I have to come up with some fun OUTDOOR, HIGH ACTIVITY games for a group of "pre-teens". We have a grass field and lots of asphalt parking lot. We need to fill about an hour and a half to two hours. If you have a game you enjoyed as a kid, please pass on the name and the rules, plus any measurements or equipment, you might know. I grew up making up games, competitions and creating fun. My partner in this (husband) grew up only playing organized sports like Baseball, Football...had all the equipment, lifestyle, yuck! He doesn't get the fun of creating fun and doing something new. Everything I suggest that I liked he literally turns his nose up at or gives me a blank look. Or tell me, "You have to do it yourself, then, because they're not gonna want to do that." I need something that everyone can play, not just the "athletes" in the group.

This is not about me, it is about the kids, but everytime we plan a game night, he thinks of this stupid stuff, with no point, that leaves the kids frustrated, or just has them play kickball. Like I said, he makes fun of or "disapproves" of my suggestions. I'm okay with kickball, but I'm convinced there has to be a handfull games out there like we played when we were kids that EVERYONE could have fun running around and getting exercise.

P.S. I am a HUGE fan of NEW GAMES. He doesn't get them. There's no score, and no "winner"? Maybe it's not about athleticism? Who knows?

Any and all info will be greatly appreciated!

[quote name='sistergoldenhair' date='Feb 25 2008, 12:05 PM' post='211096']
I have to come up with some fun OUTDOOR, HIGH ACTIVITY games for a group of "pre-teens".

They are between ages of 11-14, grades 6-9

years ago, when i was coaching at the high school level, i used to incorporate new games into our practices. it seemed to be a favorite & fun way to end practice. i have used it with all different age groups (all, i guess except high school boys) & everyone used to love them.

so it sounds like you are familiar with the 'new'games - i remember using an old book on them as a reference point. can't recall if it was a late 70s phenomenon or what.

alot of the games were tag games. i recall one was called blob. you had a defined playing field. someone was designated 'the blob' & then once the game began, anyone who was tagged by the blob became part of the blob by holding hands. it meant the blob had to work together to catch the remaining people. if it seemed like that was impossible, i would give the blob permission to break in half (or more) to accomplish the feat. always great fun.

another i called dragon's tail. i would use something that you could tuck in a pocket but be easily pulled out (or flags for flag football worked well). thus the dragon would have it's tail. the dragon would try to tag people while people tried to steal his tail. i always played it so that when tagged, people had to sit down cross legged with their arms outstretched. they could return to the game by being tagged by one of the free people. whoever steals the tail gets to be the next dragon.

if i recall more, i'll post. i'm sure that the new game movement has info somewhere.

have lots of fun. i smile when i think of all the fun we had.

ellen

That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about...did the kids like it? I know both games and played them like crazy in girl scouts and at the park as a kid and a counselor in my 20s. Good Stuff, thanks Ellen!

In the 60's I lived in San Diego and we played outside ALL the time. No indoors gyms in the elementary schools. At school and at home we played:

Kick the can, but I can't remember the rules.
4-square, which is a big square divided into 4 equal spaces, each with a number in it. Can't remember the rules to that one, either.

Dodge ball.

Kick ball.

Hide and go seek, although pre-teens might think that's too childish.

We also were on our skate boards all the time, or on roller skates. We made our own skateboards from a board and one skate - the old fashioned kind. We would take the skate apart, and nail the front wheels on one end and the back wheels on the other end. They were great.

I'd recommend looking online.

WriterMom

Kids where I lived played Spud all the time. It comes up on google if you type in the game spud. fun and easy to learn

You know I think I saw SPUD, but passed over it in my hurry thanks, I'll check out. I'm up for anything different that everyone can play and hav a good time.

you're welcome. the kids all loved it. with the athletic teams, it almost encouraged them to work harder doing practice because we would reward ourselves at the end of a good one with one of those games.

let us know how it goes.

Sure will. Tonight is the first night. We'll be doing it (game nights ) About once every other month. We've worked with Elementary age children for a long time (They will do anything you say) but just recently decided to take on the Middle School-High School age. My husband and I actually discussed in a mature manner - not like middle schoolers ourselves - the games you suggested. He liked the Blob one and the Spud one that was suggested before that. Surprise, Surprise, surprise.