All you need is a tree - Create memories with the great outdoors

April 13, 2014 - PRLog -- These days, it seems kids spend their free time playing video games and watching TV. Do you remember the days when playing outside in the backyard was more fun than any movie? During these school holidays, it’s time to reintroduce a love of nature - and what better way to do that than some good old-fashioned tree games? All the kids need is a little reminder that the fun can be found in your backyard, just underneath the nearest tree.

For free and super fun, check out these tree-inspired games:

Be a backyard hero with ‘40/40 save all’

Using a tree as the home-base, one child is ‘in’ and counts to 40 while the other kids run and hide. As soon as the person who is ‘in’ spots someone in their hiding place, he runs back to the tree, shouts out the name of the hider and where they are hiding, and that person is now ‘out’. The only way the hider can save herself is if she gets to the tree first and shouts out ’40-40 save all’ - then everyone is safe and the original person remains ‘in’. If all the hiders are found then the first person who was ‘out’ is the next person to be ‘in’ and stand guard at the tree.

Get back to a nature and ‘hug-a-tree’

This game is best to be played during a family bushwalk or nature walk where there are lots of trees.  Players get into pairs and one person is blind-folded. They are led to a specific tree by their partner. The blindfolded person feels the tree and has to remember the shape, texture and smell of the tree. Then they are taken back to the starting point, their blindfold is removed and they have to try and identify their tree.

Countdown to 'five trees’

Similar to hide-and-seek, ‘five trees’ is a game that needs to be played in an area that has at least five large trees so a large backyard or park will be perfect. Each tree is given a number from one to five. The child who is ‘in’ stands with their back to the trees and counts to 20. Each of the other players hides behind a tree so that they cannot be seen. The player who is ‘in’ turns around and shouts out the number of a tree. Anyone hiding behind that tree is then ‘out’.  Everyone else is safe. Then the child who is ‘in’ turns around and counts to 20 again, while those still playing run and hide behind a different tree. The game ends when there is only one hider left!

Limber up and climb high

Climbing trees is one of the real joys of being a kid. But always stress the importance of safety when climbing trees. There are certain rules that should be set in stone before any tree climbing begins. Some safety rules for kids should include:

·       *  all branches should be tested before you put weight on them

·       *  always select safe footholds

·        * don’t go higher than a set point (parents should set height restrictions)

·        * wear a helmet

·       *  always come down the tree facing the trunk

·       *  if you panic: stop, take a deep breath and focus on your hands and feet rather than the ground.

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