Bring the playground home

Can't get to the playground? Scratch your Kids Together Playground itch with these simple activities that you can do using things you already own! These are activities the whole family will love to play, but they're also carefully curated just in case you'd like to recreate your own playground experience and watch from the comfort of your own "bench."

Just like Kids Together itself, every idea here is designed for accessible and inclusive play for all ages and abilities so everyone can play. Pick what works for you, go at your own pace, adjust elements as desired, and play in whatever way feels best (and fun!) to you.

miss The Play Equipment?
Build an Obstacle Course!

Use chalk to draw lines to follow, hopscotch paths, circles to move between, weave around trees, rocks, or outdoor yard items. When you're ready for a redesign, use the hose to "erase" the course. BONUS: Set the hose to mist and cool down in your very own misting garden!

INDOOR VARIATION: Use couch cushions, pillows, rolled blankets, and furniture gaps to build paths to follow, move through, or climb over.
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TIPS & IDEAS

• TIP: Whoever builds the course should demonstrate how to do each obstacle so others know the goal.
• FOR A RELAXED PACE: Limit the course to three or four simple obstacles.
• FOR AN ADDED CHALLENGE: Add rules like special moves at designated checkpoints; for example: turn around twice at the door or balance a balloon on your hand for 5 seconds.
• TAKE IT UP A NOTCH​: Try adding "the floor is lava" rules, or time laps and see if they can beat their best times.

miss Water Play?
Create Your Own Misting Garden!

Roll out the hose, set it to mist, and cool down in your very own misting garden! Or crank up the strength and set up some target games, or (one of our personal favorites) play a rousing game of "hose down the car."

For a bubbly (and slightly drier) spin, break out the bubbles and make your own "bubble garden" to travel through (this is especially fun on wheels!). For an added challenge, try adding rules like catching 10 bubbles before they land, or freeze in place when one touches you (unfreeze when the next bubble touches you).

TIPS & IDEAS

• TIP: Introduce mist and bubbles gently from a distance so anyone can ease into it at their comfort level.
• FOR A RELAXED PACE: Use a spray bottle to make a mini misting garden for toys. Or spray a paintbrush with water and try to "paint" on different surfaces like the sidewalk, a piece of paper, trees, etc.

miss sand & sensory play?
Set Up a Mud Kitchen
or sensory bin!

A little soil and water go a long way! Break out the old pots, pans, and mixing tools, or stick to foraged leaves, rocks, twigs, petals, and bark to see what "treats" or "potions" you can conjure up.
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INDOOR VERSION: Swap the mud for Play-Doh, kinetic sand, or a bin of dried rice or lentils, and make a sensory bin! Set out some small tools to scoop, pour, mix, and dig in.

TIPS & IDEAS​

• FOR AN ADDED CHALLENGE: Try hiding small items or defining "ingredients" and see what pretend creations unfold.
• TAKE IT UP A NOTCH​: Specify a number or size of items to make and set a timer.

miss playing games with Others?
SIMON SAYS TRY These Active, Social Games!

Grab at least one other person and try these games — they work great indoors or outdoors!

FREEZE DANCE

• HOW TO PLAY: Play a song and get your thumb ready to hit pause to surprise dancers and see how quickly they can freeze in place.
• WINNING THE GAME: Typically, if you move after the music stops, you're "out," but to make it last longer, you can skip elimination rules and play for points (one point for every time you're the first to freeze).
• TIP: Designate a space with enough room for everyone to jump, sway, move their arms, or however they like to boogie! 

SIMON SAYS

• HOW TO PLAY: Choose someone to play "Simon" and ask them to give commands (like clap, sit, stretch, touch your elbow, stick out your tongue, turn around in a circle, etc.) to the rest of the participants. The goal is for participants to only do the actions if they hear "Simon says..." before the command.
  • EXAMPLE: If given the command of touching your elbow, participants would only do it if they hear "Simon says touch your elbow," and NOT do it if they simply hear "touch your elbow."​
• WINNING THE GAME: Typically, you're "out" if you do a command that didn't start with "Simon says..." but you can skip elimination rules and play for points (minus one point for every incorrect command).

Miss EXPLORING THE PARK?
Go ON A SCAVENGER HUNT!

Draw or write a list of items for others to find — this works great indoors and outdoors (especially on walks!)

EXAMPLE LIST OF THINGS TO FIND

• Something of a certain texture (e.g., soft, rough, prickly, etc.)
• Something of a specific color (e.g., green, pink, brown, etc.)
• Something of a specific finish (e.g., shiny, dull, rusted, etc.)
• Something with wheels
• Something that opens and closes
• Something that you got as a gift
• Outside: a rock, a leaf, petals, tree bark, etc.

TIPS & IDEAS

• FOR A RELAXED PACE: Designate one specific area and only list 3 or 4 items to find.
• FOR AN ADDED CHALLENGE: Set a theme for the type of items that need to be found (e.g., nature items, order of the alphabet, rainbow color scheme, etc.)
• TAKE IT UP A NOTCH​: Assign more items in multiple areas. Set a timer and see how quickly you can find them all! Just make sure the boundary clear and that all items can be safely reached by all participants!

miss Sound & Music Play?
put on A Homemade Instrument Parade!

Grab a spoon and pot, rice in a bottle, or items from the house or yard, and march around the house, down the driveway, or choose a "stage" and play in one place. For quieter options, consider a cushion to tap, a piece of paper to wave, or other muted noisemakers.

TIPS & IDEAS​

• FOR AN ADDED CHALLENGE: Choreograph a specific route to take.
• TAKE IT UP A NOTCH​: Set up an obstacle course and perform your parade while following it.