when it comes to playing backyard type games with your little ones how do you go about them?

I have two daughters, Rylee who is 4, Hannah who is7. We play lots of games together, but I wanted to get other parents and caregivers opinion on how exactly you go about playing with the kids peer to peer?

I love my kids to death but there’s one thing still challenges me. Just as an example when the kids want me to play with them on their little tykes basketball hoop, or the both of them want me to have a running race with them, or this new game that they want me to play with them called piggy in the middle (monkey in the middle), obviously there are an endless number of backyard games but you get the idea.Do you let your kids win every time? Do you win every time? Or can your kiddos get the victory all by themselves without you giving it to them?

I do OK at it because both my kids love playing games with me still 😀, it can be a challenge for me sometimes. What do y’all do for kids aged four and seven When they play?

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Ynotisay · M

Good question. I see 7 and 4 years old as being a little different. 7 year olds are old enough to learn how to lose. And I think it's important. The goal is to try and motivate them to try harder. Not give up. You give them the victories when they've tried harder and "earned" them. Just like you give a puppy a treat or extra attention during training when it does what you want to do.
At 4 I think it's more about fun but siblings have a way of teaching the younger to try harder without doing anything other than winning. The most important thing is to keep them wanting to come back for more. Being active has to feel good and fun. It's how you establish a lifetime of physical activity.

Justafantasy · M

We ride bikes, we play soccer, Frisbee, catch, water fights. Probably a bunch more I've forgotten about.

As to the winning/scoring goals etc. they both do it on their own and I let them. Mine are a bit closer in age, I've still taken the older one off to the side and said "you have to let your younger brother win/score a goal sometimes so he still has fun". If they never win it won't be fun for them, same with cards and board games. They get the skills quick enough.

Briggett · T

kickball, hand baseball, instead of kicking the ball use your fists to strike the ball. Two/four square, tether ball and basketball with lowered goal

2ndtimeguy · 61-69, M

Its ok to win a race or game if you dont belittle them thay will try harder the next time, plus is a good teaching moment to let them know that no one wins everytime.

REMsleep · 41-45, F

No don't just let them win in a boring way but you should seek to challenge them each time. Work on strategy, fair play, increasing their natural abilities. That part is your job in the game play. For them it is just fun but for you, you should be helping them grow while having fun. Don't just " let them win" it all depends on the exact game but it's ok to compete too in a fair way so if it's a race give them a long head start and stuff like that.

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