Outdoor Games for Small Groups

Outdoor games play a vital role in overall physical and mental development. Considering the fast paced life today, the nature of jobs has totally changed. The jobs that are computer centric hardly allow a wide range of body movements. Because of such a mechanical kind of routine, somewhere, we feel the need to experience change in activities and some relaxation. And this expected change can be obtained from picnics and outdoor parties.

Importance of Outdoor Games

Outdoor games, during picnics and outdoor parties, serve the purpose of fun and enjoyment for every age group. Apart from fun and enjoyment, these games bring people together (in case of adults) developing a healthy relationship amongst each other. Organizing these activities, especially, for kids is very important because it helps in their overall development. Since, games to kids mean just fun, they must be simple and well planned. They should not be too strength oriented and should be large in number, for children get easily tired of sameness. There are outdoor games even for senior citizens which are especially designed for them considering their age, health conditions and physical strength. Also there can be a variety of games for youths that let them release pent-up energy. What I want to say is that there are outdoor games available for each age group you can imagine.

List of Outdoor games

Game	Description
	Water Fight A Water pool can be the best place for adults to play water fight using water guns. Divide the players (6-8) into two groups. Every player will have a circular ring worn on the head with the paper ring in front of his/her face. Each one will try to tear the opponent's ring by shooting water at it from the water gun, at the same time, saving his/her own ring. The team that saves maximum rings wins. Kids can play a simple version of this game. A kid stands still with an apple or such an object on his head. His opponents squirt water at the apple with the water gun. The team with more hits wins the game.
	Hide and Seek Most of us have played this game during our childhood. It does not require any equipment and can be played among 6-7 players. The seeker counts up to a certain pre decided number by the team. Before the time is up, other players hide in different places around and the seeker has to find them all. The first person caught becomes the seeker for the next round. This game can be played by children, youngsters and adults, too.
	Dodge Ball A volleyball or a ball of its size is required to play this game. Let us say we have 6 players, out of which 1 stands in the circle formed by the others. The players forming the circle try to hit the insider with the ball, who tries to dodge it. The insider, after getting hit is out and is supposed to join those forming the circle. The player who scores a hit, gets the chance to dodge the ball. This game can be played by teenagers, adults and even children.
	Dance and Freeze Minimum 5 players are essential for this game and a music system is required. One person operates the music player. All the participants should dance in the craziest way they can, till the music is on. When the music stops, all of them should freeze in whichever position they are. Its fun to watch them in funny postures. The person who moves before he or she is allowed, loses the game. The game goes on till there is only one player who is the winner of the game.
	Sack Races Sack racing is easy to play and requires few players. Burlap sack is the equipment required to play this game. Arrange a race course. Ask the players to get into the sacks and make them stand at the start line. The players have to hop to reach the finish line. This can lead to very funny situations with the players hopping and stumbling to out do each other. Care should be taken because someone may fall while hopping and get injured. Children, adults and youngsters, all can enjoy this game.
	Tennis This game can be played with 2-4 people. It requires a field with a net. Senior citizens, adults and youngsters can play it. Though it requires some skill, players can vary the pace of the game easily to suit them. These games provide good exercise to the body.
	Balancing This is a game where two players make a team. Notebooks and bricks are the required items for the game. Let us name the partners as P1 and P2. P1 will have to keep a notebook on his/her head. He/she has to walk to the finish line on the bricks that P2 will place at each step. P1 should not let his feet touch the ground. The player who reaches the finish line first, without dropping the book and not touching the ground wins the game for his/her team. This game is preferable for adults as well as youngsters.
	Run and Find 5 Different... The number of players necessary for this game is 5-6. One player will name a color, for example, red. The next moment other players should run to find 5 things of that color within the specific area. These things could be leaves, paper or pebbles. The things collected should be strictly from the outdoor area. The player who comes back first with 5 things of that particular color, wins the game. Instead of color you can also use other characteristics of objects or things like a particular size or shape. This game can be played by children but, care should be taken that they do not enter any danger zone.

Attending a school, college, office or managing a house sometime, subjects us to stress, frustration, fatigue and so on. If we try, we can still regain or restore our sunny nature and derive enjoyment. All we have to do is use a weekend, to organize a get together and play different outdoor games. In addition to allowing us to derive enjoyment and have some fun, the outdoor games also keep us healthy and refreshed for the upcoming strenuous activities.