Lawn Bowling
When you're up for a game of bowling but can't stand the idea of being cooped up indoors on such a nice day, give outdoor bowling a try on your lawn or driveway. You can easily make the pins by painting used plastic bottles and a tennis ball works just fine in lieu of a bowling ball.
Kick Croquet
No need for a mallet and wooden balls with this DIY version of croquet. Just cut a few hula-hoops in half, insert a stick on either end and arrange around the yard so that they form a series of arches. Split into teams or play individually as each family member tries to kick the ball through all of the hoops in the shortest amount of time.
Builders and Bulldozers
This simple game throws in a healthy dose of exercise along with a good time. Divide the family into two teams: One team is the "builders," the other is the "bulldozers." As the builders run around placing beanbags (or objects of your choosing) into the hula-hoops, the bulldozers run to remove them. If there are more beanbags inside the hoops than outside once time is up, the builders have won (or vice versa). Play as many rounds as you like and switch up the teams as you go.
Lawn Memory
Transforming this classic board game into its "giant" version makes it perfect for playing in the backyard. Using cardstock and spraypaint make two of each design (you can download printable stencils here). Once the cards are dry, lay face down on the lawn and put your memories to work!
Chalk Game Board
Chances are you already have all the items you need for this game, which makes for an ideal choice whenever you need a spur-of-the-moment idea. Using sidewalk chalk, turn your driveway into a giant Checkers board using two alternating colors for the squares (for smaller spaces, you can make it a simplified game with 16 squares total). Use paper plates as your checkers and have a family play-off.
Giant Jenga
Whether you make your own out of 2×4 boards or buy the game from the store, Giant Jenga can make for hours upon hours of family playtime. For best results, stack on an outdoor table or patio floor so you have a stable base and make sure everyone is keeping an eye on which direction the tower is swaying.
Neighborhood Treasure Hunt
Whether you're new to your neighborhood or have lived therefor a decade, here's a chance to see parts of it you've only vaguely noticed. Divide into teams and play the "Neighborhood Treasure Hunt" game. Either print the template here or come up with your own items to find.
Monster Toss
Rather than play another ho-hum game of corn hole, make these adorable cardboard monster cutouts to "feed" the beanbags to. They're great for a weekend play session in the yard and to keep on-hand for any future outdoor parties.
Lawn Yahtzee
Here's a sneaky way to get your family fine-tuning their math skills. Once the big wooden dice are painted and prepped (check out the how-to here), the objective of the game is to get as many points as possible every round with each person rolling the dice three times each. The biggest point earner is Yahtzee, of course, where you get 50 points if you get five of a kind. To make the point tallying easier, you can find printable Yahtzee score sheets.
Frisbee Tic-Tac-Toe
Make your own tic-tac-toe board on the lawn or driveway, using a sheet and masking tape or a few dowel rods tied together. Using Frisbees that have been marked as either X's or O's, aim to land them into your desired spot. (Before you start wagering bets with the kids, be aware that this game is trickier to play than it sounds.)
Sponge Tag
Love water balloon games but hate cleaning up all the rubber shards left behind in the grass? These DIY sponge "water bombs" are a great substitution. Just cut the sponges into stripes and tie them together to create a 'flower' sponge. Great for a hot summer day spent playing water tag (if you're not "it," you'd better dodge the sponge!) or even just a game of catch.
