Outdoor Games for Your Child’s Birthday Party

The seventh birthday is a symbolic milestone of a child. This is about the time when they already enter grade school and face the hurdles and challenges of being in advance schooling after being prepped in preschool. It’s supposed to symbolize their independence and freedom to be on their own in school without always needing their parents and family. This is usually a call for celebration because of parents who want to mark the special occasion with something grander than the previous birthday celebrations. 

Because seventh birthdays are supposed to be big occasions, people wait for it with much anticipation. Parents throw elaborate themes and guests give abundant gifts to the child. At parties like this, it is important to give your children a party they would enjoy and never forget. It gives them a chance to bond with their friends whom they might go to school with and their cousins and siblings too. 

Things to Consider

Usually, something too formal for this occasion is not fitting because it can restrict the activities the children can do. They might not be able to play comfortably or dance the way they want. Most attendees you should expect are other children too because this will make your child enjoy the party more. 

It is important then that you choose a venue and time that is convenient for all of your possible attendees. You do not want to schedule the party way past their bedtime. Also, you wouldn’t want to find a venue where you can’t have fun with all the games you have in mind. Choose an outdoor place where you can have a barbecue or pool party for your guests. If you are organizing the party for your child, consider facilitating a lot of games that both children and adults would enjoy under the sun, in an open free space. Here are some games you can do outdoors that will surely ignite fun for everyone while celebrating your child’s seventh birthday:

• Outdoor Life-Size Scrabble

A game of scrabble is an amazing way to test the spelling prowess of these young schoolers while having fun at a birthday party. Introduce this classic game to them by bringing it outdoors in life-size letters. Start by printing out letters on a card big enough for everyone to see, a long bond paper cut in half would be enough. For each child, give 10 to 12 letters each then select the first player showing off hands or employ any mechanism you prefer. Have the first child spell out one word on the ground then the next player will try to build off from this. Do this in as many rounds as they can as long as there are still words that can be formed by each child. When everyone seems to have used all of the possible combinations, the child with the least number of letters left wins!

• Tug of War and Water

This can be safely done in a lawn or anywhere with grass rather than concrete and tiles. Set up your sprinkler and have two teams lined opposite each other. Bring out a rope and instruct the children that they must pull the opposite team to their side to win. This will be a fun competitive game that will add physical exercise to the children because the water will add a twist as they pull and they will find it harder to grip on the rope while the sprinkler is splashing on their faces. 

Since this is a water activity, make sure they are in their proper attire with no gadgets in their pockets. Ask your guests to bring extra clothes with them. Take advantage of their wet state and have more games they can do with water like a water balloon and water gun fights or fetch a pail of water.

• Capture the Flag

This game can be played by a large group of children if your child’s whole class is invited. Have them form two teams and create their own flags. They will be marking their territory with the flag they have created and the main goal of each team is to get the opponent’s flag and make it to their base safely without getting caught. Once the child is caught on the territory of the other, that child will go to their jail and be imprisoned. They can rescue their teammate by going to that prison and tagging them, running back to the base safely without getting caught by the opponent. Once a team is able to successfully get a hold of the other team’s flag, the game is over and they win. If there are a number of them imprisoned, they could hold hands and make a line so that it will be easier for their teammates to tag them for rescue. 

The children can play this as long as they want. If they decide to play it again after one round, have them exchange players or groups into a new one so they can interact with more children during the party.

• Giant Jenga

This is a great game if there’s only a small group of kids especially if you have a giant set of Jenga blocks at home or if you have wooden blocks you could turn into one. You just have to stack the blocks just like how you stack the regular-sized Jenga, in alternating directions on top of each other. Do not make a pile higher than the smallest kid’s shoulders. This is where you can leave the kids to themselves and watch them play it for hours.

• Scavenger Hunt in Nature

If there is a park or a forest nearby then you can play this game for children. You can do this activity while trekking with parents as you make your way to a picnic area at the side of the mountain or around the park. It’s a good bonding time for parents and their children too. Prepare a list of things they should be able to find and collect what’s present in nature. For example, have them find a rock that’s the size of their thumb, a leaf with various colors, a small flower, or a branch that looks like the letter V. You could partner the children up if it’s a big group or you can have them do it individually. Their interest, competitiveness, and curiosity will be ignited by this game. 

