Bowling is another fun night out for all ages. Go as a family night regularly or join a bowling team – preferably not too competitive.

Play ball with neighbors and family for some fun, bonding exercisea and fresh air.

Singles and couples might enjoy golf, tennis, running, aerobic classes, or horseback riding. Cycling and weight training are also a perfect fit for singles or young couples. During winter months, if you don’t like driving to the YMCA or sports arena in poor weather, you can exercise at home with a WII, an exercise bike or aerobic class DVDs.

If you have room in your home a ping pong or table tennis table with rubber coated paddles and lightweight plastic balls can be a lot of fun for many years – even when you have company. It always amazes me how many people haven’t played for years, and when they try it again have a really great time. Remember, if you want to win, the best strategy is hit the ball with random force intermittently. Your opponent will never be able to guess your next move.

Outdoor Ball Sports

Any type of ball play in the great outdoors are great ways to spend time with your kids. Consider bat practice, touch football, or a little kickball with your kids. You could set up a diamond similar to a baseball diamond in the back yard and play kickball with kids of any age. Assign a pitcher to roll a large soft ball on the ground to the batter. The batter is actually a kicker and he kicks the ball, then runs to first base. Since the ball is soft the players in the field can throw the ball at the runner to try and get him out.

If you’ve headed to the playground or school yard with your children, take a few minutes and revisit tetherball. Tetherball, if you don’t already know, consists of a ball on a rope tied to the top of a pole. The ball hangs at hand level and the object is to hit the ball and make the rope wrap around the pole. The two players make the ball go in opposing directions and is a lot of fun for two players or teams.

Another inexpensive ball activity within your own backyard is badminton. In badminton the object of the game is to use lightweight rackets to pass a “birdie” back and forth over the net. An entire set should cost less than $40 and includes rackets, a birdie (looks like a little plastic funnel attached to a firm rubber ball) and a net. To play, hold the birdie by the plastic and drop it onto your racket to serve to the other team. Badminton is a slower game than tennis and is easily played by all ages, in the back yard.

Country Folk Sport Teams is an original country living article from: GoodByeCityLife's Country Fun section.

Although many families are unable to have a family reunion, with a country home and a little ingenuity, you may be able to host a fun and trip-worthy event.

Busy schedules are not the only reason family reunions are becoming a thing of the past. They are also difficult for the family who has many members living great distances away from each other – finding a common destination comfortable for all can be a challenge. If location is preventing your family from having a reunion, consider your own home and backyard. Kids love to camp out, some families will travel with a camper or tent trailer and others are so glad to be together again they’ll happily double bunk in air mattresses laid on the spare bedroom’s floor.

An advantage (or perhaps a disadvantage depending on how you look at it) to planning your own backyard family reunion is that you will be in complete charge of organizing events and meals. How many times have you been to a party and wondered why the host did or didn’t look after some particular thing? Planning your own family reunion will ensure that everything is just the way that you want it to be. While you may want to consider the suggestions offered by your other family members, you don’t necessarily have to accept them. However if you don’t mind loosening the reins on party planning you could find one or two family members to take over certain features of the event.

If you have a large family, but a small backyard, it may be impossible for you to host your next family reunion. You could still plan the meals and some visiting at your home but some members may need to stay at a nearby hotel or bunk with other, nearby relatives. With your help and suggestions, someone else may be willing to host a few family members or take on the event if they have your help with the organization and clean up.

As with any barbeque, gathering, party, or family reunion, the work is worth the time everyone gets to spend together renewing their friendships, sharing their stories and relaxing.

More Benefits of Backyard Barbeques or Family Reunions

Every year, nearly every one of us prepare a substantial portion of our nice weather meals on the barbeque. It is easy, delicious, fast and energy efficient. Therefore it only makes sense that if you love both entertaining guests and barbequing, to make the next party a backyard barbeque party.

You could easily do this every weekend of nice weather you have in your region and change up the theme or dinner guests each time. Invite friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers. If you like small gatherings or only have a small backyard, plan accordingly. Whether you get to see these people and their families on a regular basis or on rare occasions taking the time to be social in our hectic paced world keeps life in perspective. A great reason to have a party or reunion is to bring old and new together – new friends or recently wed members will enjoy the opportunity to mingle and be introduced. This is also true of communities where new neighbours have moved in.

Perhaps the best part of backyard barbeques is that most can be planned in a short period of time. While it is still advised that you plan some items ahead such as food, drinks and party games; other aspects of the get together will come together on their own or will develop during the gathering. With a little bit of planning and determination a backyard barbeque party can all come together in just a few days, even the confirmed guest list.

As you’ve seen, there are numerous benefits to hosting a backyard barbeque. Whether you have a reason, a theme, or not; put hours into the planning, or not; you will be glad that set aside the time and energy to host it.

Getting Together: Backyard Barbeques is an original country living article from: GoodByeCityLife's Country Fun section.

Never again experience boredom or have a child think that he has no quiet place to get away from all the family pressures during the growing years. The treehouse or tree fort is a sanctuary, a place of one’s own to retreat to, fantasize in, read and sometimes even spend the night alone. Invite friends over and you’ll have a safe camping experience or fun sleepover all within their back yard.

Tree fort structures offer most children an unlimited amount of fun. In fact, you may find that your child doesn’t want to leave their newly constructed tree house or fort – opting to spend summer nights sleeping in there and packing lunches so they don’t need to return to the house three times a day.

