20 Classic Ball Games for Kids

These old-fashioned, classic ball games for kids don’t require much equipment and usually don’t need a certain number of players. That makes them flexible and fun, which is what playtime should be all about.

Parents and grandparents may participate, or they can serve as facilitators and mediators, adjusting rules for kids of different ages or for different playing fields. The most important role for adults is that of an enthusiastic spectator (a few cheers might even be in order).

These outdoor games are fun for family reunions, multigenerational vacations, and other celebrations. Those involving a large soft ball can be enjoyed by both young and older children, whereas those using a ball and a bat are more suitable for tween children on up.