Imagine Toys: Family Play Date
My family has a cell phone problem. Whenever we meet for a family meal the cell phones come out of everyone pockets. My husband checks his “Words with Friends” game, my brother in law streams the latest Twins baseball game, the rest of us (me included) surreptitiously check Facebook throughout the meal. Meanwhile, my daughter talks animatedly with those of us who don’t have a device out. I decided we were going to have some much needed family time, and give my daughter the undivided attention she craved..
Remember, how as a kid, you could just play after school on the playground for hours and not get bored? Games like wall ball, 500, Horse, Double Dutch and Kick the Can. I wanted to recapture some of that childhood fun, introduce my daughter to some of these games, as well as set a good example of active adults. In order to break free of our phones, I suggested we meet in the park for a Family Play Date. Imagine Toys sent us a KABOOM! Go Out and Play! Essentials Pack, which we took to the park with us. Inside the backpack are two jump ropes, a frisbee, two packs of sidewalk chalk, a playground ball and a book full of instructions for tons of playground games.
Some of the games we played:
Hopscotch
My daughter used the sidewalk chalk in the backpack to draw her hopscotch board. Suffice to say, we didn’t actually use this one. But she had a fun time drawing it!
Chalk outlines
Llama was giggling the entire time her Nana traced around her.
Frisbee Golf
This was my first time playing! One person picks a target, for example a tree 100 feet away. That same person then sets a par – the number of throws it should take to hit the target. Each member takes a turn trying to hit a tree. I went 2 over par in my first throw. Seems like I need to practice more with my frisbee aim.
Double Dutch
We tried to teach my daughter Double Dutch. This is what happened.
Regardless, it was fun.
SPUD
First, we defined the boundaries of the playing area. We chose one person as “It” as everyone else ran. “It” counted to 10 with his eyes closed. At 10, all the other players froze. “It” is then allowed to take 4 giant steps toward any player and throw the ball at them. If he hits the player, the player gets an “S.” If he misses, It gets an “S”. Anyone who spells SPUD is out of the game.
We had a blast and not a single cell phone appeared for at least an hour. The KaBoom backpack was incredibly convenient and was the perfect Back to School family activity to reconnect without a ton of work . At the end, we were all tired and very sweaty. We finished our night at Village Inn for pie.
Interested in getting your own KaBOOM! Go Out and Play Essentials Pack? The Essentials pack comes in either purple or orange and offers a lifetime warranty. Also included is a book, along with other playground essentials: two jump ropes, a high-quality 2-ply rubber 8½” playground ball, two boxes of sidewalk chalk, and a Made in USA plastic flying disc.
Disclosure: We received a free Kaboom! Go Out and Play Essentials Pack in return for our honest ideas and opinions. In compensation for this post, we are receiving a $50 gift card to Imagine Toys which we plan on offering to our Whimsicle readers in a giveaway.
Enter to win a $50 Gift Card to Imagine Toys!
What games did you play as a kid?
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What a fun kit! It’s amazing all the fun things you can do with just a couple simple things.
I know! I wish I was creative enough to think of simple tricks like this backpack.
I think everyone has a cell phone problem!! This looks like such a fun day. I love it 🙂
I’m trying to get my nephews involved in more activities outside the house, instead. Whenever I come home from an eight hour plane ride away to visit them all they want to do is play on my iPad! Lol 🙁 I love these outdoor games and activities, I’m still home for a little bit longer, so I’ll have to get these two kiddos to participate with me.
My kiddos are the same way with technology. Nothing beats a good throw back…they can even watch they Aunt kick their booties at some outdoor fun.
I love this! I played most of these games growing up. I have vivid memories of playing red rover on the play ground at school until our teachers banned it because they thought someone would get hurt. It was still a fun game 🙂
Haha. Red Rover was my worst nightmare when I was teaching…my heart stopped beating whenever the kids would play…but I too remember the simpler times 🙂
great idea! Perfect for families to stay close and bonded
Perfectly said, Tianna.
