There’s nothing like going outside, running around and having plenty of fun throwing, catching and laughing. Playing outdoors strengthens our motor skills, self-confidence and a love of being active – be it at the park, out in the fields, in the garden or by the sea. But which outdoor games for children and families are really fun, long-lasting and resource-friendly? In this article, we present a curated selection of outdoor family games that are sure to get children, teenagers and adults up and moving – and make them want to go outside and play together even more often!
“Young people need their own kind, namely animals, elemental things in general: water, dirt, bushes and space. You can let a young person grow up without all of this – and they will survive, but you shouldn’t then be surprised if they do not learn certain basic social skills later on in life.” These were the words that the doctor and psychoanalyst Alexander Mitscherlich used to describe the importance of playing in nature in the mid-1960s – and they are now more relevant than ever before.
Why playing outdoors is so important
Being active and playing outdoors is good for us, however old we may be. Daylight, fresh air, and exercise not only strengthen the body but also positively impact the mental health of both children and adults.
Above all, playing outdoors promotes a multitude of different skills. People who exercise, play, climb, run around or practice their balancing abilities outdoors train their:
• motor skills and coordination
• fitness and mobility
• concentration and self-confidence
• social skills and creativity
At the same time, regular outdoor exercise prevents people from becoming overweight and immobile. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children and young people engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to strenuous physical activity every day.
Adults also benefit from regular outdoor exercise, which can relieve stress, boost their mood and improve their physical well-being. In fact, experiencing the benefits of being active outdoors as a child often leads to continuing such healthy pastimes as an adult.
You don’t need much to play outdoors
Against this background, the general motto is to go outside as often as possible. If you live in the city, you can plan trips to the lake or forest and use parks and playgrounds to let off steam during the week. Simple activities such as rope skipping, playing Frisbee or simply going on the swings all help to keep children active.
Ball games like football, badminton, table tennis or boules are also wonderful options for fun out in the open with family and friends. Many of these outdoor games become family traditions passed down through generations.
Fun outdoor family games: our recommendations
Which games get people from various generations active, are durable enough to provide lasting fun and can be played time and time again without getting boring? Our curated selection presents eight outdoor games by independent, owner-led brands based in Europe that bring together independent play ideas, durable materials and timeless designs.
“Throwing ring” by Pantolinos
The soft leather throwing ring by Pantolinos – a female-run manufactory in Lower Saxony, Germany – is an exercise-promoting family toy for outdoor play. The ring can be thrown, caught and used for a variety of active games. After playing, the space-saving toy can simply be scrunched up and put in your pocket ready for next time.
The throwing ring by Pantolinos
“Throwing ring” by Pantolinos
• is suitable for children aged 3 and up, teenagers and adults
• is made of 100 % vegetable-tanned leather
• is manufactured in a women-run workshop in Lower Saxony
• has been awarded the “spiel gut” seal of approval for toys
• is available from € 24.90
You can purchase the throwing ring by Pantolinos here
“flup” by TicToys
Flup was developed by Tony and Matthias, the two founders of the Leipzig-based independent toy brand TicToys. The cooperative throwing game introduces a new way to throw and catch. With flup, you don’t throw the bean bag by hand, but instead launch it into the air with a piece of fabric attached to two wooden sticks. Children, teens and adults quickly get used to how to play and can introduce new game ideas as they improve through practice: at the park, on the beach, over a net or on a course with targets to hit.
flup by TicToys
“flup” by TicToys
• is suitable for children aged 4 and up, teenagers and adults
• is made of upcycled textiles, untreated beechwood, cork and millet
• is manufactured in Saxony in cooperation with the social organisation Lebenshilfe Borna
• is available from € 39.90
You can purchase flup by TicToys here
TOSSIT
Tossit has taken the principle of standard darts and applied it to soft silicone darts with a suction cup. Thanks to their design, these darts stick to windows, doors and other smooth surfaces – with no sharp points or holes involved! This throwing game can be played indoors and outdoors and can also be used for a variant of boccia.
Tossit
“TOSSIT”
• is suitable for children aged 3 and up, teenagers and adults
• was invented by two brothers in France during the COVID-19 pandemic
• is made of food-safe silicone
• is manufactured in Turkey an China
• is available from € 34.99
“Tualoop” by TicToys
Tualoop is inspired by a ring-throwing game that dates right back to the Middle Ages. The aim of the game is to place a ring on crossed sticks and pull them apart as evenly as possible. If you succeed, the ring is launched into the air and can be thrown to another player. The game principle is easy to understand, and as you practice and improve, you can introduce all kinds of new catching and throwing variations.
