Summer is almost here! Engage your family and keep them moving even after the sun goes down. These activities will help everyone resist the temptations of phones and laptop screen-time—and have the added benefit of playfully exhausting everyone into a good night’s sleep. These games have stood the test of time, but are now available with a creative modern twist!
Keep the Fun Going After the Sun Goes Down
In our yards, at parks, campsites or at the beach, we can keep the fun going after dark with these glow in the dark games. Make some interesting memories and photo ops with these modern takes on popular old games…
- Glow in the Dark Lawn Darts
A safer take on the old classic, so younger children can play—these “darts” are weighted missiles that are appropriate and fun for all ages. The set includes four sturdy lawn darts and two target rings in a 10” x 14” storage bag. After five minutes under a strong light source, the dart fins and rings will glow for about half an hour. Designed to be played on soft surfaces such as a lawn, campsite area or beach. The first player to get 21 points wins.
- Capture the Flag REDUX
This set offers a variety of ways to play for 4-10 players of all ages. You’ll need space for this one, so be sure to scope our your play area before it gets dark (and make sure it’s free of any dangerous obstacles). The kit includes 25 light-up game pieces: two glowing orbs (for the “flags”), eight jail markers, five territory lights, and ten team bracelets (you can order glow sticks for extra players if needed although the manufacturer offers an expansion pack with more bracelets).
- Lighted Bocce Ball
This regulation-sized durable set is perfect for backyard, beach or camping. The LED-lit balls are water-resistant and sand-proof and can be set to solid or flashing. Toss or roll the balls to land nearest the target ball. Strategy is involved when throwing out the target ball and knocking opponent balls out of the way. The brightly-lit and colorful balls will be a huge hit with all ages. (Comes with batteries and a carrying case.)
- Speed Badminton / Crossminton
Comes with two rackets, two speedlights, and three speeders for play after dark without a net. These smaller birdies may go as far as 80 feet and are heavy enough to manage a bit of wind, so make sure you have plenty of space to play. Buy glow sticks separately if you would like to create glowing boundary lines. (Comes with a storage bag.)- LED Badminton Shuttlecocks
These colorful glowing birdies will stay lit for about 30 hours. (use with dollar store glow sticks to create boundaries after dark).
- LED Badminton Shuttlecocks
And Something New to Try
Here is one that will likely become a new tradition…
- Spikeball® with Glow in the Dark Balls
Spikeball® App: Android | Apple
This is a newer take on ball sports with rules similar to volleyball. The interesting twist here is for those who are social gamers. There is an app available so you can find other players nearby for pick-up games and tournaments (for older teens/adults). (Bonus: a lifetime guarantee covers broken parts for free—and you’ll likely need it.)
Learn more at spikeball.com or with the #TeamSpikeball hashtag
How it All Started
Many of these games share an ancient, dark and fascinating history, but remain every bit as entertaining as they were in centuries past.
Badminton
Badminton, also known as Battledore and Shuttlecock, has been popular for centuries, dating back to ancient Greece and Egypt. British soldiers stationed in India, learned the game known there as “Poona” and the game’s popularity spread to England. Badminton earned its current name after the Duke of Beaufort hosted a party in 1873 featuring the game at his Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire.
The shuttlecock, or birdie, was long made from a cork sphere with goose feathers, but are often made from synthetic materials these days. Badminton became a demonstration sport in 1972 and a full-medal Olympic sport in 1992.
Bocce
One of the oldest yard games in existence, “Italian lawn bowling” is still one of the most popular games worldwide. Although it is best known in Italy, it has long been loved throughout Europe and is gaining notoriety in the rest of the world. A match can be played with either two players or two teams of up to four—usually on a long narrow court. The game begins with one side throwing a small ball (a jack, boccino or pallino in Italian) from one end of the court to the other and then attempting to bowl its ball closest to the jack. Players either roll or use an underarm throw to knock the jack or other balls on the court into a more advantageous position. The game continues, with the team farthest from the ball given an opportunity to play until each team has used their four balls. The winning team gets a point for each of their balls that is closer to the jack than the nearest ball from the other team.
Bocce is a time-honored sport that can be traced back to ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Even the name Bocce has its roots in the Latin Bottica. It has been known by many names and the rules vary by region and preference. At its crudest form over the years, it has been played with coconuts or round rocks. Games can be played anywhere that there is enough level open space—most often in a park or back yard. Bocce was featured in the Olympic games in Paris in 1900 as an exhibition sport.
Capture the Flag
As you might imagine, Capture the Flag originated on the battlefield. A battle was considered over once the enemy flag had been captured. The Boy Scouts have played the game for many decades. Teams are separated by a boundary line. Any opponent caught crossing this line may be captured by the enemy (and released by a friend’s touch). The object of the game is to enter enemy territory, capture the flag, and get it back to home territory without being caught. If the raiding player is caught before reaching home territory, the flag stays where it is and the game continues. If neither side is able to capture the flag within a determined timeframe, the winning team is determined by the highest number of prisoners.
Lawn Darts
Lawn darts (aka Javelin Darts or Jarts) dates to the 1950s. Manufacturers created an outdoor version of the centuries-old bar game where an ancient war weapon called a plumbata was used to play. The first sets actually included metal darts with a pointed tip that would stick in the ground. The game was banned from being marketed as a toy by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1988 due to numerous injuries and deaths—usually in a situation where a child was involved. I remember playing with the sharp metal tip version as a kid. I guess it should surprise me more that they were ever allowed on the market, but then we had many toys back then that would not pass the safety standards of today.
Despite its grim history, modern sets have made a come-back and are now made from foam and plastic with no sharp parts. Even Jarts are still made today, but with a blunt plastic tip. If you come across an old sharp-tip metal set in an attic or garage sale, it might make a good collector’s item, but be sure to keep it out of reach of children!
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