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Tug-o-War
You will need at least two players (more is better), a line (even if it is just a towel or line drawn in the dirt), and a long rope.
Divide into two teams. Have one team stand on one side of the line, holding onto one end of the rope. On the other side of the line, have the other team hold onto the other end of the rope. PULL! Whichever teams pulls the other team over the line, wins. - Red Light, Green Light
You need at least four people to play. One player is the ‘light’ and they stand with their back to the group. When the light says “green light” everyone can move forward from the starting point. When the light says “red light” everyone must freeze. The light quickly turns around and if anyone is still moving, the light sends them back to the starting point. When a player makes it to where the light is standing without being caught, they are the light for the next game.
- What Time is it Mr./Mrs. Wolf?
You will need at least four or five people to play this game.
One player is the wolf and everyone else stands far away at a starting point. The wolf keeps their back to the other players (and cannot peek). Everyone asks at once, “What time is it Mr. (or 'Mrs.' if the wolf is a girl) Wolf?” The wolf says a time. If he says “12 o’clock”, everyone takes 12 steps towards him. After everyone has moved forward, they ask the time again. If the wolf replies “Time to eat you”, everyone has to run back to the starting point without getting caught by the wolf. If a player is caught, they are out. The last player caught by the wolf, becomes the wolf for the next game.
- Duck, Duck, Goose
Everyone sits in a circle, facing in. One player is chosen to start the game. They walk around the outside of the circle and touch each player on the head while saying "duck". If they say "goose" instead of "duck", the player who was called "goose" must jump up and run around the circle in the opposite direction than the player that called them "goose". Both players are racing for the empty sitting spot in the circle. Whoever gets there first, sits down. The player who doesn't have anywhere to sit now goes around the circle saying “duck” or “goose”. If there is a tie (the two racing players get to the sitting spot at the same time), the person who was called "goose" gets the spot and the other player has to go around again, choosing a new "goose".
- Hide-and-Seek
While one player covers their eyes and counts to 20, the rest of the group goes and hides. When the player is done counting, they try to find everyone. In the classic game, players have to stay in their original hiding spot until they are found.
VARIATION: Players can change hiding places throughout the game.
- Kick the Can
There are several variations to this game.
Here are the basics: Place a can in the middle of the playing area, like the backyard. Select one player to be ‘it’. They are ‘guarding’ the can. They cover their eyes and count to 20 and everyone else goes and hides. When the ‘it’ player is done counting, they try to find everyone. When they find someone, that player has to try and run back to the can and kick it before the ‘it’ player tags them. If they get tagged, they are the new ‘it’ player. If they get to the can before getting tagged, they are ‘safe’. When someone has been tagged, the “it” player yells, “Ollie, Ollie Oxen Free.” This means that it is safe for the hiding players to come out.
- Trust Falls
You will need an adult to help you play safely. Best for ages 11 and up. You will need 9 players.
One person stands on a solid platform like a chair (but no higher than waist high) with their back facing the group. The group stands in 2 lines (of 4 players each), facing each other. Everyone places their arms out, palms up, with their elbows bent like they are holding a tray. The two lines need to move close enough together that everyone’s hands and arms mix with each other and create one long line. Try to make the line of arms as flat as you can. Place pillows and extra padding underneath the line of arms—just in case.
When everyone is ready, the person on the platform will cross their arms over their chest and make themselves straight as a board—this is very important! If they bend, they will fall through!! When they are ready, they fall backwards onto the waiting hands.
HINT: The platform that they stand on should make their feet almost as high as the hands that they will be falling onto.
- Three-legged races
You will need at least four people to have a race. You will also need old nylons or scarves to tie legs together.
Stand beside your partner and tie one of your legs to one of theirs. (For example, your left leg and their right leg or your right leg and their left leg.) Now try walking and running!
- Sack Races
You will need an old potato (burlap) sack or old pillow cases. Each racer gets in a sack. Everyone races to the finish line by hopping in their sack.
- Red Rover
Players (the more the better) form 2 lines. The two lines need to be far away from each other, but facing each other. In each line, everyone holds hands. One team calls out “Red rover, red rover, we call _______ over.” And they call over someone from the other team. That player then leaves their own line and runs to the other line. They try to ‘break’ the line by running between two players and make them let go of each other's hand. If the player breaks the line, they take a player from this line back to their team. If they don’t break through, they join the other team.
Safety First: Be gentle!
- British Bulldog
Three players hold hands and stand in a line in the middle of the playing area. These players are the bulldogs. When they are ready, they yell “British Bulldog” and the other players (the more the merrier) try to run to the other end of the field without being touched by the bulldogs who are still holding hands. If a player is touched by the bulldogs, they join them for the next round. Keep going until everyone has joined the chain of bulldogs.
- Basketball / Football / Soccer / Badminton
If you don't know the rules, check in a book on sports rules, ask a friend or check online.
- Tag
One player is 'it'. The ‘it’ player tries to tag (lightly touch) one of the other players making them ‘it’ instead.
VARIATIONS:
Freeze tag: When a player is tagged, they become frozen (can’t move). Frozen players stand with their arms spread out until someone who isn’t frozen can run under their arms to unfreeze them. Play until everyone is frozen or until the ‘it’ player gets too tired.
Blob tag: When the ‘it’ player tags another player, they also become ‘it’. ‘It’ players hold hands to make a blob and try to make everyone a part of the blob. The last player tagged is the new ‘it’ player.
Can’t tag your butcher: You need at least 5 people to play this version. Once a player becomes ‘it’, they can try to tag anyone but the player who made them ‘it’.
Shadow tag: ‘It’ players tag shadows by stepping on them instead of touching players.
Flashlight tag: Agree on where the game boundaries are (fenced yard). Each player gets a flashlight. Nobody but the ‘it’ player turns theirs on. The players run around and the ‘it’ person turns on their flashlight for a few seconds here and there to see if they can tag a player by shining the light on a part of them. Once tagged, that player can help the ‘it’ person by shining their flashlight on players.
- Capture the flag
Materials needed: two flags (or towels) and 10 people (or more) and lots of space to play.
Divide the players into two teams. Divide the play area into two sides with a line between the two sides. If you are playing in the yard, one side could be the front yard and the other team’s side could be the back yard. Each team takes a few minutes to hide their flag on their side as well as decide where to have their 'jail'.
Goal of the Game: To 'capture' the other team's flag by bringing it back to your own side.
Once both teams have hidden their flag, the two sides try to ‘capture’ the other side’s flag without being caught by someone on the other team when they go on the other team's side to search for the flag. Players who are not on their own side of the yard can be caught if they aren't fast enough and taken to ‘jail’. Each team has their own jail on their own side where they keep their prisoners. If a player with the other team’s flag gets caught, the flag is taken from them and put back in its hiding spot. The player is taken to jail. Only another member of your team can free you from jail by tagging you. If all of one team gets put in the other team’s jail at once, the other team wins, even if they haven’t captured the other team's flag. If one team gets the other team’s flag to their side, they win.
Active Group Games!
If you've got a group of kids (four or more) looking for a rowdy good time, look no further! These games are generally outside games and are rowdier than the quiet group games.
Enjoy!
Active Game activities with a link have been featured on the It's All Kid's Play blog. These activities may have a photo on the blog as well as more detailed instructions than are shown here.
P.S. Wondering where a favourite activity went? The site is undergoing some changes and some of the activities have been temporarily shelved. Check back to see what's in the works.
Games!