Transforming a Tarp into a Toss Game for Kids

For DIY fun for the kids, create a toss game with a tarp, duct tape, a felt-tip marker, rope and scissors. Invent a football toss game, or size your carnival midway-style game to fit sponge balls or spare tennis balls.

Here’s how it work. Spread your tarp on the ground and use a pencil to mark squares through which the ball you choose will easily fit. Draw other squares with smaller openings for challenge tosses.

 Cut out the squares, and line the openings with ordinary or colored duct tape. With your large felt-tip pen, write down points to win for easy throws and more points possible for more difficult throws. Decide on a final number, and declare the first person to reach that number the winner. Because tarps come with grommets around the border, position your game by simply threading the rope through the grommets and attaching to trees or fence posts.

Use a piece of chalk or wide ribbon secured with rocks on either end to establish your throw line. You can also draw a line in the dirt with your shoe.

Allow younger children to stand behind throw lines that are closer to the targets on the tarp. Points are scored when the ball is thrown through the marked opening from the throw line.

Families love this use of tarps to create an economical game for all ages. It takes just a few minutes to order low-cost tarps online at outlets like TarpSurplus.com.

Because tarps fold up for storage, it’s also easy to transport this game in a paper bag or backpack. Take your new toss game to the backyard, a neighborhood park or on that next family vacation.