Backyard Croquet is a wacky version of croquet that your kids will love to play. It is the perfect summertime activity!

What You Need

• lawn care stakes or garden stakes
• permanent markers (variety of colors)

• croquet mallets
• croquet balls or lawn bowling balls

Instructions

1.
Using the permanent markers, create your playing stakes by writing instructions such as, "HOP", "SING", "DANCE", "CARTWHEEL", "YODEL", etc. Kids can have fun adding dots, stripes flowers etc.
2.
Place the stakes into the ground with plenty of distance in between stakes. Designate one stake for the start and one for the finish.
3.
The children will hit, or roll their balls from one stake to another, attempting to touch or get very near the stake in one roll. There is only one roll per turn.
4.
When they do get their ball near the stake, it's time to perform the task written on the lawn stake: hop, jump, skip, sing, touch your toes, etc.

Variations

• You can also use the entire croquet set and place the garden stakes near the wickets, or wood stakes. Let your kids adapt the rules to see what imaginative new game they create!