4 Great Ideas for 4th of July Games
Parents should consider reviving classic outdoor games from your childhood as Fourth of July activities for kids. They should help make your holiday picnic or get together extra special.
Listed below are 4 games you may have forgotten but have stood the test of time and will likely elicit fond memories from childhood.
- Kick the Can
Kick the Can is an often forgotten game that has elements of capture the flag, tag, and hide and seek. Someone is "it" and finds and tags other players who go to a pretend prison but not all hope is lost. A "can" is placed in an open area near the prison and if a player kicks it without getting tagged the prisoner is set free. - Scavenger Hunt or Treasure Hunt
In a scavenger hunt a list of items to find is defined and teams compete against other teams to try to be the first to find all the items on their list. In Treasure Hunts one or more players try to find hidden articles, locations or places by using a series of clues or riddles (many people use the terms interchangeably). Traditionally, the hunt leads to a treasure (treat or gift) but it could help lead the kids into the next activity. For example, if it's a hot day, a treasure of water balloons might start a water balloon fight. - Red Light, Green Light
In Red Light, Green Light the players try to reach the finish line without the instructor seeing them moving. The instructor stands at the finish line with their back to the group, shouts green light or red light, and the other players respond by running or stopping. The instructor turns to face the group on red lights to catch players still moving at which point they are out of the game or start over. - 4 Square
Four Squares are drawn with chalk on the ground and numbered and the object of the game is to move up to the highest ranking square. You move up by eliminating other players by getting them to hit the ball out of bounds on your serve. As each player is eliminated a new one can join the game at square 1.
These games have proven themselves as favorites throughout the years and should create some wonderful memories over the holiday weekend.
Other Class Games to consider
The above list has some of our favorites but here is a list of several other classic outdoor games to consider for igniting your 4th of July festivities.
- Hopscotch
- Sardines
- Relay Races
- Wheelbarrow Races
- Red Rover
- 3-Legged Races