Can’t wait until the next Olympic Games in Paris? We gathered fun ways to stage a celebration at home. Read on to get ideas for activities that will add a little healthy competition and some great family fitness to your summer plans. To keep all ages engaged, choose challenges that allow for a variety of strengths and abilities.
Team Up
With at least four people, you can make two Olympic teams. Wear Olympic color-coded tees, wristbands, knee socks or caps to distinguish each team.
Opening Ceremony
Stream Olympic themed music while teams take turns passing the torch. Each family member does a lap around the yard, then passes the torch. Make a simple torch from a toilet paper roll as the base and glue “flames” cut from construction or tissue paper. Add simple decorations like a paper chain made using Olympic colors or posters painted with Olympic rings.
Let the Games Begin
Pull together traditional games that don’t require lots of set-up or props and that all ages can enjoy such as egg on a spoon and wheelbarrow race. Follow these directions for more cool fun:
Water Balloon Toss
Have team members stand a certain distance apart and throw a water balloon to each other. Take a step back after each successful catch. Continue passing the balloon until someone drops it. The last team to drop the balloon is the winner.
Hula Hoop Endurance
Grab enough hula hoops so that each family member has one. See who can hoop the longest.
World Map Memory
Best for elementary-age children and older, this will test your family’s knowledge of world geography. Give teams 5 minutes to look at an atlas, globe or other world map, then close the atlas and label a blank printout of a world map with country names spelled correctly. Bonus point for the correctly labeled country with the most letters in its name.
Paper Airplane Distance
Each team makes one paper airplane to match its team color. Stand behind the start line and throw the plane. Teams go one at a time. The team that throws their airplane furthest is the winner. Bonus point for most “artistic” airplane design (judge’s discretion).
Awards Ceremony
Have crafty family members make medals from construction paper and ribbon. The ultimate prize: being dished dessert first and not having to do the dishes.
Make Grilled cheese, French Style: Croque Monsieur
Reimagine a favorite sandwich! Kids can help make this ham and cheese sandwich filled with ooey-gooey melted cheese. Watch the video from Ina Garten for easy instructions.
Let Them Eat Cake (and More)
A beautiful red velvet Twizzler Cake makes a festive centerpiece for hungry athletes to enjoy. Don’t worry, the only skills you need to create this cake are to buy red and blue Twizzlers and sprinkles. Find the recipe on Jackie Bruchez’s blog, The Seaside Baker.
Cake pops are the perfect portable treat for active kids. Bruchez suggests serving them in mason jars for family to help themselves or creating a flag design on a platter. Decorate your cake pops with melted chocolate colored with red, white and blue food coloring. These treats are also perfect for the Fourth of July.
Avoiding dairy or gluten? Nicole Hunn’s delicious allergen-friendly ice pops in red, white and blue use seasonal fruit and coconut milk. Find the recipe on her blog Gluten Free on a Shoestring.
Watch Party
Get excited for gymnastics in 2024. GOAT Simone Biles is back on the U.S. Olympic Team. Watch her at her best in floor, vault and uneven bar exercises.
For a brief glimpse of entertaining, exhilarating college gymnasts, check out short videos of UCLA’s floor exercises set to upbeat music that earned perfect 10s. Just search “UCLA Perfect 10” on YouTube.
Watch original TV on the Olympic Channel app by downloading and creating an account. Inspiring athletes reveal how they push limits and find inspiration in sports. The channel also replays some of Olympics’ greatest games from archery to baseball.
