Fun At-Home Olympic Games for Kids To Get into the Spirit
byKristina Cappetta
5 min to read
The stage is set for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. Beginning on July 26, athletes from around the world will be competing in a variety of events to bring home the gold. You and your family can get into the spirit by participating in your own backyard Olympics. These family Olympic games can not only keep your family active but can also help students learn more about the spirit of the Olympics and what they represent.
History of the Olympics
The first official games date back to 776 BCE in Greece. The Olympic games continued to be played until 393 CE and then was revived in 1894 to spread the original intention of the games. According to the International Olympic Committee, “The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
Fast-forward to today, when there are athletes from 206 different countries competing in 306 different events over 19 days, with hundreds of medals awarded!
Olympic Games for Kids at Home
One of the best ways to get kids in the Olympic spirit is to host your own backyard Olympics. Simple games can give kids an idea of how the real games are played and even inspire them to watch the Olympics. Here are some family Olympic ideas inspired by the real games:
Team Sports
Team sports are a big part of the Olympic games. For family Olympic games, divide into teams for a variety of competitions. Tennis, soccer, and volleyball are just a few sports to try. You can not only make this a family affair, but also invite friends and neighbors to join. Create teams and allow everyone to compete for a summer full of Olympic fun.
Cycling
Try a cycling race with long and short-distance races. Younger children can have a tricycle race if they are not ready for big-kid bikes, while older kids and adults can go the distance. Awards can go to the finalists in each different race.
Sprint Races
Kids love to run around, so get them into the Olympic spirit by holding sprint races. Set a timer and a finish line to see who gets there first.
Long Jump
Have all competitors run and then jump to see how far they can get for a long jump contest. Mark the point where they land using chalk or tape. Measure the distance using a tape measure to determine the winners.
Hurdles
Use various objects such as boxes for competitors to jump over. See how many hurdles they can jump over without touching any of the obstacles in the fastest time.
Pool Noodle Javelin
Have everyone grab a pool noodle and see who can throw it the farthest. Mark a start line to show various distances on the ground so you can keep track of the winner.
Making Home Olympic Games Accessible for Children with Different Physical Abilities
Taking place every four years with the Olympic games are the Paralympic Games. These competitions allow people with different physical abilities to compete in a variety of different events. They date back to 1960 in Rome and have grown into one of the world’s largest sporting events. The 2020 Paralympic Games saw more than 4,000 athletes compete in twenty-two different sports.
If you want to get into the spirit of the Paralympic Games, there are a couple of activities you can try at home.
Para-table Tennis
This Paralympic sport is played by those with physical or intellectual disabilities, or vision impairments. It can be played at home if you happen to have a table tennis table, or you can try it on a regular table. You can even buy a clip-on net so your table feels and looks like the real deal. Players can play standing up or in a wheelchair to see who has the best volleys.
Wheelchair Basketball
In wheelchair basketball, players block and shoot the basketball into the other team’s basket, just as they would in a traditional game. Play this game at home if you have a basketball hoop or find a local court so your players can test their skills and have a shot at some Olympic fun.
Weightlifting
While you may not want to have a full-on powerlifting competition without the proper professional support, weightlifting can be another fun option for those with different physical abilities. Use smaller weights that you can purchase at any local sporting goods store for weightlifting fun in your backyard.
Home Olympic Award Ceremonies
You can’t host a backyard Olympics or Paralympics competition without an awards ceremony! Start by preparing the medals. There are plenty of online tutorials such as this one, that provide step-by-step instructions to create bronze, silver, and gold medals for all of your games.
Once you have the medals ready, it’s time to set the stage. Children can paint the Olympic rings and create a variety of flags to represent different countries from around the world. Use these as background decorations for your makeshift podium area.
Use different-sized crates to create a podium like the Olympic stage, representing bronze, silver, and gold medal winners. If you don’t have crates, try standing on different steps to get the same effect. Now it’s time to hand out the awards of your family Olympic games!
If you can’t make it to Paris for the real games, backyard Olympics can be a fun and accessible activity to get everyone in the Olympic spirit.
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