Group Games
Sardines
What child doesn't love hide-and-seek? Here's a fun variation to play with a group, inside or outside. While the group counts to 50, one person goes to hide (find a place that's big enough to fit the whole group). When the group is finished counting, everyone spreads out to look for the hider. When you find the hider, quietly climb into the hiding place, too. ...(read more)
Musical Hoops
This is a great activity for groups of 2-6 children and a non-competitive alternative to musical chairs. Gather up several hoops or jump ropes tied in a loop, one for each child and adult. Place a different instrument (maracas, drums, home-made shakers, xylophones, etc.) in each hoop. Have each child choose where he or she wants to begin playing and start the music. Stop the music ...(read more)
Musical Beach Ball
Invite a few of your child's friends over to play. Masking tape one Hot Wheel car for each child all around a beach ball. Turn on your child's favorite music and pass the beach ball around. When the music turns off, whoever has the ball gets to rip off a car and keep it! Then that child can sit down and the rest can continue playing ...(read more)
One, Two, Three... Spotlight!
This is a game of chase for older kids that is best played outdoors at dusk or even night. If kids are uncomfortable in the dark, divide them up into pairs to keep each other company. Choose a spot for the base. Pick one person to be the seeker and give that person a flashlight. The rest of the group hides while the seeker counts. When the ...(read more)
Jump Inside the Circle
Best played with a group of children. Have everyone sit in a large circle facing each other. One adult describes a child in the circle using visual clues, and everyone tries to guess which child it is. Example: "This person is wearing a red sweater and blue pants, and has flip flops on." When the children guess who it is, that child stands up and jumps up ...(read more)
Homemade 'Twister'
Create your own Twister game for you & your kids! Get colored construction paper and tape it to the floor. Then, you can make small cards to pull at random to give the directions. So kids can call out directions, you can simply draw either a hand or foot & then put the color. For example, when a child selects a card, he can easily interpret ...(read more)
Leapfrog Tag
Play a traditional game of tag; however when the child is touched or "tagged," they have to crouch down. When someone leapfrogs over them they are free.(read more)
The Name Game
With a group of children have them sit in a circle and have them take turns clapping out the rhythm for a name, especially their own, while saying the name. The other children should repeat the name while clapping the rhythm. For example Mi-chael would be Clap clap or Ma-lin-da would be Clap clap clap. An excellent introduction to the concept of syllables.(read more)
Left or Right?
Teach your child left and right with this fun game! Call out a body part such as "left foot," "right shoulder," etc. and then toss a ball or balloon to a player who tries to hit the ball with that body part. That's the only rule. No winners or losers...just fun! (read more)
Tunnel Tag
Next time you and your kids play tag, try this fun variation: When a child is caught, he or she has to put one arm against something (a wall, a chair, and so on) to make a tunnel. When another child runs under the tagged child's arm (or tunnel) then he or she is free.(read more)
Pin the Nose on the Jack O' Lantern
This is a simple spin on the Pin the Tail on the Donkey game. Using foam board and either markers or poster board, make a large pumpkin and paste it on the foam board. Next, cut out black eyes and a mouth and add it to the pumpkin. Then cut out lots of triangles for the nose and be sure to number them and add sticky tape ...(read more)
Swinging Statues
Best played outside, but can also be done indoors if you clear a big enough space. You are the 'sculptor' and your child will be the 'statue.' Gently swing your child in circles (either by holding under their arms or just by holding hands) 2 or 3 times, calling out the name of an animal or object. When the sculptor lets go, the statue must come to ...(read more)
Follow the Clapping Leader
You can do this with just you and your child or with a group of children. Clap out a rhythm on your shoulder, knee, arm, or some other body part, and your child or the group of children must follow. Any number can play this game and if you are in a group the children can take turns leading the clapping. (read more)
Pin the Tailfeathers on the Turkey
A re-working of the old standard Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Draw a large turkey and tape it to the wall. Cut out feathers from construction paper and stick small pieces of tape to the back. Blindfold a child and have them try to stick the feather in the correct place. This is a great game to occupy the little ones while you're busy putting ...(read more)
Sticker Tag
A new twist on the old game of tag - great for all ages and sure to get your blood pumping. Get a bunch of stickers, any kind will work but I use sheets of colored adhesive dots that are inexpensive and can be found at office supply stores. Place the pile of stickers within easy reach of everyone, then distribute one sheet to each person. Spread ...(read more)
Chickens, Foxes, and Snakes
