Play ideas for families in our parks

Ideas for spending time in our parks

Spending time outdoors exploring, playing and connecting with nature can have a huge positive impact on children and their families.

All our parks have space to inspire new adventures, spark imagination and encourage movement in nature. Best of all, they’re free.

Play trails for families guide

Ten of our parks also have easy circular walking trails (ranging from 0.6 to 1.5 miles) which are ideal for children to explore.

Our ‘Play Trails for Families’ guide has maps to follow and ideas for games to play at each location throughout the park.

Email [email protected] to request a copy or pick up a guide at our play centres.

These parks are included in the guide:

• Belmont Park
• Botanic Gardens
• Cave Hill Country Park
• Falls Park
• Musgrave Park
• Ormeau Park
• Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
• Victoria Park
• Waterworks
• Woodvale Park

Outdoor games and activities

Here are some fun games and activities to play with little ones outdoors:

1. Alternative Hide and Seek
   Use a base tree. The seeker counts to 20 while others hide. Everyone must still see the base. After each count, players move closer. First to reach the base unseen wins.
2. Mini Village
   Build a tiny village from sticks, leaves, and grass. Create fairy houses or pixie dens under trees.
3. Scavenger Hunt
   Use the printed sheet to find items like feathers, pinecones, bumpy textures, and Y-shaped sticks.
4. Treasure Bag
   Bring a small fabric or paper bag to collect interesting, non-living natural items.
5. Make a Nest
   Use sticks and leaves to make a bird nest. It can be real-sized or giant just for you.
6. Draw What You See
   Observe your surroundings and sketch them in your nature notebook.
7. Duck, Duck, Goose
   Players sit in a circle. The chosen player walks around saying "duck" and finally "goose." The goose must chase and tag them.
8. Creeping Coyote
   One blindfolded player guards "food". Others creep toward it. If pointed at, they return to the circle.
9. Spot the Squirrel
   Keep a quiet lookout and count squirrels. First to spot one calls it out.
10. Sensory Walk
    Walk slowly, using all senses. Smell flowers, feel bark, listen to birds.
11. Rolling Down Hills
    Choose a safe grassy hill and roll. Try walking straight after!
12. Last Giant There
    Caller shouts "Last Giant to the tree!" Players take giant steps. Last one out sits down.
13. Spiders and Flies
    The spider chases flies. Caught flies stay in the web until everyone is caught.
14. The Giant Says
    Follow commands only if they begin with "The Giant says..."
15. Kite Flying
    Use wide-open spaces on windy days. Make your own or bring one.
16. Fairy Houses or Pixie Dens
    Find a tree root and decorate it with sticks, leaves, and natural materials.
17. Listening Walk
    No talking. Just walk and listen. Try "elephant ears" with cupped hands.
18. Eagle Eye Challenge
    Make a square of natural objects. Everyone observes. Turn away while one player changes something. Guess what changed.
19. Stick Spider Web
    Make a square with sticks and weave string or yarn into a web.
20. Journey Stick
    Wrap string around a stick. Tuck in collected items to remember your adventure.
21. Climbing Trees
    Choose safe, healthy trees. Only climb what you can also climb down from.
22. Tree Tag
    Hide while the seeker counts. Run back to the tree base before getting tagged.
23. Texture Challenge
    Find things that are soft, rough, hard, bendy, and furry. Collect them in an egg carton.
24. Squirrel Tails
    Each player tucks a strip of cloth into their waistband. Everyone tries to steal tails. Last tail standing wins.
25. Nature Notebook
    Make a booklet with paper and string. Draw, write, and collect pressed leaves.
26. Corners
    Four players stand in corners. One in the centre tries to claim a corner during swaps.
27. Bug Hunt and Bug Hotel
    Look under rocks for bugs. Build a hotel using sticks, bark, and grass.
28. Capture the Flag
    Two teams hide a flag in their area. Try to capture the other team's flag and return without being tagged.
29. Den Building
    Lean fallen branches against a tree trunk. Cover with leaves for shelter.
30. Hide and Seek
    Traditional version: seeker counts and finds hidden players. Last found wins.
31. Cross the Wood
    Each player starts with 10 points. Cross logs and roots without touching the ground. Lose one point per touch.
32. Forest Bathing
    Sit quietly in a peaceful spot. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and relax.
33. I'm a Big Squirrel
    One squirrel tries to tag running acorns. Tagged players become squirrels. Last acorn wins.
34. Pooh Sticks
    Drop sticks from one side of a bridge into water. Run to the other side to see whose stick wins.
35. Tree Rubbing
    Hold paper against tree bark. Rub crayon to see texture patterns appear.
36. Bat and Moth
    Blindfold one player (the bat). Others (moths) must respond "moth" when the bat says "bat." Bat tries to tag by sound.
37. Mud Drawing, Mud Faces or Mud Pies
    Use mud to draw or sculpt. Make a face on a tree or decorate pies with leaves and twigs.
38. Stuck in the Mud
    Tagged players freeze. Only way to free them is to crawl between their legs.
39. Stick Pictures
    Use sticks to form animals, letters, or designs on the ground.
40. Challenge Trail
    Use chalk to draw a sequence (for example, star jumps, hops). Follow it like an obstacle course.
41. I Spy (Cloud Edition)
    Lie on the grass and spot shapes in the clouds. Say what you see and let others guess.
42. Stick Tower
    Balance sticks to build a tall freestanding tower. Try not to let it fall.
43. Hug a Tree Game
    Blindfolded player is led to a tree. They feel it, return to start, and try to find the same tree unblindfolded.
44. Shadow Tag
    Tag someone by stepping on their shadow. Great on sunny days.
45. Ninja Stick
    One player holds a stick. Another hovers a hand above it. When the stick is dropped, they try to catch it.
46. Leaf Pictures
    Use colourful leaves and flowers to make pictures or mandalas.

What to bring

Before you set off to explore our parks with little ones, pack a small backpack with:

• a first aid kit
• baby wipes
• hand sanitiser
• bite cream
• bottled water
• snacks
• tissues

You can also bring these to help with playing outdoors: 

• paper and crayons
• string or thread
• blindfold (scarf)
• bug pot or magnifying glass
• a spoon for digging
• collecting bag or box
• nature notebook (you can make your own)

Safety tips

• Watch out near water, slopes or uneven ground.
• Don't eat unknown plants or berries.
• Wash hands after playing.
• Avoid woodlands in high winds.
• Report needles or other drug litter to us by calling 028 9027 0469 or emailing [email protected]. Never touch this litter yourself.