We've all become slaves to technology nowadays and this is true for those of all ages. However, there is an appeal to games of yore that never really fades, no matter how engrossed we are in our smart phones and computers. The bean bag toss is just one of many games that can provide a nice break from the constant need to be plugged in. Playing games as a family is a great interactive experience that allows people to bond as well as exercise their competitive spirit in a fun environment.
There are a number of variations on this game, and you could very well create your own version depending on where and when you wish to play and the ages of those playing. What makes this such a great game is that there is so little preparation involved. Everything you need to get started is sitting right there in your home.
Making small bean bags is easy. All that is needed is a few scraps of fabric, something to fill the bags with in order to toss them around, a little bit of needle and thread work and voila! Fabric cut into large enough rectangles can be folded in half and then stitched along the open edge by machine or by hand, but closed completely. This small opening is where the filler for the bag will go and then a few hand stitches will seal the folded rectangle shut and the bean bag is ready to go.
Bags can be cut to any size - smaller bags will make distance throwing games more challenging, while larger bags will be good for younger kids to handle. The fabric should be sturdy enough to contain the filler and not burst when tossed. For filler, use dried beans or unpopped corn kernels or even rice grains straight from the pack.
You can play bean bag games practically anywhere, inside or outside. This is a good one for rainy days indoors or days at the park. Put some hula hoops on the floor and let players aim to get their bags into the hoops from a particular distance. The person who does this the most is the winner. You can substitute buckets for hoops and use different sizes.
A more challenging way to play is to draw circles like a dartboard on the ground using chalk. Label each circle with a particular number of points. Wherever the bag is tossed, the player receives that amount of points. The person with the most points at the end of the game wins.
For the older members of the family, add an extra element to the game such as trivia. Within each bucket or hoop where the bags are tossed, have a trivia question written on a piece of paper. Depending on the difficulty of the question, the rewarded points could be more. Try mixing dares with the trivia element, or use colors to indicate different categories.
Younger kids can practice their aim using bean bags by creating a variation on bowling. Stack up some cans or boxes and let the children aim and throw from a distance. Label each can with points or rewards to be collected once it has been knocked down. There's definitely lots of fun to be had for everyone!
There are a number of variations on this game, and you could very well create your own version depending on where and when you wish to play and the ages of those playing. What makes this such a great game is that there is so little preparation involved. Everything you need to get started is sitting right there in your home.
Making small bean bags is easy. All that is needed is a few scraps of fabric, something to fill the bags with in order to toss them around, a little bit of needle and thread work and voila! Fabric cut into large enough rectangles can be folded in half and then stitched along the open edge by machine or by hand, but closed completely. This small opening is where the filler for the bag will go and then a few hand stitches will seal the folded rectangle shut and the bean bag is ready to go.
Bags can be cut to any size - smaller bags will make distance throwing games more challenging, while larger bags will be good for younger kids to handle. The fabric should be sturdy enough to contain the filler and not burst when tossed. For filler, use dried beans or unpopped corn kernels or even rice grains straight from the pack.
You can play bean bag games practically anywhere, inside or outside. This is a good one for rainy days indoors or days at the park. Put some hula hoops on the floor and let players aim to get their bags into the hoops from a particular distance. The person who does this the most is the winner. You can substitute buckets for hoops and use different sizes.
A more challenging way to play is to draw circles like a dartboard on the ground using chalk. Label each circle with a particular number of points. Wherever the bag is tossed, the player receives that amount of points. The person with the most points at the end of the game wins.
For the older members of the family, add an extra element to the game such as trivia. Within each bucket or hoop where the bags are tossed, have a trivia question written on a piece of paper. Depending on the difficulty of the question, the rewarded points could be more. Try mixing dares with the trivia element, or use colors to indicate different categories.
Younger kids can practice their aim using bean bags by creating a variation on bowling. Stack up some cans or boxes and let the children aim and throw from a distance. Label each can with points or rewards to be collected once it has been knocked down. There's definitely lots of fun to be had for everyone!
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