This is a fun version of tag to be played with a group of children - at least 4 is best. Divide the players into 3 groups: chicken, foxes, and snakes. Explain that chickens eat snakes, foxes eat chickens, and snakes eat foxes. Then count to 3 and let everybody run around chasing after their prey while trying to stay clear of their predators! If a ...(read more)
Halloween Twister
Take an old white sheet and paint rows of witch hats, pumpkins, ghosts and black cats. Be sure to mix them up. Then make flashcards -- four for each symbol (e.g. right hand pumpkin, left hand pumpkin, right foot pumpkin, left foot pumpkin). Then have the "Twister Master" shuffle the cards and put them in a stack. The "Twister Master" then calls the game by pulling cards ...(read more)
Homemade Pick-Up Sticks
Go on a nature hike with your child and find ten twigs of equal lengths (about 10-12 inches). Paint each stick a different color. After letting the paint dry, have one person hold all the sticks over floor and drop them. Take turns trying to remove sticks without moving any of the other sticks. Players can keep the sticks they pick-up without moving others.If any stick in ...(read more)
Operator
Remember this game? Sit in a circle (the more players the better). One person starts by whispering a message to the person next to them. The message can be anything, but don't let anyone else hear. Each player repeats the message to their neighbor as quietly as possible until it's passed all the way around the circle, at which point the last person announces it out ...(read more)
Freeze Tag
A classic game that never grows old. One person is 'It' and he or she chases the other players in an attempt to tag them. When players are tagged, they're frozen in place and can only be freed when another player crawls through their legs. The game gets hilarious when you try to crawl through your 4 year olds legs!(read more)
Ghost-Ghost-Witch
This is a variation of duck-duck-goose called "ghost-ghost-witch." Choose one child to be the "witch" and have the rest of the children sit facing each other in a circle. The witch will then go around the circle, saying ghost-ghost -ghost.......witch. Then the witch has to chase the ghost, and if she catches the ghost before he or she gets back to the empty spot in the circle, ...(read more)
Mixed-Up People
This is a drawing activity for at least two, and up to three people. Take a piece of paper and fold it in thirds; try to be as exact as possible. On the first third of the paper, draw the head of a pet, an animal or a person. Then, switch papers and then each of you draw the body of a pet, animal or person, then switch one last ...(read more)
Matching Grab Bags
This game is great fun for both preschoolers and school-age kids, and helps develop fine motor skills. Gather up various small objects -- you'll need 2 of each item (one for you and one for your child). Examples of items that you can use: buttons, pennies (and other change), beans, cotton balls, Lego pieces, paper clips, etc. Divide the items into 2 paper lunch sacks so ...(read more)
Pin the Heart on the Skeleton
Buy a pre-made paper Halloween skeleton, or draw your own on a big sheet of paper. Tape a heart where a normal heart would be; then get red construction paper and help your kids cut out little hearts. Put pieces of tape on the back of each heart. Blindfold the kids, spin them around, and have them try to place their heart in the right spot on ...(read more)
What's Different?
This a great game to play with a group. My daughter plays it at her preschool and it always gets everyone laughing, adults too! Have everyone sit in a circle. One person is chosen to leave the room (they'll need an adult to help). That person then changes as much as they can about their appearance - the zanier you make it the better. Untuck their ...(read more)
Shadow Tag
This game is great in the early morning or late afternoon, since shadows are longer at that time of day! Designate one or two children as "it" and let them run around trying to tag players by stepping on their shadows. After a few minutes, let the players switch roles.(read more)
Spinning a Spiderweb
This activity is suited for several children -- a special playdate, or small birthday party. Designate one room as the spiderweb room. To begin creating the web, attach a small present to the end of a ball of string, and hide it somewhere out of sight within the room. Then take the string, and wind it around the room and furniture (or this could be done outside ...(read more)
Duck, Duck, Splash!
In your backyard on a hot day, gather kids in a circle (5 or more is best) and designate the child who is "it". With a small dixie cup of water that child walks around and touches the others in the circle and says the traditional, "duck, duck, duck..." until they come to the person they want to "splash"! They pour the cup of water on that person's ...(read more)
Melting Candles Tag
My son plays this at school - a different version of the traditional 'Freeze Tag.' One player is chosen as 'It,' and chases the other players in an attempt to tag them. When tagged, you freeze in place with your arms above your head (fingers touching) and begin to 'melt' like a candle, slowly sinking your body to the ground. Other players can free you by touching ...(read more)
Shark!
4 to 10 children can play this game together. Spread out five hula hoops on a lawn (about 5 feet apart). One child is the shark. All other children stand inside one of the hula hoops. There cannot be more than 2 children in one hoop at a time. When the shark calls "Swim fishes!" all the other children (the fish) have to run and ...(read more)
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