While tree forts or houses are fun to play in, there is something that is even more exciting than time spent after the build. In fact, the process of making and designing a tree house or fort is something that you and your child will never forget. To make the most of this bonding potential, design and build it together – don’t rush just enjoy your time spent on the project, side by side.

Although obvious, you first need a strong tree. No trees in the backyard? Don’t fret, you can still build your child a fun tree fort directly on the ground or raised up on posts or blocks – you just need to alter the tree house plans.

The first step in building or designing your own tree fort is to familiarize yourself with all options and designs. Collaborate with your son or daughter, discussing each option and how it fits with your yard’s layout and landscaping. Working together to find an appropriate design is equally informative, educational and potentially relationship strengthening. In addition to giving you structural ideas, you may also be provided with detailed construction manuals.

Start your research together finding design and layout ideas online. Most places you find ideas will also have links to plans or manuals on how to construct the fort. Print off all applicable information, including building guides or instruction manuals.

Another place you’ll find valuable info is in books. Check your library for small building project books or your local bookstore. There are a number of books and resource guides available. These resource guides, like the ones found online, should provide you with pictures and detailed directions. If your local book store or library does not have any tree house or fort books, you may want to search for books online.

Once you have found the tree house or fort that you would like to build, you will need to purchase building supplies. Supplies such as lumber, nails, screws, joist hangers, plywood or chipboard, paint and perhaps some windows. If your local hardware or salvage store does not carry all of the needed materials, you should be able to find them for sale online. We’ve got some great tree house plans currently on sale at the GoodByeCityLife Country Store.

When it comes time to build your child’s tree house or fort, you will want to keep them involved in the process. While they may be uninvolved in actual building process, there are other ways that you can use their assistance. After you have reviewed the construction directions, you may want to have your child read you the directions as you go along or hand you the materials that you need. No matter how large or small their part is, your child will likely be happy that you involved them in the process.

Get Tree House Plans and Build It Together is an original country living article from: GoodByeCityLife's Country Fun section.

As a parent I have gone through phases with my daughter to attempt to get her outside more often during the few beautiful days we have in this country. Sometimes it has worked.

These days there has to be a cute boy in the vicinity or on our doorsteps to get her to venture out. However, today she is off on her own so it is a perfect time to explore the ways to get your teen off the couch and into the fresh air more often.

Once you get them out the door and into an activity, they’re fine – happy to be there in fact. Once the fresh air hits their lungs and the sun is on their faces, they wonder (although they won’t tell you until they are 30 with kids of their own) why they waited so long to step into the yard. There is just something about being outdoors that creates excitement. While all individuals may enjoy relaxing or playing in their backyard, there are some who get the chance to be outside more than others. Some teenagers love being outside, during the summertime you can almost always catch them in the field with the horses or tanning in their own backyard – cell phone beside them and tunes cranked to maximum.

Teenagers can be hard to please at times so finding the right teen activities for them may take a few tries. This is because many teenagers are at the age where they easily lose interest in the activities they loved last month. If you are also parenting a teenager, especially one that will be spending their summer break at home, familiarize yourself with some popular backyard activities and make outdoor fun, family fun.

If you have a pool in your backyard, your teen may literally be set for the whole summer. Although many teens get bored with certain activities, there is just something unique about a swimming pool. In fact many teenagers would spend their entire summer break in their swimming pool. While most teenagers are experienced swimmers, not all are. If your teenager will be spending their summer break alone, establish some pool rules. These rules ensure your teens are safe while swimming alone.

Not everyone has a pool or a means to get one. Not everyone likes to swim. If you are looking for a way for your child to cool off but can’t purchase an expensive pool, consider a kiddie pool! Honestly just hanging out of one – alone or with a best buddy – can be a lot of fun. As long as you don’t suggest it and let them find out for themselves. Kiddie pools are a great and safe way to say cool in the summer. Even a slightly larger pool 3′ deep and 10′ wide can be a lot of fun, inexpensive to buy, and teenaged girls will enjoy wading in it with their friends.

If a swimming pool, including a kiddie pool, is not an option, you may want to focus on other fun, outdoor water activities. Many teens enjoy playing with water balloons or water guns. These water-based teen activities are a great way to cool off, but they are also fun to play with others. Whether your teen is playing with their siblings or their friends, it is safe to assume that everyone will have a fun and cool time. I’ve known teen girls to spend hours making up games running through the sprinkler. It is amazing how much fun they can have when the activity isn’t mandated and they ‘feel’ like doing something.

Once they’re outside they may look around for other outdoor games to play such as horseshoes, basketball, football, soccer, kickball, baseball, badminton or volleyball. As with most games, the games that your child will be able to participate will depend on if they are playing by themselves or with someone else. For those playing alone, basketball is an idea. Teens playing their siblings or friends will not have a shortage of games to choose from. In fact, most backyard games are designed with two or more players in mind.

While it is important to focus on backyard activities, such as games, you may also want to think about what your older child will eat. If they will be spending the majority of their time outside, you may want to think about allowing them to eat in the backyard. Barbeques are ideal, when adults are present. If your teen will be alone or with their friends, you may want to suggest a backyard picnic. A few drinks, sandwiches, or snacks can make for an easy and safe backyard meal.

When organizing backyard activities for your teen, you may also want to get them involved. Teenagers are at the age where they like to make their own decisions. While your suggestions may be greatly appreciated your teenager may have their own backyard activities in mind. If this is the case, fine; step back and let them create their own activities, as long as they’re playing safe.

Teen Summers – Getting them Outdoors is an original country living article from: GoodByeCityLife's Country Fun section.