Fun game for kids on day hike: Rock Toss

Will the rock land in the hole?
Photo courtesy of  Rostislav Kralik.

Generally, exploring and discovery is enough for kids, but sometimes even they can grow bored with that and become restless. Remember that they naturally have shorter attention spans than adults.

Fortunately, there are lots of tried and true activities you can do on the trail that’ll keep kids from getting bored. Among them is Rock Toss.

During the hike, have children collect three or four pebbles or small rocks that they find. At the next rest stop, with a stick dig a small hole that’s a couple of inches deep by three or four inches wide (the younger the children, the wider you might wish to make the hole). Have children toss (underhand is preferred) their pebbles/rocks one-by-one at the hole to see if they can hit the target. You can make it a competition by having children keep track of how many times their pebble/rock makes lands in the hole. When all done, be sure to fill in and cover up the hole.

Materials: Pebbles/small stones found on hike, small stick for digging hole

Ages: 4-12

Learn about more than a hundred other hiking diversions for kids in Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.