Craving old-fashioned family fun? Then put away the video games and pitch a tent in your backyard for a night of analog activities under the stars. Older kids (tweens and up) are probably ready for a real campsite, but children 7 and under may not be prepared to rough it. By sticking close to home, your kids can feel safe and secure, be within walking distance of a bathroom, and still enjoy a wonderful family bonding experience. In fact, there's no reason to limit your guest list to family: A backyard campout also makes for a terrific sleepover party or birthday celebration. With Mother Nature's cooperation, you can enjoy a successful backyard campout.

Get Your Groovy On! Tie-Dye with Kids
Tie-dyeing T-shirts is a fab outdoor activity for the whole family. Get fabric dye at a craft store. Use a white T-shirt. Gather the material in the middle and wrap a rubber band tightly around. This will make a ring where the dye will not be. Add more rubber bands spaced a couple of inches apart to add more un-dyed rings. The rings can be anywhere, side to side, around the sleeve. Let the kids be creative. Follow the directions with the dye. You can use a 5 gallon plastic bucket to put the dye into for soaking the T-shirts. Have the kids wear an apron or a smock over old clothes. Put the dye bucket on the grass. Hang the T-shirts on a close line to dry.

Swing in a Hammock

Snuggle close to your child, and sway the afternoon away. Look for pictures in the clouds and watch them change, or read books to each other. You can get a nylon mesh hammock at a camping store. Use a timber hitch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timber_hitch) to tie the hammock to a tree.

 
Tea Time
A tea party just isn't a tea party without a gaggle of guests to enjoy the treats. Let the children take their favorite stuffed animals to an afternoon picnic on the lawn. Cups, kettles, and cupcakes make the perfect spread for a playful day in the shade.

Take a Hike!

Get out your comfy walking shoes and gather your family for a fun and fitness-filled walk. Here's how to make sure kids of all ages have fun out on the trails.  Your kids play outside all the time -- but have they ever stopped to smell the flowers, touch the rocks, or listen to the wind? Spend your next sunny day outside on a kid-focused nature walk. Your kids will find hidden treasures they've never noticed before.