Games for Kids

Children love games and playing with other kids. It's a way of releasing energy, interacting with their peers, exercising their motor skills and learning socialization. When children play games with other children, they learn about teamwork, how to solve problems and build strategies, follow instruction and to use their time wisely. Kids love to be competitive and to find excitement in learning something new in both outdoor and indoor games.

OUTDOOR GAMES

Outdoor games give children a chance to stretch their bodies and their imaginations while playing such games as:

Capture the Flag

Object of the game is to capture the enemy team's hidden flag and bring it back to your own territory.

Rules: Each team is separated by a neutral space, so there are essentially three areas to work in. To set up, each team hides a flag within his own space, but not within the neutral space, within five minutes. Then the game begins with each team looking for the other team's flag. If you are standing in the other team's field, they can grab you and take you to jail. Jail is a predetermined section of their field. If one of your own team members touches you, then you may be released and once again aid in the quest for the flag. Be careful! You can be thrown back in jail countless times if you are caught! The only rules to this game are staying within the realm of the playing field including the neutral section until the enemy flag is found and brought home.
Number of Participants: teams must be equal in number, five is ideal
Game Length: until flag is found

Kickball

The object of the game is to get more runs than the opposite team. For the opposing team, the object is to get the players out. There are countless variations of the game. It is adaptable to the playing environment and available players.

Rules: Same as baseball, except that there is no bat and you are using a rubber ball that is kicked as far as you can kick it. Same field as a baseball field. Innings nine or less, depending on venue and age level of children. Each child lines up and gets a turn to kick the ball from home plate. The ball is thrown on the ground by a pitcher. The infield and outfield positions are similar to baseball's positions. Once the player kicks the ball, the opposing team attempts to catch the ball or to get the ball and throw it toward the player so that a teammate can get the player out. Three outs per team equal the end of an inning.
Number of Participants: Ideally ten per team, but any amount as long as the number on each team is preferably equal.
Game Length: Until the "innings" or recess/gym is over.

Tag

Object of the game is for "it" to touch a participant rendering him out of the game. When all participants are touched, then the game begins again. There are as many variations to the game as there are kids: including freeze tag, tunnel, elbow, elimination, and everyone's it.

Rules: The rules are basically the same for each game of tag. "It" tries to tag everyone else. "It" sets the parameters at the beginning of the game what is to happen when you are tagged. Some simply freeze, some have to yell something, some fall down. That way everyone else can see who is tagged as well. The ending of the game varies as well. "It" can tag everyone or someone can be nominated to tag "It". Once "It" is tagged, then the other player becomes "It" releasing everyone to run off again.
Number of Participants: unlimited, but works best with a small group of 6-10
Game Length: until everyone is tagged

Hide and Seek

The object of the game is for "It" to find the players who are hiding.

Rules: Someone is "It", covers his eyes and counts to ten (or whatever number is agreed on) while all other players hide. When the designated count is reached, "It" tries to find the other players. If he finds one, he usually yells "Found {name}.!" or "1-2-3 on {name}." If "It" gives up, then the last person(s) hiding wins. If "It" finds everyone, "It" gets to pick the next "It".
Number of Participants: unlimited, but works best with a small group of 6-10
Game Length: until everyone is found or "It" gives up.

Four Square

The object of the game is to move to the server's square and be the last one (holding the position).

Rules: After drawing four six-feet wide squares with chalk and numbering them 1-4, each person or set of persons stands in a square. The player standing in the number four square is the server who bounces the ball once in one of the other three squares. That player hits the ball before it bounces a second time to another square. The player can hit the ball before or after the single bounce. If the ball misses another player's square or if the ball is hit after more than one bounce, then that player is out. That player removes himself from his square and all players move one square over. This continues until there is one person standing with the ball.
Number of Participants: four or eight persons ideally
Game Length: until the last person moves to the server's square.

INDOOR GAMES

Indoor games and gym games sometimes have limited space considerations, but children play with the same fervor as they play outdoor games.

Musical Chairs

The object of the game is to be the last person sitting in the chair when the music stops.

Rules: There's one less chair per number of participants. Chairs are placed in a row usually and the players walk around the chairs as a group while music plays. When the music stops, everyone must find a seat. One person will be left standing. That person is out of the game. The game continues until just two persons are left to play and one is left standing.
Number of Participants: unlimited, but smaller groups are better (5-12) players
Game Length: games lasts until one person of two sits in the last chair when the music stops.

Dodgeball

The object of the game is to dodge the ball after it is thrown at their body by "It."

Rules: There are many, many variations to the game. This is the most basic version: everyone lines up against a wall, someone is picked to be "It" and hurls the big rubber ball at the participants along the wall who dodge the ball. If it hits one of the players, then that player is "It".
Number of Participants: unlimited, but best at around 6-10 players.
Game Length: Play continues until players wish to play no longer. In some variations, players get out and someone is "It" until one person is left standing.

Floor Hockey

The object of the game is to have the most goals at the end of the designated one to three periods, depending on if recreational or league play.

Rules: The teams are divvied into two teams of six: a couple defensive men and a couple wingmen, a goalie and a center. The centers or other designated players face-off at the center circle for control of the puck which is tossed about the floor by use of a hockey stick toward the opposition's goal. Floor hockey courts are lined the same as an ice hockey court.
Number of Participants: 12
Game Length: whoever has the most goals wins.

Red Light/Green Light

The object of the game is to be the first player to reach the goal.

Rules: There's a start line and a goal line. One person is "It" who stands at the goal line and counts to ten or more while the other participants stand at the start line. When those players see that "It" is counting, they proceed toward the goal line. Suddenly "It" calls out Red Light and turns to face the group. The advancing players must freeze. Those who do not freeze are called out of the game. Then "It" calls Green Light and turns away from the advancing group and counts until he turns again and calls Red Light. Game continues until someone reaches the goal line.
Number of Participants: unlimited, but smaller groups better
Game Length: Game ends with the first player reaching the goal.