Summer is approaching fast and it’s time to get and play outside again. But why is playing outside so good for children’s health and so important for them? Which cool outdoor toys and family games are suitable for romping around in the park, garden or forest? And most importantly, do children actually need all this to discover nature?
“Young people need their own kind – namely animals, elemental things in general, such as water, dirt, bushes,spaces to play. You can let young people grow up without all of this, with stuffed animals, carpets on asphalted streets andyards. He will survive, but you ought not be surprised if he does not learn certain basic social skills later on”, the doctorand psychoanalyst Alexander Mitscherlich stated a hundred years ago and has been prove right.
Playing Outside: Why it’s so good for children’s health
In many Scandinavian countries, babies and toddlers have their afternoon naps outside in nature – even in winter. This type of “gentle toughening up” helps the little ones get used to temperature fluctuations and the high oxygen content has a positive effect on the immune system and even prevents allergies.
But that’s not all. Playing and running around in the fresh air trains:
• motor skills,
• fitness,
• agility and
• automatically prevents the development of obesity.
Those who are already sporty as children are very likely to remain so in adulthood. No wonder the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adolescent children engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to strenuous physical activity every day.
Cool Outdoor games: imagination knows no limits
The 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. Whether skipping rope, playing frisbee or simply swinging – these activities all keep children moving.
Ball games such as soccer, badminton, table tennis or one of the increasingly popular boules games are also ideal for an afternoon in the park.
What’s more, classic toys like these can easily be handed down through several generations. Natural materials such as wood and leather, recyclable materials or bioplastics ensure that outdoor games are particularly durable and have less impact on the environment.
Outdoor games for families – our recommendations
The choice of outdoor games for families is almost endless – but which ones are really “good” in the sense that they are fun, durable and can be passed on, when no longer being played with? If you are looking for new ideas for playing outside with children, these are our six recommendations:
Did you know: Children particularly enjoy playing together as a family. It’s a natural way to build closeness and trust – the basis for relationships with other people and fair social interaction.
“Tualoop” by TicToys
The ring toss game from Leipzig-based toy manufacturer TicToys, called Tualoop, is an outdoor family game that originates in the Middle Ages. The aim here is to place a ring on crossed sticks and pull them apart as evenly as possible. If you succeed, the ring starts to float and can even be thrown and bounced. The game principle is quickly internalised and is fun for young and old!
Tualoop by TicToys
Tualoop by TicToys
• is suitable for children and families aged 6 and over,
• is made of 100% renewable, natural materials,
• is produced in Germany,
• is “spiel gut” certified,
• available from €34.90.
Find out more about Tualoop here →
“Throwing ring” by Pantolinos
The soft leather throwing rings from Pantolinos – a women-run manufactory in Lower Saxony – is another exercise-promoting family game for outdoors. With a little strength, the throwing rings not only fly to unimagined heights, but are also easily compressed back into a pocket-compatible ball when it’s time to go home.
Throwing ring by Pantolinos
The throwing ring by Pantolinos
• is suitable for children and families aged 3 and over,
• is made of 100% vegetable-tanned leather,
• is produced in a women-run factory in Lower Saxony,
• is “spiel gut” certified,
• available from €24.90.
More information on the Pantolinos throwing rings is available here.
“Mölkky” by Tactic
An absolute classic among outdoor family games is Mölkky, also known as “Viking skittles”, which originated in Finland. This Mölkky throwing game not only trains motor skills, but also requires a certain amount of mathematical skill, making it popular with young and old alike.
Mölkky by Tactic
Mölkky by Tactic
• is suitable for children and families aged 5 and over,
• is made of 100% Finnish birch,
• is produced in Finland,
• available from €48.50.
“Binabo” by TicToys
Binabo by TicToys is a true all-rounder among outdoor family games. The construction toy consists of identical parts that can be put together by children and adults to form balls, field hockey sticks and even frisbee disks. An open-ended toy that can also be used indoors during the cold season! No wonder Binabo was also awarded the ”spiel gut“ seal of approval.
Binabo by TicToys
Binabo by TicToys
• is suitable for children and families aged 3 and over,
• is made of 100% natural materials,
• is manufactured in Germany,
• is “spiel gut” certified,
• available from €12.90.
Find out more about Binabo from TicToys here.
Cross Boule game by Zoch-Verlag
The Cross Boule game by Zoch-Verlag also offers fun and exercise for children and adults alike. The soft balls can be thrown on steps, in the sand, on the lawn and even into the water – depending on where the target ball is located. Each terrain offers the players completely new challenges, ensuring fun at each throw of the boule.
Cross Boule game by Zoch-Verlag
The Cross Boule game by Zoch-Verlag
• is suitable for children and families aged 4 and over,
• is made of polyester and polyethylene granules,
• is made in China,
• is “spiel gut” certified,
• available from €27.99.
Find out more about Cross Boule game here →
Boomerang from Huckleberry
Another absolute outdoor game classic with a modern twist is the Boomerang by Huckleberry. The special thing about it is that it fits in any trouser pocket and is therefore always readily at hand. All you have to do to get the boomerang ready to use is attach a piece of cotton string and off you go!
Boomerang from Huckleberry
The Boomerang from Huckleberry
• is suitable for children and families aged 8 and over,
• is made of FSC bamboo and cotton
• is available from €15.
Nature as teacher
But even without toys, the world outside is a real adventure for children waiting to be conquered and explored. Whether balancing on a tree trunk or climbing onto a hunter’s stand – there is no better place for children to get to know themselves and discover what their bodies are capable of. Children use observations such as these to gradually form a picture of their environment and learn to perceive their surroundings through their senses, to relate to their surroundings and ultimately to shape their own environment.
Playing outside: without the need for toys
The question remains: what can children play outside – without toys? The answer is quite simple: everything. Anyone who is out and about in nature with their child quickly realises that it is not always necessary to actively entertain them. After all, they can (and should) keep themselves busy in the great outdoors. If you’re still looking for a few outdoor play ideas without toys, we’ve put together a few suggestions for you.
Harness the child’s urge to discover and experiment
Children discover and experiment all day long. And where better to do this than in nature?
• Search for and observe ants, earthworms and beetles,
• build towers out of stones,
• make flower wreaths (or pick a bunch of flowers),
• let small boats sail on puddles (for example with a leaf),
• balance on tree trunks,
• splash in the mud,
• dig and jump around in leaves.
Parents or caregivers who want to be a little more interactive with their child can try a memory game in the forest: To this end, the child is lightly blindfolded, various materials from nature are placed in its hands and the child tries to guess what they are by feeling them.
Another cool idea is to build a barefoot path in the forest or in your own garden. The different surface textures ensure that children’s senses are stimulated, and their foot muscles are strengthened at the same time. A wide variety of natural materials can be used, such as stones, grass and moss, pinecones, sand or simply mud.
Make the most of children’s urge to move
Children love to move around, preferably all day long. It is often enough for them, for example, to:
• climb a tree,
• run from one tree to the next (and back again),
• jump over small grassy hills,
• jump into puddles.
An obstacle course that parents can set up is a little more organised. This requires a little planning, but it is one of the most popular outdoor games of all. It is particularly easy to set up an obstacle course in the forest. Small bushes, trees or tree trunks can help. Then you just need a start and finish point – and the children can start to run.
Do our recommendations help you?
Please write to us! We look forward to your feedback.
Gladly via e-mail to: moc.iilifa@tcatnoc
Article updated in June 2024, first published in June 2022
