Go Out and Play! review

Do you know how to draw a hopscotch grid? What’s the silliest challenge in the game of sardines? How do you keep from being "out" in SPUD? Is there any way to escape the blob? This lively, infectious guide to games runs the gamut from classic to contemporary.(goodreads summary)





The warm weather we have been experiencing this past week reminds me of when I was a kid and how I loved playing outside as much as I could..... I loved softball, kickball, hopscotch, riding skateboards and biking on the dirt trails. We also had our favorite jungle gym at the neighbors house where we played Freeze Tag or SPUD. There is no doubt that our children are spending less and less time outdoors playing and just being a kid. They are either being shuffled here and there or plugged into electronics during their free time. Not to mention, the childhood obesity rate is climbing higher and higher as well. So, here is a fun book I found with some great outdoor games that may help get the family out and become active!

From tag games to team games and sidewalk games to ones with no rules, there are plenty of activities to choose from. Each page offers a detailed instruction on how to play, the number of players needed, recommended age group the game is best suited for and if you will need any extra materials like balls or beanbags, etc. There are the old standbys like Flashlight Tag or Simon Says. A few new ones caught my attention such as coconut bowling. You fill water bottles with a small amount of water, place in a triangle and roll a coconut to knock the pins down. Just the idea of using something other than a ball is creative and fun. Another suggested game is Clean Your Room. This is a game where two teams throw as many balls as they can over a net in a specific amount of time. The team who has the less balls on their side after time is called, wins. The games do not require much and the best part is that this book will get everyone moving! So.... why not take one day and turn off all the electronics (including yours Mom and Dad), round up the kids and grab this fun filled book for some wonderful ideas and "Go Out and Play"! I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5 and up.~

Title: Go Out and Play!
Author: KaBoom - Julianna rose, Darell Hammond
Genre: non fiction
Pub. Date: March 2012, Candlewick
Paperback, 104 pgs.