Summertime is the perfect time to pack a picnic and head outdoors with your family. Picnics provide the perfect setting to enjoy delicious foods, a little sunshine, play outdoor games, and spend quality time with your baby, toddler, preschooler, or school-ager.

Fun Picnic Games & Activities

To help you plan your next outdoor adventure, the daycare teachers at New Horizon Academy shared some of their favorite picnic games and activities that are guaranteed to offer endless hours of fun in the sun for the entire family.

Go on an Alphabet Walk

Have you heard of an alphabet walk?

While walking together, look for objects that start with these beginning sounds. Use the New Horizon Academy Alphabet Walk to record what you observe.

Relay Races

Children love racing, so plan a fun relay race.

Here are a few simple ideas to try:

• Running
• Jumping like a frog
• Hopping like a bunny
• Slithering like a snake
• Walking backwards

Add an element of competition by having a start line and finish line for each race. Or divide into teams and tag off at the half-way point from the starting line. Your entire family will have a blast participating in a silly relay race!

Play Red Light, Green Light

Red Light, Green Light is an oldie, but a goodie, and helps your child develop their listening, observation, and agility skills. In case you need a refresher of how to play the game, we have included instructions below.

Before You Start

• Review the rules and what happens if some moves on a Red Light.
• Discuss how to move quickly and safely.

Set Up

Clearly define the playing area with a designated starting line and finish line.

How to Play Red Light, Green Light

1. Start with everyone standing along the starting line.
2. When you say Green Light, everyone will move towards the finish line.
3. When you say Red Light, everyone must immediately stop.
4. If players are still moving when you call Red Light, they must go back to the starting line.
5. Start a new round once everyone gets across the finish line, or, when most of the players have made it across the finish line.

Water Tag

Tag with a fun twist. One family member is armed with a spray bottle full of water. Similar to regular tag, the goal is to run away from the person who is “it”. The first person squirted becomes “it” and takes over spraying. The last dry person standing wins.

Water Balloon Toss

Simply fill water balloons, assign partners, and begin tossing the water balloon back and forth between partners. The team whose water balloon lasts the longest wins.

 

Picnic Recipes We Love

The Director of Food and Nutrition at New Horizon Academy shared a few healthy, kid-friendly recipes, and tips for a picnic.

• We recommend involving your child in preparing the food for the picnic as research tells us that children are more likely to eat what they prepare. Involving your child in the cooking process also gives you the opportunity to chat with them about healthy eating.
• Bring plenty of water and stay well hydrated. Try adding slices of fruits such as lemons, oranges, pineapple, and strawberries to water for variety and flavor. Adding fruit makes it a special picnic favorite, too.
• Prevent any messy food mishaps by packing individually pre-portioned foods. Below are a few recipes to help you do just that.