Kids love games! Kids love being outside! Kids love prizes! What to do with them on these gorgeous summer weekends? How do you get your kids busy inside and outside?
Mini Olympics!

First have them make 100 ribbons out of, well, ribbon! Use permanent marker and write “Winner” on all of them with a little happy face, then purchase or make some popsicles out of frozen juice or yogurt, call neighbourhood kids and let the games begin!

All games can be played with two teams of 2 to100 kids!

How to Set Up Backyard Olympics

Tug-of-War – Get a huge rope, tie a scarf in the middle and set up your ‘winner’s line.’ First team to cross the winner’s line, wins!

Over Under – Have 2 teams lined up behind a bucket of water with a sponge in it. When you say ‘go’ the first person grabs the sponge and passes over to the person behind them, then next person passes under, then over and so one until the end of the line it reached. The end person races to the front of the line, dips the sponge in the water and starts with over. The team who gets their first person back to the front to of the line wins!

Water Dash – Get four buckets, 2 with water and 2 empty. Have the two teams line up behind the buckets with water and the other buckets will be a good 50 feet in front of them. Teams must use a plastic cup and one at a time take water from the first bucket and run to fill the second bucket, running back to give the next person the cup and their turn transporting a cup of water to the new bucket. Whichever team empties their bucket first, wins.

Balloon Toss – Fill small balloons with water and have the teams toss them either as far as they can – farthest balloon wins – or have them toss at a parent, trying to break the balloon and soak the parent! Does matter who wins if Mom is soaking wet!

Egg Carry – Use real eggs or plastic ones on large wooden spoons. Make up an obstacle course or an out and back track for kids to run through with their egg. First team back without breaking or dropping their egg wins!

Piggy Back Races – Two teams take turns carrying each other across a finish line. First team to get all members across the finish line wins!

Hoola Hoop – Two teams hoola hoop – who ever lasts the longest wins. You can race 2 at a time or more depending how many hoola hoops you have. If the kids are really good, have them try hoola-ing 2 or more hoops!

Sack Races – Purchase or make some sacks, line up the teams and establish a turn-around-point. Have the first two people hop in their sack to the turn-around-point and back. When all team members have gone. The first team to finish wins.

Long Jump – See which team has the longest jumper! Get out the measuring tape or use a marker to record the longest jump. Once everyone has had a turn, see which team is the winner!

3-Legged Race – Pair up the team members and tie one leg together and see who can have the most pairs cross the finish line first.

Keep It Up – Give each team a beach ball and put them into two circles. The team that can keep the ball up in the air the longest wins!

At the end of the Olympics, all team members get 'Winner' ribbons, popsicles, lots of water and a hose down or sprinkler run! Do you have more ideas for Backyard Olympics? We would love to hear about them! Please add your ideas to the comments below.