the game starts over. If he missed, the driver remains the same.
4. ball school
This game can be played with both a rubber children's ball and a tennis ball. The latter option is more difficult and suitable for older children.
Players come up with various tasks with increasing difficulty, for example:
- Throw the ball up and catch it.
- Throw the ball up, clap your hands and catch it.
- Throw the ball on the floor and catch it.
- Hit the ball on the floor, clap your hands and catch.
- Hit the ball against the wall and catch it with one hand.
- Hit the ball against the wall, wrap around yourself and catch.
- Hit the ball on the floor and catch it with your eyes closed.
- Throw the ball at the wall, let it hit the ground and catch it.
- Throw the ball at the wall with your back to it, let the ball hit the ground and then catch it.
- Jump over a bouncing ball.
- Throw the ball from under the foot, from behind the head, squatting.
You can also complicate the task by increasing the number of exact repetitions. For example, not just catch the ball after a turn, but do it five or ten times in a row.
5. Wall
Players line up against a wall. It is better to choose deaf, without windows. The first player in the column throws the ball higher so that it hits the wall and bounces off, after which it runs back and gets up last.
The person following him must catch the ball and repeat the action. Those who do not have time are out of the game.
6. Eleven (potato)
Children stand in a circle and throw the ball to each other in random order, counting out loud. The one who throws first says "One", the second one catches and says "Two", and so on. The player who is to say "eleven" must hit the ball.
If he does not do this (for example, he catches or misses at all), he becomes a “potato” - he goes to the center of the circle and squats.
The game starts again, and now the eleventh person must not only hit the ball, but try to hit the one who is sitting in the center. If successful, the “potato” returns to the circle with the others. If not, the thrower joins him in the center.
Thus, the game continues until the whole company gathers in the middle, and one person remains standing with the ball. Then you can start again or hit the ball on the ground 10 times, and on the 11th hit someone in the center.
7. Frog
Children line up in a column against the wall. First, a line is determined on it, above which you need to throw the ball, for example, according to the level of a tile, some kind of mark or window sill.
The first player throws the ball at the wall, and after it hits the ground, jumps over it, legs apart. If everything worked out, the child goes to the end of the line, and if the jump fails or the ball hits the leg, he is eliminated from the game. Then the player standing behind him turns on and performs the same actions.
With each round, the tasks become more difficult. For example, instead of a “frog” jump, they make a “suitcase” when the child jumps on one leg, stretching the other to the side.
You can also throw the ball higher and higher or do it with your back to the wall, as well as jump over at the moment of the second bounce from the ground.
8. Hunters and foxes
Children-"foxes" stand in a circle, and the "hunter" enters the center. He throws the ball up three times and catches it, after which the players scatter. The driver at this time throws a projectile at them.
If the "hunter" touches the "fox", she becomes his assistant and together they pursue the others. Thus, there are more and more "hunters".
But if the ball hit the ground after an unsuccessful throw, the “foxes” can intercept it and throw it to each other without giving it to the “hunter” and his assistants.
The game continues until only one "fox" remains.
9. Shaver
Two large circles are drawn on the ground at a distance of about 15-20 steps from each other. In the first, all the participants in the game are standing, with the exception of one - the driver, or "grocer", who walks in the field.
One of the players hits the ball with force on the ground and runs into an empty circle. Together with him, a few more guys can try to get over, but no more than three.
At this time, the "grocer" catches the ball and from the same place launches it at the players who left the base. If he manages to knock down one of the runners, he becomes the new driver, and the last "grocer" gets up in the first circle to the children remaining there.
If the ball flies past, and the fugitives successfully reach the second circle, they remain there until the end of the game, and the driver catches the ball and returns it to the first group. The game starts again and continues until all the children have managed to get to the second round.
10. Deception
Children gather in a circle and put their hands behind their backs, and the leader stands in the center. He throws the ball to any player who must catch it.
The bottom line is that the ball can be thrown for real or just pretend. If the player gets his hands out from behind his back, but does not catch anything, he will change places with the player in the center.
11. loose ball
Players stand in a circle and put their feet shoulder-width apart so that the feet of their neighbors touch. The driver stands in the center and throws the ball between the legs of the participants, trying to knock it out of the circle.
The task of the players is to prevent him using his arms or legs, but then return the feet to their original position again. If the ball still leaves the circle, the one who missed it becomes the driver.
Read also🧐
- What to play outdoors: 12 ideas for any company
- 11 games that will make kids love cleaning and washing dishes
- Winter fun: 17 active games and other outdoor activities