This is a great activity as it will give purpose to a walk, teach your child a knot that is useful in all manner of situations, make a game and then have a game to add to their list of things to play to occupy themselves while Mummy and Daddy try to get some work done!

Ring Toss or Quoits

You will need:

• 5 sturdy sticks as long as an adult forearm or longer and at least as thick as an adult finger
• a mallet to hammer the sticks into the ground
• a number of lengths of quite thick rope about as thick as a finger and as long as an adults arm (you will need as many lengths of rope as you want tossing rings

Once you have your sticks you can arrange them in a pattern on the ground and bang them into the ground so they are standing upright and are quite solidly in place.  You can decide how many points each post is worth and where your throwing line is.

Now take your rope and tie each individual piece into a hoop by tying the two ends together in a reef knot.  Here is a link to a handy quick video that shows you exactly how to tie a reef knot.  I remember it as this… First, left over right and through.  Next, right over left and through.  Then, pull!

First, left over right and through:

Holding one end of the rope in each hand take the piece in your left and cross it over the top of the piece in your right hand, bend it round the piece in your right hand and bring it through the circle you have just made and back up to the top.

Next, right over left and through:

Now take the piece in your right hand and place it over the piece in your left hand bend that around the piece in your left and and bring it through the hole you have just made.

Then, pull:

Now pull all four parts of the rope coming out of the knot (two on each side) to tighten it.

When you have all of your pieces of rope tied to the size you want for tossing, trim the ends and you are ready to play your ring toss or quoits game.

Take a video or photo of your game in action — we would love to see it!  Post it to us on social media on Facebook, twitter and/or instagram.

Happy tying!

April