Do you remember our Canada 150 initiative “Get Active Through Sport”?#YQLCHALLENGE started out as a list of 150 things to do in 2017
Hundreds of people participated in the challenge during 2017, but just because 2017 is finished, the challenge doesn't have to be. To help pass the days in April, we chose 30 activities from that list of 150 to share with you again! These activities can be done at home, with little to no equipment, and lets you maintain social distancing. We hope you give them a try! |
- Balance Challenge - There are many fun ways to practice balance skills! Check out THIS WEBSITE for 7 fun activities
- Bird Watching - If you can, the Elizabeth Hall Wetlands are a great place to go birding, but you can also practice backyard birding! Check out this BLOG ON BACKYARD BIRDING.
- Bowling - No fancy equipment needed here, just raid the recycling and check out this POST ON HOW TO MAKE A BOWLING GAME AT HOME
- Build A Fort - You are never to old to have fun building a fort! There are options, you can build a real fort outdoors, or you can rearrange a little furniture, round up some blankets and clothespins and build a blanket for like in THIS POST HERE
- Catch - If you have ball gloves and a ball, great! Head outside to play some catch. If you don't, that's ok too! You can play catch with almost anything, beanbags, stuffed animals, even wet sponges (best to take that one outside :-) Check out THIS POST ABOUT SPONGE CATCH.
- Chinese Skipping - Although you can buy special chinese skipping ropes, you don't need to, you can make your own with rubber bands or sewing elastic. There are many tutorials on YouTube, here's a TUTORIAL WE LIKE
- Dance Party - The simplest way to do this is to just crank up some tunes and dance, but if you'd like a little encouragement, you can follow along to a video like THIS ONE FOR KIDS or THIS ONE FOR ADULTS
- DIY Relay Races - The sky is the limit when it comes to relay races! You can do this indoors or out, and can use things you have around your house. Check out this POST WITH 11 RELAY RACE IDEAS
- Frisbee - Actually Frisbee is the trademark name of a flying disc. You can play the basic version, where you simply fly the disc back and forth, or you can kick it up a notch and play Kan Jam. You don't need the fancy equipment though, you can use a couple of buckets or even large cardboard boxes. Check out the KAN JAM INSTRUCTIONS AND RULES HERE
- Gardening /Yard Work - No explanation needed here! This spring and summer we should have some amazing looking yards and gardens to spend time in!
- Giant Tic Tac Toe - You have a few options here. You can make a 3x3 grid with rope or wood or even hula hoops. The x's and o's can be cut out of cardboard (or empty cereal boxes) or can even just be 2 different colored items (need 5 of each color) like bean bags or paper plates. You can play regular tic-tac-toe, or you can turn it into a race like IN THIS VIDEO HERE
- Hide And Seek - Hide and seek can be played indoors or out. There are a few variations on the rules, so you might want to decide which version you are playing before you get started. Learn about the VARIATIONS OF HIDE AND SEEK ON WIKIPEDIA
- Hopscotch - You'll need to draw a hopscotch pattern. Chalk is best for sidewalks, and painter's tape works great indoors. Read THIS POST ABOUT HOPSCOTCH before you get started to refresh your memory of the rules and to see some neat variations.
- Housework - The extra time at home might let you get caught up on some of those tasks you've been meaning to do, but did you know you'll actually be burning a few calories while you do it (although not a huge amount so it shouldn't be your only activity). I like to crank music from the 80's and 90's while I clean, how about you?
- Jump Rope - Jump rope is great exercise but it's also fun! Check out THIS POST ABOUT THE 7 BENEFITS OF JUMPING ROPE and check out this POST WITH JUMP ROPE GAMES AND ACTIVITIES and here is a LINK TO JUMP ROPE RHYMES
- Kick The Can - An old classic game that isn't very common anymore. If you need to refresh yourself on the rules, check out the WIKIPEDIA PAGE ON KICK THE CAN
- Marco Polo - Did you know there is an adaptation so Marco Polo can be played on land (indoors or outdoors)? Yep. Check out this POST WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PLAY
- Minute To Win It - Although you can't go on the TV game show, the internet is full of these fun challenges you can try! A quick Google or Pinterest search and the hardest part will be picking which ones to do :-)
- Musical Chairs - Basic game of elimination involving players, chairs, and music, with one fewer chair than players. Kick up the activity level by spreading out the chairs and or adding dancing or movements to the game. Good luck, and try not to squish any kids!
- Nature Scavenger Hunt - Depending on the environment where you are able to have a scavenger hunt, the things on the list may vary, so we found this one that incorporates the 5 senses, and isn't too specific so it should work no matter where you are. Find the FIVE SENSES NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT HERE.
- Ninja Warrior - A DIY ninja warrior obstacle course can be as basic or intricate as you make it. If you are looking for inspiration, check out this VIDEO ON YOUTUBE OF A COURSE A DAD MADE FOR HIS DAUGHTER.
- Ring Toss - Although you can buy a ring toss game (or make a fancy one with woodworking skills) you don't need to. You could use pop bottles, paper towel rolls, chopsticks, or even rulers stuck in the ground. For the rings, you could use rope, paper plates with the centre cut out or even cardboard rings wrapped in tape for stability. Decide how you want to score and start playing!
- Running - All you really need is a good pair of running shoes. If you aren't an experienced runner, here's a POST ABOUT HOW TO START RUNNING: A BEGINNERS GUIDE.
- Scream And Run - This is a traditional Blackfoot game that requires a stick and a large open space. Here is a link to a PDF WITH RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS (page 7 &8). While you are there you can check out the other traditional games in the document.
- Seven Stones - Lagori also known as seven stones is one of the oldest and most popular game played in India. The game involves 2 teams with a ball and flat stones/wooden blocks. One team will knock down the blocks and will try to restore the pile of blocks while the other team will try to throw the ball at the opposing team. Learn how to play ON THIS BLOG POST.
- Standing Long Jump - We are a big fan of standing long jump! If you've ever been to an event we were at you may have tried out our standing long jump mat! You don't need a mat though to do it at home. You'll need some masking tape or painter's tape to make a starting point. Remember that the toes can't cross the line before the jump. Measure to the back of the heel of the foot that lands furthest back. The Lethbridge Sport Council record is 102 inches, but we've had at least a half dozen people pass the 90 inch line. See how far you can jump!
- Tag - The variations of tag are endless. You probably don't need instructions, but just in case you do, WIKIHOW HAS STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS HERE
- Tire Racing (Tee-wong-law) - Tire racing, or tee-wong-law, is played in the rural areas of Thailand. This game first started with a spare time and a bamboo ring taken from a used threshing basket. You could use an old bike tire or a hula hoop. Check out this BLOG TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY.
- Water Balloon Fight - No explanation needed here! Wait for a nice day and head into the backyard for a water balloon fight! Just be sure to pick up all the balloon bits after so the wildlife doesn't get them.
- Yoga - Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. Check out THIS POST WHICH IS A COLLECTION OF KIDS YOGA VIDEOS
*Please note these games are intended to be played with healthy members of your household. Please abide by all guidelines including self isolation if you have symptoms and social distancing. In the future we hope you'll want to be able to continue to play these games and will invite your whole neighborhood join in, once it is safe to do so. Please use your common sense when doing any of these activities.