Playing this kind of game would make the children expect rewards after so make sure that you have a price waiting for the hunter who was able to collect all the things on your list. You can give a special prize to the first one who has successfully completed the task and give secondary prizes to those who still managed to find all so their effort will also be rewarded. 

• Simon Says

Some parents are eager to play dress up for their children’s 7th birthday party and it would be difficult to think of games when kids are wearing gowns and formal attire. Classic games like Simon Says are great entertainers because they require minimal movements. 

Everyone at the party could be playing this game, even parents and other guests. Ask the birthday celebrant to make a list of requests and help him decide where to put the words Simon Says. Have volunteers watch out for the players. Those who will do the action without hearing Simon Says are out. Those remaining few can be gathered closer together for easier facilitation. The last person standing wins and receives a prize. You can add prizes so the winner can be delighted.

• Piñatas

Even a celebrated 7-year-old is still a kid so Piñatas are still appropriated for their age. Mostly, kids who frequent birthday parties get excited whenever they see giant Piñatas overhead as part of decorations. They are a fun staple at every children’s party. Since this age is supposedly special, make the Pinata more special by ordering a bigger size, or a brighter and grander design. According to the party experts behind www.whowants2party.com.au, Piñatas are now more varied in size and features. You can find average ones that are sized like giant balls, famous 3D superhero designs, and those with pull strings. These ones are more appropriate for their age if they don’t want to use bats anymore. It will also make the kids excited to run over the spills of the Piñatas and collect all the token and candies inside. Some don’t even care about the prize and want to participate just for the fun of it.  

You can start a party with a bang using Piñata or end the party with it. This is great to use outdoors on top of other games you have thought of. You can let other children participate in cracking it down using the bat if your celebrant is willing to share the pleasure of doing so. It could be a competition wherein the winner gets to share the goodies with everyone. 

• Game of Hundred Relays

You can actually just have one game and modify it for as many as you like. It’s also one of those classic games that even adults enjoy. In saying so, have a round of relays for children and then let the adults have a go while the kids take a break. You can start by doing an egg-and-spoon relay. The children will have a spoon in their mouth, they will line up with equal numbers in each team, the first person will have the egg and has to pass it to the person behind. You can end by declaring the first team to successfully carry the carry to the last person in the back or you could have the players pass the egg to the front again. This is more fun because they have to do it again successfully. To add a twist, you can use raw egg so they’ll have to pick out another if they fail.

For a more challenging relay, prepare a shirt, pair of pants that fits everyone, socks, and shoes. Have them wear the items in that order, then remove them again when they have tied the shoes. They have to pass the complete items to the person behind them and let them wear and take it off again. They can do this until the clothes reach the last person in the back. The first one to run forward wins. Since this is a group effort, prepare some reward for the winning team. It could be something they can share among themselves. 

Another form of a prize they can do is to ask the losing team to do a dare. It can be by dancing or singing to silly songs they like. This will surely ignite a lot of laughs among the children. 

• Special Seven Bring Me Game

Of course, there should be a game reminiscent of the special age you are celebrating. Play a game of Bring Me wherein you ask the guests to bring you a unique item and the first who is able to do so wins. Modify this into asking 7 of these items. Start with something relatable to the celebrant. For example, say “Bring me 7 family members of the celebrant”. Seven different people should bring one family member each. Add more items here that are fun like 7 shirts with the same color as the celebrant,  7 people with the same birthday month, and so on. 

If having 7 of each item is difficult, then proceed to just ask one item to make it more challenging. You could ask for the celebrant’s favorite food, cellphone app, pet, and others. This will test how well the guests know the birthday celebrant.

It’s A Wrap

In order to make your child’s 7th birthday celebration fun and memorable, include games that will make everyone participate and have a good time. Games are great symbolic activities that make them realize that their world is expanding outside of their home and families. It will be an opportunity for them to cement their relationship with their friends.