Breathe new life into old balls, pool noodles, action figures, and more with these seven fun -- and funny -- backyard activities.
GIVE A BALL THE BOOT
Here's a new way to kick a ball around: with a goofy club crafted from an outgrown sneaker. To help your child make one, use a saw to cut a 1/2-inch-diameter wooden dowel to an appropriate length for his height (ours are about 30 inches). Drill a pilot hole in one end of the dowel and another hole in the center of the shoe's sole. Screw the dowel and shoe together.Use the club to play goofy backyard versions of such classic games as croquet, miniature golf, and polo -- or to inspire new ones. Our kid testers loved competing in a game they dubbed Mountain Golf. Using the club and a plastic ball, players try to hit a set target, such as a tree or a swing set, in the least number of strokes.
