8 Fun Outdoor Games For Seniors That The Family Can Play

Paul West/ Outdoor Games

As we age, staying healthy and active can be a challenge. But there’s no need to feel limited – outdoor games for seniors (senior citizens in the UK) are an easy way to stay in shape while having fun!

With a little creativity and some friendly competition, you’ll find that getting up and out into the fresh air will do wonders for your well-being.

The great thing about these elderly outdoor game is that they’re all low-impact, so everyone can join in regardless of physical ability or skill level. Whether it’s playing catch with friends or taking part in organised tournaments, you’re sure to have a blast each time you venture outdoors.

Get ready to enjoy eight classic outdoor games specifically designed for seniors!

Table of Contents

Benefits Of Outdoor Games For Seniors

Getting out and about can be a game-changer for seniors looking to stay active. As the saying goes, age is just a number!

Playing outdoor backyard or garden games such as bocce ball, cornhole, or horseshoes provides numerous physical and mental health benefits. Bocce ball helps improve hand-eye coordination and flexibility while also providing an opportunity for socialising with friends.

Cornhole is great for developing motor skills, balance and agility, in addition to strengthening muscles. Horseshoes can help increase strength and endurance while stimulating mental concentration. All three of these activities are enjoyable ways to get up on your feet and have some fun in the sun!

The joy that comes from being outside in nature has countless rewards for people of any age. Not only does it provide time away from screens but it encourages healthy habits like walking around outdoors.

Fresh air not only refreshes us mentally but boosts our moods significantly too! The simple act of being active by taking part in outdoor games makes us feel connected to each other and alive – something we all need more of nowadays!

The Benefits Of Being Active Outdoors For Seniors

For the elderly, getting active outdoors is a great way to boost health and their sense of well-being. Playing traditional outdoor games like bocce ball, cornhole, and horseshoes is especially beneficial for senior citizens as they provide an opportunity to socialise with family and friends in the fresh air.

Not only can these activities improve physical strength, but they also offer mental stimulation by encouraging healthy competition while having fun. Moreover, it’s easy to learn how to play each game as you’ll see below

With just some basic instructions, anyone of any age can join in on these classic outdoor activities! As enjoyable as these games are for all ages, we will now focus on why playing them has unique benefits for seniors specifically. Lets’s get into the games themselves – buckle up seniors and let’s have fun!

Bocce Ball

Bocce ball is an easy-to-learn game that can bring hours of enjoyment for seniors. It’s a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine and exercise while spending time with friends or family.

Not only does it provide physical benefits such as improved balance, flexibility and coordination, but it also provides mental stimulation through strategy and socialization.

To play bocce ball, each player needs two balls – one larger than the other – and typically players divide into two teams of 1-4 people each. The goal is to throw your balls closer to a target (called the pallino) than your opponents’ balls.

With some minor adaptations, like using lighter equipment or shortening the playing area, bocce ball can be suitable even for those who are less mobile. Following these tips will help senior players enjoy this timeless classic safely and have more fun!

Cornhole

To play cornhole, you’ll need two wooden boxes about 3 feet long by 2 feet wide and filled with sand or beans. Place them 27 feet apart from each other on flat ground or grass. Take turns throwing your four beanbags at the box, trying to land inside it for three points, or at least on top of it for one point. The first team to reach 21 points wins!

Cornhole is an exciting outdoor game that senior citizens can enjoy in their leisure time. It’s a great way to get fresh air and exercise while having fun with friends or family. Adapting the game for senior players requires some tips, so here are a few:

use shorter boards than usual
move closer together when throwing bags
give each player more throws if necessary
make sure there’s plenty of seating nearby for resting as needed.

Cornhole provides entertainment that all ages can take part in – young and old alike – so don’t miss out on the opportunity to try your hand at this classic backyard game! With these helpful tips, seniors can now join in the fun without any difficulty.

Next up, let’s take a look at horseshoes – another timeless pastime perfect for older folk!

Horseshoes

After playing a game of cornhole, why not try out horseshoes? This classic outdoor game is easy to learn and great for seniors who are looking for some fun in the sun.

Here’s how:

First, you need two stakes, one at each “end”. Each player takes turns throwing four horseshoes at one stake (typically about 40 feet away).
The players then score points depending on how close their horseshoe lands to the stake.
Lastly, the first player to reach 21 points wins!
You then turn around and play the other way to the 2nd stake.

Horseshoes can easily be adapted to make them more senior-friendly. For example, if mobility is an issue, play closer together or use lighter shoes so they don’t require as much effort to throw. If vision is impaired, use larger targets or paint the horseshoes a brighter colour than the target’s post so it stands out more clearly.

Also setting up obstacles such as chairs or trees between yourself and your opponent can help improve accuracy during play by assigning each side an area from which to launch their throws.

No matter what adaptations you choose, playing these games with family and friends will bring lots of enjoyment – plus a bit of friendly competition too! So sharpen those skills and get ready for hours of entertainment outdoors this summer season.

