Bean Bag Games for Preschoolers: Toss, Carry, and Balance

Bean bags are useful for preschool park games because they can be tossed, carried, or placed without rolling far. Use one or two intact bags, follow their age labels, and keep the activity on a small clear surface. A child can choose a no-throw version at every step.

Prepare the play area

Choose ground away from roads, paths, swing arcs, slide exits, and other groups. Do not place bean bags across a walkway. The CPSC Toy Safety FAQ explains why toy age information and product requirements matter. Check the bag for loose seams before bringing it to the park.

The National Park Service’s Leave No Trace principles support keeping shared spaces open and leaving natural objects where they are. A scarf or hand target from home can replace a bag if the park is busy.

Three bean bag games

Toss to the hands

The adult holds both hands open. The child makes a gentle underhand toss from close range. Move the target closer when needed. The adult retrieves missed bags. A child can hand the bag over instead of tossing it.

Carry the parcel

The child carries the bag from the adult to a landmark and back. Add one pause to “check the parcel.” Let the child choose the landmark, but keep the route within the adult’s view. This game works when throwing would send an object toward other visitors.

Place on the mark

Use a chalk mark where drawing is permitted, or point to an existing line. The child places the bag on the mark, walks around the adult, and returns it. Older preschoolers can carry two bags, one at a time. Do not ask children to balance a bag on a head or a raised surface.

How do you manage turns?

Use the order holder, carrier, target helper, then switch. Children can count turns rather than points. For a mixed-age group, a younger child carries while an older child holds the target. The adult stays responsible for retrieving the bag and checking the lane.

If a child throws overhand, shorten the lane and show an underhand toss. If that does not help, switch to carry or place. The target games guide has more ways to keep an object in one small zone.

Pack it up

Say “last parcel,” retrieve every bag, and inspect the ground. Keep bean bags dry and stored as directed by the manufacturer. Do not leave one behind for another child to find. Then move to free play or a no-equipment game.

For a group that wants a shared goal rather than a target score, try cooperative outdoor games.

Sources

• CPSC, Toy Safety FAQ, retrieved 2026-09-06.
• National Park Service, Leave No Trace Seven Principles, retrieved 2026-09-06.

Explore more park games.