The COVID-19 outbreak has certainly thrown a wrench in the normalcy that was once your daily life. You’re probably working from home or even laid off and on top of it all, you have to entertain your kids who are home from school.

First, take a deep breath. You will get through this!

Feel better? We thought so. Now, remember that even though we need to be practicing social distancing, we can still go outside. Sure, you don’t want to stray too far from the backyard, but don’t worry: there are still plenty of things you can do with the kids right there.

Here are 15 activities you can do in your backyard that will keep your kids, no matter their age, as busy as ever.

1. Create a scavenger hunt

   They’re not just for the confines of your home! You can hide objects all around your yard and sit back as the kids go out and search for them. Here are a few scavenger hunt ideas.

2. Have a picnic

   Eating inside is great, but eating outside is even greater. There’s something about sitting on a blanket—even if it’s in the backyard—that makes mealtime that much more special. Don’t forget to break out the picnic baskets, too!

3. Blow bubbles

   Fun fact: Bubble wands are available at the dollar store! Plus, you can make homemade bubbles using just a few ingredients. Kids will love making big and small bubbles alike, or popping the ones you make.

4. Camp out

   Whether day or night, a tent, flashlight and some ghost stories make a fun-filled activity. Don’t forget the s’mores!

5. Make a water balloon piñata

   Instead of filling a Paper Mache animal with candy, fill balloons with water instead. Sure, the kids will get soaked as they hit the balloons and burst them open, but they’ll have so much fun that you won’t even mind the change of clothes.

6. Play corn hole

   That’s right, it’s not just a drinking game. Your little ones will love the simple bean bag toss game. You can make your own corn hole board or purchase one online.

7. Draw with chalk

   Ah, classic chalk drawings. Break out the bucket of chalk and let your kids’ imaginations run wild on the driveway or patio. Just be sure they know that any impending rain will ruin their artwork—but it’s fun in the moment!

8. Plant flowers

   Let your child plant their own flower in their very own pot. This is great because the activity will last several days, as they learn how to tend to it. Plus, they’ll be so amazed when they see it start to grow.

9. Splash in the pool

   Of course, not all of us are lucky enough to have a pool in our backyard, but a kiddie pool is one great investment. As they happily splash about, you can get some work done.

10. Feed the birds

    Have some backyard birds flying about? You and the kids can create a bird feeder using just a water bottle, wooden spoons and some birdseed.

11. Wash the car

    Get that soap ready for lathering! It’s a chore for you, but kids love to soap up their parents’ cars. Just beware, you’ll end up with some pretty wet kids afterwards, but hey, they’ll be squeaky clean!

12. Climb tires

    Have a few old tires sitting in your yard? Your kids will love climbing all over them or making their own obstacle course out of them. If you paint them fun colors, they may love it even more.

13. Outdoor movie night

    Gather the blankets, pillows or even an air mattress, and get comfy for an outdoor movie night. As for what to project the movie on, you can tie a sheet to plastic pipes and use your phone to project the movie.

14. Catch bugs

    Sure, you may not want your kids to interact with insects like spiders or bees, but caterpillars and fireflies won’t harm them. Plus, this would be a good chance to teach them about the circle of life.

15. Play ring toss

    Using just some buckets and a piece of wood, your outdoor ring toss set is made.

Which one of these kid-friendly backyard activities will you try first?