8 of our favorite hula hoop games

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, only one out of three children participates in physical activity each day. Their studies also found that children spend more than seven hours each day either in front of a TV screen! While we’ve gotten more relaxed with screens due to the rise of virtual learning, we’re always looking for more ways to get moving!

That’s where hula hooping comes in. Can you think of a more timeless game? Not to mention, it can be played anywhere!

Keep reading to learn about some of our favorite hula hoop games the whole family can play.

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1. Old school hula hooping

Nothing beats the classics. In this case, it’s just spinning the ring around your waist to have fun and get some exercise.

You can do this game anywhere you have space. Once your little ones have got the hang of the hula hoop, try teaching them new ways of playing — like spinning the hula hoop on each arm or even around your neck.

2. Get competitive with family ring toss

One of the most fun hula hoop games on our list is the ring toss. Plus, it’s a great way to get the whole family involved.

Get a pack of bean bags and place two hula hoops side by side. You can then divide your family into teams. Whoever gets the most bean bags into the rings wins!

You can also make the game more challenging by tying the hula hoops to a tree branch and have everyone try to toss the bean bag (or ball of some sort — we’re not sticklers!) through the hoop.

3. Threading the hula hoop

This is an ideal game for groups of children. It teaches your little ones how to work with others, and they'll be learning coordination and mobility skills as well.

In a circle, everyone holds hands and passes the hula hoop along without dropping the hoop... or their hands! Turn it into a race by timing how fast they can loop the hula hoop around the entire circle of people.

4. A DIY croquet game

Who knew hula hooping and croquet go hand in hand? Well, they didn’t...until now. You can use a set of hula hoops to create your very own DIY version of a croquet game.

All you need? Cut a couple of hula hoops in half and stick them into the ground in your backyard or the park. Use any balls you have laying around in your home. Hockey sticks can be used as the mallets or even a soccer ball to get it through the hoops with your feet.

5. A hula hoop hopscotch

If you want to play a different version of hopscotch, try placing some hula hoops in different arrangements in your backyard and have your children hop through the patterns. Have your children count as they hop through the pattern of hoops. This will ensure they'll be exercising their body and mind at the same time.

Hopscotch isn't only a fun game for your children — it actually teaches lots of developmental benefits — strengthening both cognitive development, as well as coordination and balance.

6. Create a fun obstacle course

Start by dividing your group into different teams and have them complete three or four different activities with hula hoops. Maybe it’ll involve jumping through hoops, rolling it from point A to B, or even spinning it on your hips for a certain amount of time. You should get creative with it! Whoever runs the course the fastest wins! We’ll l

7. Incorporate hula hoops into a game of tag

Many studies have found that playtime is great for exercising, developing cognitive and motor skills, and maintaining emotional bonds between children and their parents. This is all the more reason why creating new games to play with your children should be at the top of your priority list.

Tag is another classic game to play with your little ones, but you can change it up by adding some hula hoops to the game. Scatter a couple of hula hoops around the yard and tell your kids that they can jump into the hoops to keep from getting caught by whoever is "it".

8. A circus inspired hula hoop game

This next one is one of our favorite children's hula hoop games. This circus-inspired hula hoop game is great for your youngest children and is simple to set up. Cut some orange and yellow construction paper into strips and attach them around the hula hoops.

Hold these "flame covered" hoops in the air for your little ones to jump through. Hold them a little higher as they get the hang of it or have them move one arm and leg in at a time.

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