Hey friends! How’s your week going so far? Little Miss completed her final project yesterday, marking the end of 8th grade, and her time in Middle School. Usually the ‘last day of school’ is filled with friends and a pool party, so we headed to the lake to make this year feel more special.
I can’t believe my sweet baby girl is officially a high-schooler now! Seriously, where does the time go?!
Did you notice the first month of quarantine felt like years, but all of a sudden it’s flying by? I don’t even remember spring, and now summer is upon us. With vacation plans so uncertain, many of us will be staycationing in our own backyards this year. So to make summer-at-home more fun, I scoured Amazon for the most fun games and toys to keep us all entertained!
one // Snow Cone Maker // We got this snow cone maker last year for Little Miss’s birthday party, and it was a huge hit. But it’s so quick and simple to use (all you need is ice from your freezer), we pull it out all the time! It’s fairly compact, and easy to clean and store. We use these syrups with these pourers, and they taste great and stay fresh in the fridge for ages. I think we need to test out some ‘adult’ snow cones soon!
two // Velcro Catch and Toss // This set of four paddles is a fun twist on playing catch! Use the storage bag to throw it easily into the car to play at the park, or even get a set for the pool to play while cooling off! The velcro makes it almost impossible not to catch, so it’s great for a range of ages.
three // Paddle Ball // This is our favorite beach game… we never vacation without a set! It’s like ping-pong with no net, and we’re crazy-competitive to see how many hits we can get in a row. Our record is 127!
four // Tiki Toss Game // The description says it all… “Easy to learn, hard to master!” We discovered this game in Florida a few years ago, and couldn’t pull ourselves away!! It’s so addictive! I just ordered this one to surprise the family (we had major competitions with it on vacation). All you need is a fence, tree or, wall to affix it and play.
five // Corn Hole // An oldie but a goodie, corn hole is the quintessential backyard game! We have this exact set, and it’s portable, light, and under $35! (Psst… makes a good Father’s Day gift, too!)
six // Kiddie Pool // Don’t let the name fool you… humans of all ages can enjoy this inflatable pool now that it’s getting warmer! This is easy to set up, the price is right, and it could be just what you need to enjoy your backyard this summer! Grab a beach chair and a book, and plop down right in the middle for a cool afternoon.
seven // Horseshoe Game // A fun game for everyone in the family, but especially younger kids, this under $20 set can be played indoors or outdoors! It comes with a carrying case to be able to play anywhere!
eight // Sprinkler Pad // Younger kiddos will stay entertained (and then tire out!) with this fun sprinkler playpad! Just hook it up to your garden hose, and get in the shade while the kids have some fun!
nine // Backyard Jenga // There is just something about the anticipation of this game! This giant set has a storage bag and builds to over five feet high! So fun to play in the backyard.
ten // Sports Net // This portable sports net comes in three sizes, is easily portable, and doesn’t need to be staked down! It’s great for badminton, volleyball, tennis, even the made-up games that have originated during quarantine!
eleven // Table Tennis Set // Turn any dining table into a ping pong table! This set clamps to any table (we use our breakfast table in the kitchen and the dining table on the patio!) and ensures fun for hours. Almost gets a little too competitive!
twelve // Water Skipper Ball // This is the best ball for tossing in the pool, lake, or ocean! It skips and bounces, dries fast, and allows for lots of made-up games, too!
thirteen // Pack of Pool Toys // This affordable set has all the fun pool toys included! Younger kiddos will have fun diving for these, throwing them, and keeping themselves entertained!
fourteen // Foam Water Blasters // When are water guns ever not fun?! Fun in the pool, fun on the lawn, fun wherever you don’t mind getting wet!
fifteen // Croquet Set // This vintage set can be played by up to six people, is easily assembled, and comes with a storage bag! It’s a fun alternative to golf… less gear and not as much skill required!
sixteen // Spikeball // Have y’all seen this game yet?! Mr. College Guy and his friends LOVE IT! It can be played pretty much anywhere, and will have you breaking a sweat in no time.
seventeen // Watermelon Ball // Shaped like a basketball but with the green markings of a watermelon, this ball doesn’t float! You fill it with water, then can dribble and kick it in the pool for a different kind of pool game! I see this being used quite a bit this summer!
So much fun, right?! And it’s all on Prime and can be here just in time for the long holiday weekend! What games does your family love playing outside? I’ve never been more grateful for our backyard space!
[More Amazon Prime Faves]
Patio Refresh
Grad Gifts for Guys & Girls
Bonus Room Update
Spring Home Refresh
Spring Porch Update
Best of Monday Mail Day
Best of Organizing
Best of Kitchen Essentials
PS – Find my Sugarplum Amazon Shop HERE, with my top picks in a range of categories, and all my Amazon Fashion Hauls HERE.
My favorite outdoor game? Reading and fudgesicles.
That sounds perfect to me! xo. C
this is semantics, but most of us have not actually been in quarantine. if you can go to the grocery store, get takeout, go to the pharmacy, etc. you are not actually in quarantine. you are living under a stay at home order. people who have the virus or have potential exposure have actually been in quarantine for 14+ days and cannot leave their homes.
All true! I’ll adjust my language moving forward. Thanks, Laura! xo. C
“You don’t stop playing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop playing.”
#2 is really fun and easy for all ages, as you say.
Still waiting for Spring up here, ha,ha.
Yes ma’am!! I hope the warmth gets there soon! xo. C
Love these, thanks. KanJam is also a fun backyard game. We play it weekly.
Thanks for the recommendation, Jessica! I’ll have to check that one out!
Thanks for all of these great suggestions! This may be on rotation for backyard camp this summer, especially the snow cone machine!
Stay safe!
XO
Kathy
Hi! For #3 – Paddle Ball does the ball hit the ground? Or is the object to not hit the ground? We’re in our second day of Phase 1 re-openings in NY (out of 4) and this list is great! Thanks!
Hi Mary! The way we play is how many times we can hit it without the ball hitting the ground, but you can devise a games with any rules you want! xo, C
Congratulations to Little Miss upon her Middle School Graduation! I think the kiddie pool is just what I need to go with my waterproof kindle paperwhite haha!! Thank you for reminding us to enjoy life no matter what is going on:) You are a ray of sunshine. xo
Thank you so much! 🙂 Kiddie pool + Kindle sounds pretty great! xo, C