3 Outdoor Play Ideas for Spring and Summer

Nature is awakening, birds are chirping and the sun is tempting us outside. Grab your Stapelstein® collection and join us for some outdoor play.

We love to spend as much time outdoors as possible once the warm weather arrives, so it's no wonder you’ll find our Stapelstein families moving their indoor play sessions to outdoor play session. In case you’re stumped for ideas, we’ve got you covered. Here are 3 outdoor play ideas to keep your family moving all summer.

Game 1: Color twist

Benefits: This popular game is all about skill, color recognition and coordination.
What you’ll need: Four or more Stapelstein® Originals and if you want to make it trickier, grab one or more Stapelstein® Boards
How many to play: Minimum 2 players

Game Directions

Place the Stapelstein® Originals close together creating a square playing field and choose a game leader (preferably the youngest) to give commands by calling out a body part and a color, such as "foot" and "green". The players should now try to place the named body part on a free element of the correct color. Then the next command is "hand" and "yellow" and the child places their hand accordingly.

Once you have practiced the basics of the game, the commands can be expanded to include "left" and "right" or create fun combinations such as "bottom" and "orange" or "left toe" on "blue". Is there more than one child playing? Then turn it into a competition and find out which team can stay on the elements longer.

Optional: 3D playing field

You can vary the height of the playing field. Stack a second element on top of one or the other and then decide whether a color combination of yellow and red is still yellow and red or whether it becomes the color orange.

Game 2: Treasure map

Benefits: Creativity, orientation and coordination are key aspects of this game.
What you’ll need: At least 3 Stapelstein® elements, paper and colored pens
How many to play: Minimum 2

Game Directions

In this game you’ll lay out Stapelstein® elements in a crisscross pattern with spaces in between. Before the game begins, all the children playing create a treasure map by drawing colored circles on a sheet of paper with the Stapelstein® elements and connecting them with lines as desired. The treasure maps are then exchanged. Each child playing tries to run through the elements in the order shown on their card. There may be a small treasure hidden under one of the target elements.

Optional: Obstacle course

On the way to the treasure, create various obstacles, such as a bucket, a rope, a stool, etc., which must be jumped over, climbed over or run over. For tricky treasure hunt adventures the treasure hunter is given a short time to memorize the treasure map. Then they try to master the route from memory and discover the treasure.

Game 3: Egg dance

Benefits: Promotes balance and hand-eye coordination through play.
What you’ll need: At least 6 Stapelstein® elements, a spoon, an egg or a ball for each child playing
Playmates: Minimum 2

Game Directions

All Stapelstein® elements are placed in a long row one behind the other. The first and last elements are placed with the open side facing up. The first element contains a boiled egg (or a small ball) and a spoon. One of the children playing grabs the egg, places it on the spoon and walks with it in their hand over the elements to the last element that has been turned over. There, you’ll place the egg and then the spoon down safely. From here, another child can start their egg run.

Optional: Egg race

The game can also be played competitively with two teams. If the egg falls off the spoon, the player starts again from the beginning. Additionally, you can lay the elements out at different distances or heights one behind the other or in a zigzag pattern.

For even more game inspiration, download the Digital Play Cards to your cell phone or tablet or collect the Play Cards in a high-quality folder for your Stapelstein® game collection at home.