Fun Basketball Games for Young Kids

Basketball can teach many valuable lessons to children, most notably that of teamwork and the value of exercise. Furthermore, it is an action-filled sport that is fun for children to watch as well as play in recreational form. Young basketball fans that are looking to get more hoop time have a variety of options, both in physical forms of the game as well digital recreations of the game.

  1. H-O-R-S-E

    • You can play this classic basketball shooting game with as few as two players, so it won't be necessary to round up 10 people to enjoy. With an adjustable hoop lowered to an appropriate level, even very young kids can enjoy H-O-R-S-E. Going in the same order throughout the game, one player starts the turn by taking a shot. If the player makes the shot, the player immediately following must make the shot as well from the same location. If a player misses a shot that the person before him made, he earns a letter in the word "Horse." After missing enough shots to spell out the entire word, that player is out. The game continues until only one person remains.

    Water Basketball

    • Young kids can play water basketball individually or with teams, and it combines the exercise of swimming with the fun of basketball. Since the game takes place in water and eliminates the skills needed to dribble, this type of basketball is especially suited for young children, even those who are not familiar with basketball. While there are no official rules to go by in this game, a combination of regular basketball rules and water polo rules may yield the best results.

    Bubble Ball

    • For those looking to enjoy the sights and sounds of basketball from the comfort of their computer, Bubble Ball is a free online game from funschool.com, a trusted learning and entertainment site full of family-friendly activities designed specifically for children of all ages. Using the mouse, players control a burst of air at the bottom of the screen, releasing it when the basketball is right above it. This keeps the balls in the air as they travel from the right side of the screen to the left where the goals are. Keeping the ball in the air from one side to the other will take multiple clicks and good timing, but players earn a goal for their hard work.

    Ultimate Mega Hoops

    • In this online game, players must shoot the ball into a goal that moves side to side as many times as possible over the course of 10 levels. Each level the player advances to will result in increased speed, making the timing gradually more difficult. Players simply line the ball up at the bottom of the screen with the goal using the mouse, and then click when ready to fire the shot. Ultimate Mega Hoops is available on teamoplis.com, a kid-friendly website featuring dozens of easy-to-play cartoon-themed games as well as information on team sports and even a section to sign up for youth leagues online.