19 Park Activity Ideas for Kids When They’re Bored with the Park

If your kids are bored with the park (like mine), then you are in need of some park activity ideas, my friend. Here are some great activities to do with your kids at the park. OR give them ideas of things to do on their own.

This post contains affiliate links. 

The Park

I don’t know why, but my kids are like OVER the park. Sometimes I suggest we go to the park, and they say no. Sometimes I demand we go to the park, and I get whines. OR they ask if a friend is coming and if I say no, they whine some more.

I like going to the park. It gets me outside. I get a small break. They get their energy out. It’s a win-win-win!

BUT, lately, it’s been hard getting them there. I like to go so they get some exercise and get outside.

So, I started getting creative so I could convince them that the park will be a blast!

I would say, “let’s go to the park, and slide your cars down the slide!” Now it sounds entertaining. I thought that maybe some of these ideas that we’ve been using could be beneficial to others.

So, here are some park activity ideas for when your kids just don’t want to go anymore.

If you’re looking for even MORE fun activities, you can check out The Ultimate Summer Activities for Kids (also great for Spring and Summer) now on Amazon! Or get an INSTANT download in my Shop! 

This post contains affiliate links.

19 Park Activity Ideas for Kids

Tag

There are like 50 different types of tags you can play. (okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration) But there are a lot! You might have to play with them to start, but I feel like it gets their creative juices flowing.

Freeze Tag

Just like the classic frozen game. You freeze if you’re tagged, and you need someone else to tap you in order to be unfrozen and get back in the game. If the person who is it can freeze everyone, they win! You could also put a time limit on the person who is it, so they aren’t “it” forever.

Regular Tag

Good ole fashion tag. Just run around and try to be tagged it.

Tunnel Tag

A version of freeze tag, but instead of tagging the person who is frozen, you have to crawl under their legs. It takes more time and is a bit more challenging.

Toilet tag

A laugh-out-loud kind of freeze tag. The person who is frozen squats down and puts their arm out, simulating a toilet. To unfreeze them, you have to sit on their legs push down the handle (their arm) and make a flushing noise. Lots of kicks and giggles.

Turtle tag

Another twist on tag. If you are getting chased and you need a break, you have to lay down on your back with all arms and legs in the air like an upside-down turtle. This keeps you safe for 10 seconds.

Hide n Seek

This is an extremely underrated game. My kids LOVE it. Sometimes we play inside our house. They LOVE it when we join in.

Picnic

Take a picnic. This always gets my kids excited! Take some special treats or things you don’t normally make for lunch to help get them excited. Random side note, we have this picnic blanket, that we love. It’s super durable and great for all on-the-ground things.

Ninja

The ninja game is where everyone stands in a circle with their arms and legs spread out (you’re standing). The person who is “it” is the ninja. They chose someone next to them and with one motion try to “chop” their arm or leg. The person being chopped gets one move to move out of the way. If they “hit” them, that person takes that arm or leg out of the game. Both players have to freeze in whatever position they ended up in after each move. It moves around in the circle. Everyone takes a turn being a ninja. If you lose all your limbs, you are out. The last person standing wins!

Cars 

My son is OBSESSED with cars. He takes them to the park and rolls them down the slide. There are so many fun places to play with cars at the park.

Toys

Bring some of their favorite toys. Sometimes just a change of scenery makes it more exciting. Plus, then they might be enticed by the park, and get creative by combining the two.

Create a challenge

Create a challenge for them by telling them to go down a certain slide 3 times then take 2 pumps on the swing, run to a certain corner, and back. Make an obstacle course of sorts. You can download my FREE challenge here.

You can also do challenges like walk like a horse (or another animal) or go down that slide like a duck, etc…

You can also try an exercise challenge. 

Soccer or other Sports

Play a sport at the park. Sometimes we start with a sport and then they play at the park. Soccer is a good one because you really just need a ball. But your park might have a basketball hoop or tennis courts.

Bikes or Scooters

Bring your bikes or scooters. Again, a change of scenery helps sometimes to make it more exciting.

Catch or Find Bugs

Catch or find bugs. There are so many! Sometimes we search for ladybugs. You can also make your own bug catcher. OR buy one off Amazon.

Climb

If you’re not feeling too anxious, find a good nature park and have them climb some nice trees. We have one park near us that has great climbing trees, not too high!

Sand toys

Find a park that has a sandbox and bring your sand toys.

Hike

Find a park that has fun walking or hiking trails. Look for bugs! Or just explore.

Nature Walk

Go on a walk/hike specifically for nature. You can do a nature scavenger hunt, you can download mine here, for free. I also have this simple color scavenger hunt AND a scavenger hunt for slightly older kids. You can also download the app PlantSnap which helps you identify the plants around you by taking a picture of them.

Kite

Fly a kite!

Geocaching

Go geocaching and find some treasure. There are a ton of apps to find treasure, or you can even make a treasure box yourself and hide it. Here is one of the great apps. 

School or Book

If you homeschool, do school by a park, or take a book to read. They might do school or read for a little bit then play at the park. At least they got outside. Plus, a change of scenery is great!

Playground/Picture Park scavenger hunt

Make a fun game with a picture scavenger hunt. Have them find and take pictures with this fun park scavenger hunt.

Backyard games

Take some backyard games to play at the park. Here are a few of our favorites:

Ladder Golf
Big Jenga
Badminton
Cornhole
Bucket Game (this is what we call it, haha)

Park Activity Ideas

The park can be super difficult sometimes when little ones are sick of it, but hopefully, these activities will help spruce up their park play!

Related: 9 at-home Science Experiments for Kids that are Super Easy

Related: 43 FREE and Frugal Summer Activities for Kids

Related: 81 Boredom Busting Activity Jar for Kids