Pooh sticks
An idyllic pursuit that, along with black- berrying and fishing with jam jars, lends us a brief illusion of living in an Enid Blyton fantasy. Immortalised in Winnie-the-Pooh, the game is ideal for children over 5. First find your stream and a quaint stone bridge over which to lean. Competitors should all select a small stick and make it clear which belongs to whom. Stand side-by-side on the bridge, looking upstream, and hold the sticks at arm’s length. Choose a “starter” who calls “ready, steady, go!”, then everyone drops their stick over the side and into the water. All players then cross to the downstream side and look over the edge for the first one to emerge. The winner gets lashings of ginger beer.

King of the den
The inner-survivalist lurks in even the youngest of children who adore the idea of making a clandestine shelter all by themselves. First encourage them to find a feature to build on or around; ie, a leaning branch or a log. Collect three long branches to form a basic structure and bind them together at the top with string or stems. If you’re really getting back to basics, encourage children to create a lattice by weaving in stems, twigs and leaves, otherwise an old sheet or tarpaulin serves as well. Then leave the rest to your children and watch their caveman instinct flourish; they can sweep the ground or collect leaves, stones and grass for decor. Den- building is more than just a game, you know. According to the latest research in the US and Scandinavia, this lost skill is crucial to children’s development, improving their sense of ingenuity, independence and self-esteem. Go on, get busy with those twigs and branches.

Treasure hunt
Turn your kids into mini David Attenboroughs and get them to improve their team skills too. Divide children into two groups — this game is perfect for five to ten-year-olds — and give each one a jam jar and a list of items for them to find; a ladybird, a caterpillar, six different types of leaf, etc. Set a time and the first team back with all the items wins. This can work just as well in your local park if you modify the rules. Try “As simple as ABC”: split the children into two teams and get them to collect as many objects beginning with a certain letter. Time them and make base camp your local park café; the first team back gets chocolate ice-cream. You’ll find that the urban version wins hands down.

Please, Mr Porter
This suits all ages; terrible twos and tiresome ten-year-olds should be equally distracted and worn ragged. First find a suitable forest clearing or a patch of green in the local park. Mark out two ends of a pitch and select a “Mr Porter” to stand in the middle. The group must then chant: “Please Mr Porter, can I cross the water, to see my darling daughter, before she goes to bed?” Mr Porter replies and chooses a colour: “Only if you’re wearing red.” Players wearing red can then stroll across safe and immune. Those remaining must leg it, chased by Mr Porter, and the first one caught then becomes the new Mr Porter.

Hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades
To really exhaust the children, try this out hot on the heels of Please, Mr Porter. You can use the same pitch, but this time you need a pack of cards and lots of willing children. Divide into four teams, hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades, and stand in each corner of the pitch. Elect an “It”, who stands in the middle, turns over a card and then shouts, diamond, spade etc. Teams must run to the relevant corner and the last player there is out. Only when “ It” turns over an ace can he or she choose his own substitute. It is also known as human poker, and adults have been known to gamble on this game to pass the time — truly fun for all the family.

Blind Tom obstacle race
Appeals to slightly older children, aged from 8 to 12. Choose an umpire and divide into two groups. Ask one of the groups to forage for various obstacles, such as rocks, leaves, stones and branches, and to arrange them creatively, with branches balanced across rocks, small piles of leaves to navigate between them, etc.

Give the other team two minutes to memorise the course, then blindfold them and ask them to try to cross to the other side. Helpful suggestions can be offered by the first team to make their attempts more amusing. Swap roles, and the umpire decides which team navigates best.

Make my bow and arrow
What is it with young boys and sticks? At a certain age, around 5, they’re hooked. On the downside, archery is guaranteed to fuel this dubious male obsession. On the up, it will keep boisterous boys quiet for hours. Oh, and there’s no reason why girls won’t enjoy it, too. This is perfect for four to eight year-olds, if you’re prepared to help and supervise them. You will need a penknife, string and chalk.

First select your “shaft”, as it’s referred to in archery; look out for soft green wood that bends easily without breaking and sticks that have a natural kink. Now carve a “nock”, a small dent, at either end of the wood where you can secure your string. Then select smaller sticks for arrows and chalk a round target on to a tree with a smooth bark. Take it in turns to aim and fire. Daub and feathers optional.