What a fun pack! I loved HORSE – my sister and I played it all the time. 😀
Can’t wait for the giveaway!
Valerie…we will keep you posted for the giveaway.
HORSE was my favorite playground game Valerie! I used to play that for hours after school!
I love this idea. Get ’em out from in front of the TV and video games, and enjoy the outdoors!!
Exactly!
Jumping rope was always a big game when I was a kid. That and any kind of chalk games or hopscotch!
Sounds like a fantastic kit! Going to look in to it because I’m sure we’d have a blast!
wow, looks like so much fun! =)
Thanks, Amanda! It was a blast!
Oh man, hopscotch was my thing growing up! This is so great.
I loved Hopscotch! My friends and I kept adding extra challenges to it because we didn’t want the game to end.
My Dad bands phones from the dinner table. If the home phone rings, we don’t pick up and he gets really mad if we’re on our phones at the table. Even now when I have a full time job and only go back for little holidays – the rules still apply! Sounds like you guys have thought of some pretty good games to get outside again!
Katie <3
Your Dad has a great rule 🙂 It is so easy to get distracted and then not spend any time together.
A family play date is such a great idea! It’s something fun you can all do together without the distraction of technology. 🙂
Definitely! Technology is cool, but it just doesn’t allow for family interaction and having fun together.
I really love this!
Thanks Neely!
Love this idea! Yay for imaginative play!
Yay is right Kristine!! Amazing how sometimes we think there is nothing to do when there is a whole world outside 🙂
Seems like a fun day and all it takes is something so little
I always have to remember things are better if you keep it simple 🙂
This sounds really fun. We always played volleyball or badminton as kids.
I think so many of us have cell phone problems these days! It’s sad! But I love your games and ideas! 🙂
Thanks Susan!
its worrying these days how many of us use phones during family time. Glad you made a change, I can not remember the name of my childhood games but i can describe to you
I love technology, and it is so great for our kids, but sometimes I feel bad for them. They don’t have a childhood like we did where it didn’t exist and we played outside every day!
Ya, it is definitely something to be wary about. I do remember playing my Nintendo a lot as a kid though. Since technology is so portable these days, I think we all need to be aware that kids also need time to use their imaginations 🙂
What a wonderful way to stay involved and have some family time! Its nice to just have some tech free time!
Agreed Jessica 🙂
What a fun day! Playing out is something special for the kids, and especially if they can do it together with their parents!
Fun had by the whole family!! This reminds me of the importance of family outings and that we need to do it more often. 🙂
Definitely. We are trying to fit more in as well.
These are some great outdoor ideas. Sounds like a fun day!
I think EVERY family has a cell phone problem now! My mom has this rule when we go out that all our phones have to go in a pile, first person to pick up their phone pays for the entire meal. At first we thought it was a joke till my brother ended up having to pay for everyone one time. After that, we stopped using our phones while out with her, it totally works! Anyway, this kit looks so convenient and it looks like you had such a fun day! I feel like so many of these activities are being quickly forgotten but they’re so awesome!
Awesome change to make! It’s my pet peeve to be in someone’s company and they have their cell phone as the second companion. At home, we definitely have a no techy device at the dinner table. Great article, with some great ideas of what to actually do outside the home that does not incorporate the techy device.
Thrifting Diva
http://www.thriftingdiva.com
That is a justified pet peeve. Great rule for the dinner table 🙂
What a fun time! It’s very easy to get lost in technology and forget about precious opportunities to spend time with family.
Four Squar,e, Duck Duck Grey Duck, Jump rope
Grey Duck! I love it! Are you from MN? I’ve never heard anyone out of state call it that!
I recently heard about Grey Duck as well 🙂
We were all about four square in elementary school!
My 4 year old likes to play hide and seek and tag:)
Love those both! Sad kids can’t play tag at school anymore :/