20 Outdoor Games for a Farmhouse Day

The best outdoor games for a farmhouse day need almost no equipment, work on a lawn, and let a mixed group of kids, adults and grandparents all join in. Below are 20 that do exactly that, sorted by energy level so you can match the game to the time of day: high-energy ones for the cool morning and evening, gentle ones for the drowsy hours after lunch, and a handful for the pool.

Most of them need little more than a ball, a rope or a dupatta. Pack a small "games bag" and you are set for the whole day.

The games bag: what to pack

• Two tennis balls and a soft football
• A thick rope, about 10 metres
• A frisbee and a badminton set
• Chalk or a few cones (steel tumblers work too)
• Seven flat stones or tiles, or a stack of paper cups
• Old sacks or large cloth bags
• Spoons and lemons, a few balloons, a whistle

Check the farmhouse page for what is already available, since many farmhouses have box cricket, and some have badminton or other outdoor equipment.

High-energy farmhouse games (morning and evening)

1. Box cricket

The default farmhouse game for good reason. Short overs, small teams, lots of noise. If the farmhouse has a netted box, plan around it.

2. Kho-kho

Teams of eight or nine, a line of seated chasers, and endless running. Great for teenagers and fit adults; it tires everyone out before lunch.

3. Seven stones (lagori)

Stack seven flat stones, knock them down with a ball, then rebuild them while the other team tries to hit you. Every Indian childhood has a version of this, and it is just as fun at forty.

4. Tug of war

All you need is the rope. Run it across soft grass, never near the pool edge, and let the in-laws settle old scores.

5. Frisbee keep-away

Two teams, one frisbee, no running with it in hand. A gentler, more inclusive alternative to football.

6. Football or "five-a-side"

Use two pairs of slippers as goals. Play on the lawn, away from glass doors and flower beds.

7. Badminton

Best in the evening once the wind drops. A doubles ladder keeps everyone rotating.

Medium-energy games for mixed ages

8. Treasure hunt

Write clues in advance and hide them around the lawn, near the swing, under the cricket mat. Teams of mixed ages work best: kids run, adults read the clues.

9. Lemon and spoon race

A spoon in the mouth, a lemon on the spoon, a finish line. Grandparents make excellent judges.

10. Sack race

Old rice sacks or large cloth bags. Keep it on grass and expect many falls.

11. Three-legged race

Tie partners' ankles with a dupatta. Pair an adult with a child for maximum laughs.

12. Musical chairs

Classic for a reason. Drag the plastic chairs onto the lawn and use the speaker. Remember that music timings vary by farmhouse, so play it during the day.

13. Dog and the bone

Two teams, numbered players, a "bone" (a hanky) in the middle. Call a number and two players race to snatch it. Fast, simple, works for ages six and up.

14. Statue

Music plays, everyone moves; music stops, everyone freezes. The youngest kids love being the judge.

Low-energy games for the post-lunch hours

15. Cup pyramid challenge

Each team builds the tallest stack of paper cups in a minute. Easy to play in the shade.

16. Ring toss

Use bangles or rings cut from cardboard and toss them onto bottles. A good one for elders who want to join in without running.

17. Hopscotch

Chalk a grid on a paved area. Kids will play it on their own for an hour.

Pool games (with an adult watching)

18. Marco Polo

One player closes their eyes and calls "Marco"; everyone else answers "Polo". Keep it in the shallow end for kids.

19. Water volleyball

A beach ball and a rope across the pool. Ideal for groups of friends.

20. Diving for coins

Drop a few coins or sinking toys in the shallow end and let kids collect them. Only in water where they can stand.

For more pool ideas, see our post on pool party games and music. A sober adult should always be watching the pool, and running on wet tiles is off-limits.

Quick reference

Tips for running a games session

• Plan games for early morning or after 4:30 pm between March and June. Keep water nearby.
• Appoint one games master with a whistle so things move along.
• Mix teams across families or departments so it is not the same cliques all day.
• Small prizes, like chocolates or a silly crown, make kids try twice as hard.
• Clear the lawn of anything you brought before you leave.

If you have young children, our guide to kids' activities beyond the pool has more ideas for the little ones.

Find a farmhouse with room to play

Games need space: a big lawn, a box for cricket, a pool with a shallow end. Families can start with kids-friendly farmhouses, or compare farmhouses with a swimming pool if water games are the plan. Every listing on our farmhouses page shows photos of the outdoor space, along with live availability for your date.