2 DIY outdoor games for children that’ll keep them entertained all summer

These outside games for children are DIY lawn games that will have you making the most of the summer months, enjoying fun in the sun. The best bit about our DIY garden games ideas is that you’ll have just as much fun making them as you will playing them! So come on, let’s get outside, and let’s get crafty!

The spikiest part of our cactus hoop-la will be the scissors used to make it. Enjoy making your DIY outdoor games for kids as a family, with adult supervision to hand.

Cactus hoop-la

Whatever the weather, enjoy your own cacti garden in this outdoor activity for children that’s far from being dry of fun!

The aim of the game

When it comes to DIY outdoor games for kids, an element of competition is healthy. Take it in turns to aim and throw your hoops so that they land on different parts of the cactus. The smaller the hoop, the harder this will be, so small hoops mean more points! Get the whole family involved by making as many hoops as you’d like, and hoop-la your way to victory.

Takes about 2 hours

1. To make the cactus for our first outdoor activity for kids, cut open and flatten the empty Cushelle facial tissue boxes. Draw round the cactus template twice and cut out. Then paint both sides of the pieces with green paint and leave to dry.
2. Next, draw some spikes with a pen on each side of your cactus. Make a long scissor cut to the middle of each piece, going from the top of one and from the bottom of the other, with both ending in the middle. Slot the pieces together and add a little glue to secure in place.
3. Now that you have a fully-formed cactus, take a sheet of Cushelle facial tissue and colour with a pink pen. Tear into small squares and scrunch into little flowers, then glue to the arms of the cactus. Place inside a sand-filled plant pot and set aside.
4. Finally, it’s time for the hoops. Measure and cut two Cushelle toilet roll tube into 1cm wide rings. Cut open each ring, and colour with pens. Then glue the strips back together to make hoops, creating two for a small hoop and three for a large hoop.

Now that your cactus hoop-la is ready to go, it’s time to enjoy and have some fun playing your homemade garden games outdoors!

Hook a fish

Have all the fun at the fair with this DIY lawn game. This hook a fish game is fun to make, and even more fun to play!

The aim of the game

Take it in turns to hook as many differently coloured fish as possible. Each colour represents a different amount of points, and the person with the most amount of points, wins! To make things even more fun, set a timer for each round.

Takes about 2 hours

1. First, we’re going to make the pond for our fish. Cut the tops off two empty Cushelle facial tissue boxes, then cut three of the sides down to 4cm. Cut the remaining long sides off, before placing the boxes side by side and sticking them together with tape. Then, paint the inside with blue paint.
2. Now that we have a pond, we can make some fish. Cut and flatten the last empty Cushelle facial tissue box and draw round the fish template as many times as possible. Cut out your fish and colour with pens.
3. To make the rods, you’ll need to cut some strips of kitchen paper and some lengths of thin beading wire, before tightly twisting the paper around the wire. Make a hook shape at one end to make a rod.
4. Finally, make the fish hooks by cutting a length of the twisted paper wire into smaller sections and bending them into arch shapes. Make two small holes in each fish and poke the ends of the arches through. Secure at the back with a little tape.

You’ll not need to go fishing for more outdoor games for children this summer having made these DIY outdoor games. Happy fishing!