Your Backyard: The Ultimate Summer Playground

Boundless backyard fun

Editor’s note: This article was sponsored by Flyhomes. 

In between family getaways and super-cool camps, kids are bound to spend a lot of their long summer days at home, yet kiddos need look no farther than the backyard for boundless opportunities for fun! We’ve compiled a list of stellar backyard-makeover ideas to turn your yard into the ultimate summer playground. With activities ranging from Ninja Warrior courses to clever science experiments, your kids will spend the whole summer right where they should: outside. 

Zip into fun

All you need is a couple of trees to turn your backyard into an epic American Ninja Warrior NinjaLine course. Active and adventurous kids will get a kick out of swinging from handle to handle. Need more speed? Pair the course with a zip line! 

Croquet that’s A-okay

Traditional croquet features rock-hard balls that are just destined to crash through a window or cause a gnarly bruise if the kids are unsupervised. That’s why we recommend a kick croquet set! Featuring giant wickets and soft, cloth-covered balls, this version of the game is player-friendly for a range of ages. Check it out in our collection of awesome backyard game options. 

Sprinkled with fun

It’s not summer without a sprint through the sprinkler on a sweltering day. Make sure your house has the best sprinkler in town — one of our favorites is a cool inflatable rainbow sprinkler. With multiple crisscrossing jets, it’s sure to keep the kids busy (and cool) for hours. 

Climb high

Kids who love to climb trees will get a thrill from reaching new heights with tree-friendly toeholds. The setup is simple, but we recommend a helmet and some supervision if you plan to place the toeholds high up the tree’s trunk. 

Backyard band

Fancy kits and gadgets are fun, but sometimes all a kid needs are some old pots and pans to bang on. The PreK + K Sharing blog suggests creating a backyard “music wall” using improvised instruments to keep little kiddos jamming in musical bliss all summer long. 

Dig for treasure

Have a little paleontologist at home? It doesn’t take long to plant a sandbox with toy dinosaurs and other discoveries. This “buried treasure” activity is great for parties and solo playtime alike. Check out our full list for more inexpensive and fun backyard game inspirations. 

Snack time!

Take time in between sprinkler runs and Ninja Warrior training to fuel up with a summer classic: doughnut on a string. If multiple kids are playing, make it a race to see who can finish their doughnut first — but no hands allowed! Have a pack of wet wipes close by for the sticky, frosting-coated aftermath. 

Summer science

Who says summer can’t include a little learning, too? We’ve rounded up a whole list of backyard science experiments that are perfect for piquing curiosity and making glorious messes. Our favorites? A squirt gun volcano experiment (yes, seriously) and the classic humongous bubbles. 
 

No-fuss family camping

Want the tent, the s’mores and the family bonding without all of the fuss of actually camping? We’ve compiled a list of essential tips for hosting the very best backyard camping trip, from cozy sleeping arrangements to authentic camp dinners — and even an outdoor movie.