Croquet

It’s long been believed that croquet is an old-fashioned game, but it can still be a fun choice for seniors. Croquet is relatively easy to learn how to play and offers many benefits for senior players – from improved balance and coordination to increased social opportunities.

To make the game even more enjoyable, here are some tips on adapting croquet for seniors

use lightweight mallets with larger heads
set up shorter wickets and reduce the court size
ensure adequate lighting if playing at night
dial down the competition level.

With these simple adjustments, you’ll find that croquet can provide hours of entertainment without straining your joints or muscles. All in all, there’s no better way to enjoy yourself while getting an amazing workout than by picking up a few mallets and hitting those balls!

Pickleball

Croquet may be a fun game for seniors, but it doesn’t quite offer the same physical and social benefits as pickleball.

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports among seniors today and is a great way to stay active while having a blast with friends!

It’s easy to learn how to play, making it an ideal activity for almost any age group.

The rules are simple: two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a plastic ball over a net on a badminton-sized court.

With its slower pace than other racquet sports such as tennis, pickleball offers more time for strategy in each rally.

The physical benefits of playing pickleball include improved balance, coordination, and agility; increased cardiovascular fitness; strengthened upper body muscles; and reduced stress levels due to the joy that comes from being physically active.

Additionally, since pickleball can be played in doubles, there are plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make lasting friendships while competing outdoors.

Shuffleboard

Shuffleboard is an outdoor game that has been enjoyed by seniors for decades. It’s a great way to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and have some friendly competition with friends or family. Plus, it offers multiple benefits such as improved balance, strength and coordination – especially when played regularly.

When adapting shuffleboard to senior players, there are several tips you can use to make sure everyone enjoys the experience

Start by shortening the playing area so seniors aren’t required to move around too much.
Be mindful of any physical limitations they may have and adjust accordingly
Setting up a pair of chairs at either end of the court can be helpful if needed.
Finally, set aside time for breaks in between turns where players can rest their bodies before continuing on with the game.

Shuffleboard is an ideal choice for seniors looking to stay active outdoors while having fun with others.

Frisbee Golf

Frisbee golf is a great outdoor game for seniors. It’s easy to learn and provides many physical and mental benefits.

Here are four key things you should know about how to play frisbee golf as a senior:

Start by understanding the basic rules of the game, including which holes par 3, 4 or 5.
Invest in good-quality Frisbees that are specifically designed for playing disc golf; they will be easier to throw than regular Frisbees.
Adapt your game with shorter tees, wider baskets and longer distances between each basket if needed, so it’s not too strenuous on your body.
Make sure you warm up before each round of Frisbee golf – stretches like arm circles can help loosen up your muscles and prevent injury mid-game!

Playing frisbee golf helps improve focus, coordination and balance while also providing an opportunity for social interaction – just make sure you take breaks often enough so that you don’t overdo it!

With these tips in mind, get ready to hit the course and enjoy some healthy competition with friends or family members alike!

Ring Toss

Who says that seniors can’t have a little bit of fun? Ring Toss is an outdoor game that has been around for centuries, and it’s still one of the best sources of entertainment for older folks. Not only does this game provide ample opportunity to socialise with family and friends, but there are numerous benefits associated with playing ring toss as well!

Here’s what you need to know about how to play ring toss, adapting the rules for senior players, and why it makes sense to give this classic game a try.

For starters, playing ring toss helps enhance your hand-eye coordination skills. It also encourages physical activity which is important for overall health and well-being in later life. Additionally, the challenge of consistently aiming at the target builds agility and improves concentration levels too. As such, making time to engage in ring toss offers many positive benefits – even if you don’t always land rings on the peg!

When it comes to adjusting the rules so that they’re suitable for seniors, start by using larger targets – maybe set up some old plastic cups or other items from around your house. This will make it easier to score points without having to worry about getting close enough to hit those small pegs. You should also consider lowering the height of both the board and the stakes while increasing their distance apart; these changes will help senior players gain confidence when attempting throws from different angles.

Finally: make sure that everyone takes part regardless of whether they manage to get any rings on; this way nobody feels left out or embarrassed due to lack of skill!

Ring Toss provides plenty of enjoyment as well as cognitive and physical benefits for senior players who want something new and exciting to do outdoors. So come on now – let’s go get tossing! Ready for another round? Then let’s explore why trying these games together as a family could be more rewarding than ever before…

Why Try These Games With The Whole Family

The activities we’ve covered are great outdoor games for seniors, providing social interaction and motor skill development. Why stop there? Why not take the opportunity to bring the family together while enjoying these activities outdoors?

There are many benefits of being active outdoors for seniors that can be shared with all generations. The importance of staying active as we age cannot be understated – both physically and mentally it helps keep us sharp and in tune with our surroundings.

So grab your grandkids, and a few friends from the neighbourhood and get outside!

With so many games out there perfect for older adults, you’re sure to find one (or several) that everyone in the family will love playing together – no matter what their age may be.