The Adventurous Book of Outdoor Games: Classic Fun for Daring Boys and Girls

This is going to be one of those books that gets ruined because it is left out in the rain! My boys want to try ALL the games at once. Many of the games are old stand-bys that we had forgotten...but they are almost all new to the boys. The games are rated according to activity level and time, so we can find games for this out-of-shape mom to play, or they can choose games for their high energy levels. Each game has its own page and they are easy to read and understand, so the kids can take the book outside all by themselves and have a blast. We'll be using this book for our cub scouts and Webelos at meetings and at camps.

This is a great resource to get the kids outside and get them moving! Chapters are rated by activity level, which is pretty helpful. You can decide how much you feel like moving before you start selecting what to play. For each game, the following information is listed: Number of players, Age, Time Allotted, and Playing Field. At a glance, you can determine which games would be appropriate for your particular group. Instructions are provided on over 130 games. For some of these, our group just needed a refresher course to remember how to play, many others we had never heard of. Several games seem too simplistic to have been included - such as Monkey in the Middle, Tug-of-War, and Follow the Leader. A few require the purchase of equipment that would typically include the necessary instruction - Bocce, Lawn Darts, and Jacks. However, the majority of the games were new to us or seemed as though they would be worthwhile to learn. The set-up is very thorough for each game, detailing equipment, object, and how to play. The instructions are well written and nicely detailed, including comments on how to vary the games for more fun. We had no trouble understanding games we had no prior experience with. Overall, this would be a terrific tool for kids of any age group. This book obviously encourages outdoor play, but also promotes creative thinking and plain old exercise!

I bought this for my sister, and she's been teaching these games to her kids. They love it! It's amazing how many different types of games are in this book.

This is a really good idea - getting kids away from endless preoccupation with media and back outside into the fresh air and moving their whole bodies rather than just twitching their fingers. The suggestions are fun and and have helped generations of kids grow and learn to play with each other.

I bought this book for my little cousins (ages 5, 9, and 12) and my aunt said they LOVE it. They have been gathering all the kids in the neighborhood and don't want to come back inside all day! She said the instructions are clear, the cost is minimal to none, and now the kids can get some excercise! I can't wait to buy this for all my friends and relatives with kids! It's a GREAT IDEA for a present!