The Backyard Olympics (Kids Budget Edition)
Kids party ideas on a budget: garden relay events, handmade medals and an opening ceremony with adult supervision.
At home · Pocket budget
The Cardboard Castle Siege
Kids build cardboard forts and play a supervised, soft-ball siege on a budget.
PLAN
READY 6–12 people High-energy
READY 6–12 people High-energy
Best for6–12 people
BudgetPocket budgetEstimate: $15+
LocationOutdoors
EnergyHigh-energy
01
Before you begin
Gather your supplies
Tick these off as you shop, borrow or pull them from the house. The list is a practical starting point, not a claim that every item is required.
02
The plan
How to run it
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Divide and Build
Divide and Build: Use only boxes and materials the host already owns or has permission to use. Give teams 30 minutes to build low, stable forts away from roads, pools, electrical equipment and other hazards, with a responsible adult directly supervising.
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Decorate
Decorate: Let each team mark a crest and banner with non-toxic pens. Do not create narrow hiding places, block exits, use pointed flagpoles or ask children to climb on the structures.
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Play the Siege
Play the Siege: Set a soft boundary and use only soft paper or foam balls. Participants stand in marked throwing areas, never throw at a face, stop whenever a ball leaves the zone and use a scoring target instead of chasing a flag.
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Clear and Refuel
Clear and Refuel: Open the space for airflow, check for loose tape and litter, and collect every ball. Serve labelled food at a separate table where nobody is inside a fort or treating a box as a room.
03
Keep the room moving
A practical run of show
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45 min before
Divide and Build
Divide and Build: Use only boxes and materials the host already owns or has permission to use. Give teams 30 minutes to build low, stable forts away from roads, pools, electrical equipment and other hazards, with a responsible adult directly supervising.
-
20 min
Decorate
Decorate: Let each team mark a crest and banner with non-toxic pens. Do not create narrow hiding places, block exits, use pointed flagpoles or ask children to climb on the structures.
-
2 hours
Play the Siege
Play the Siege: Set a soft boundary and use only soft paper or foam balls. Participants stand in marked throwing areas, never throw at a face, stop whenever a ball leaves the zone and use a scoring target instead of chasing a flag.
-
30 min
Clear and Refuel
Clear and Refuel: Open the space for airflow, check for loose tape and litter, and collect every ball. Serve labelled food at a separate table where nobody is inside a fort or treating a box as a room.