Tualoop by TicToys
“Tualoop” by TicToys
• is suitable for children aged 6 and up, teenagers and adults
• is made of beechwood and a bio-material based on renewable raw materials
• is manufactured in Germany
• has been awarded the “spiel gut” seal of approval for toys
• is available from € 34.90
You can purchase Tualoop by TicToys here
“Binabo” by TicToys
Binabo, also made by TicToys from Leipzig, is a set of identical connecting elements that children and adults can put together to make balls, hockey sticks and even throwing discs. Binabo combines building and exercise: First you make the toy, then you play with it. On colder days, Binabo is also ideal for fun indoor play.
Binabo by TicToys
“Binabo” by TicToys
• is suitable for children aged 4 and up, teenagers and adults
• is made of Green PE, a bio-based material made using sugar cane
• is manufactured in Germany
• has been awarded the “spiel gut” seal of approval for toys
• is available from € 9.90
You can purchase Binabo by TicToys here
Cool outdoor games with more speed and tougher challenges
Some outdoor games are particularly attractive when they combine skill, speed and a bit of healthy competition. The following three games are mainly aimed at teenagers and adults, but they can also be played across generations, including children aged 6 or 8 and up.
“Wooden Roundnet” by Kolbeck Manufaktur
The idea for the Wooden Roundnet arose in 2021, when Virgilius Kolbeck wondered why this fast, active game was almost always played with plastic sets. He therefore decided to create his first roundnet made of wood, which he then went on to develop in cooperation with Linus Wübbe. The finished product, the current Wooden Roundnet, has a frame made of FSC-certified birchwood, with a visible grain that is different in each set. The Wooden Roundnet is manufactured in a workshop for people with disabilities. The game itself is classically a four-player game, but can also be played as a two-player battle or in team rounds with several players.
Wooden Roundnet by Kolbeck Manufaktur
“Wooden Roundnet”
• is suitable for children aged 8 and up, teenagers and adults
• is made of FSC-certified birchwood
• is manufactured in the Osnabrücker Werkstätten, workshops for people with disabilities
• promotes reaction skills, coordination and team spirit
• comes with a transport bag, net and ball
• is available from € 149
You can purchase the Wooden Roundnet by Kolbeck Manufaktur here
Boomerangs by “LAMEY bumerang”
When it comes to outdoor toys, the boomerang is an absolute classic. The combination of the throw, the flight path and the return has fascinated both children and adults for many generations. LAMEY boomerangs are made of certified Finnish birchwood and are made by hand in the German city of Hildesheim. The models come in various shapes and sizes for different age groups and experience levels, from the first boomerang throw right through to athletic training.
Boomerangs by “LAMEY bumerang”
Boomerangs by “LAMEY Bumerang”
• are suitable for children aged 8 and up, teenagers and adults
• are made of certified Finnish birchwood
• are either untreated or treated with natural oil free from harmful substances
• are made by hand in the owner-managed workshop in Hildesheim
• are available from € 23.00
You can purchase the LAMEY boomerangs here
“DISH TENNIS”
Table tennis has always been a popular sport across generations, played both indoors and outdoors. Dish Tennis takes a more compact approach to the classic table tennis table, giving it a portable format. The table can be easily folded up, transported and put back up on all kinds of surfaces – in the garden, at the park or indoors. Dish Tennis transforms table tennis into a game that can be played anywhere and doesn’t need a special sports room.
Dish Tennis
“DISH TENNIS”
• is suitable for children aged 6 and up, teenagers and adults
• is made of beechwood, decorative wooden elements and metal parts
• is manufactured in Tyrol in Austria
• was developed by the Austrian designer Florian Püer
• is available from € 269
About the authors
Alexandra Brechlin is a cultural journalist with many years of experience – and the mother of a young daughter. Since becoming a mother, she has taken a particular interest in topics related to children: sustainable toys, educational books and everyday family life. For afilii, she writes about everything that affects children in their everyday lives – with a clear focus on quality, sustainability and meaning.
Katja Runge is the founder of afilii. With her many years of experience as a journalist, communications consultant and project manager in the design and creative industries, she brings a keen sense of language and topics to the table. At afilii magazine, she is involved in finding topics, writing articles and editing – working closely with the authors – always on the lookout for relevant, well-written content that offers real added value for our readers.
Translation by Jessica Schewel
Article updated in July 2026, first published in May 2021
