School-Age Games

School-age kids are more sophisticated than preschoolers when it comes to games.

Getting Started

Some kids will take as much active play as they can get, while others enjoy less. Whether it’s at a birthday party or a day at the park or the beach, games are a great way to involve all kids in being active. Grade school is a time of building identity and self-esteem, so encourage every kid in your group to enjoy the game and find ways to make sure that everyone is able to participate.

Game: Snake in the Gutter

Number of kids: Six or more

How the game is played: Depending on the number of kids, pick at least three kids to be “snakes.” Have the snakes form the gutter by standing in a line with wide spaces between them, facing the rest of the kids, who should be at a distance. The adult in charge (or a child) yells, “Snake in the gutter!” The children attempt to run through the gutter without being tagged by a snake. Those who get tagged are now snakes and stay in the gutter. Those who make it through can make another run through the gutter, but anyone who was tagged must join the snakes. Continue the game until everyone has been caught.

What the game teaches: Agility, problem-solving

 

Game: Giants, Wizards, and Elves

Number of kids: At least four, but best for larger groups

How the game is played: This is a whole-body game based on Rock, Paper, Scissors. Before you begin, explain these rules to the players:

1. Giants conquer wizards. To be a giant, raise your arms high above your head.

2. Wizards conquer elves. To be a wizard, make a triangle with your arms over your head (like a wizard’s hat).

3. Elves conquer giants. To be an elf, place your hands alongside your ears with index fingers extended.

4. Divide the kids into two teams with a space of about four feet between them.

5. Direct each team to retreat a few feet for a huddle to decide which they will be: giants, wizards or elves.

6. After the teams decide what they will be (plus a backup choice), they come back to their 4-feet-apart stance.

7. On a count of three, each team yells what it is. If one team yells “Elves!” and the other yells “Wizards!” the wizard team will chase the elves to their safe zone. Anyone who is tagged becomes part of the opposing team. If both teams yell the same creature, they do it over again using their backup choices.

What the game teaches: Agility, listening skills, teamwork

Game: Ready, Aim, Throw!

Number of kids: At least four

How the game is played: You’ll need several blindfolds and a few soft balls. The children partner up, and one kid in each pair is blindfolded. The partner who can see leads the blindfolded partner by the arm. The object of the game is to get the blindfolded partner to throw the ball at another blindfolded player, then to get the second blindfolded partner to pick it up and throw it at another blindfolded player. If a player is hit twice, the pair is out and heads to the sidelines to watch the game. Kids can help their blindfolded partners defend themselves by telling them when to duck or move in a particular direction.

 

Rainy-Day Games

Bottle Bowling

Game: Bottle Bowling

Number of kids: Two, four or six

How the game is played: For this game, you’ll need several empty two-liter soda bottles and a few balls. Line the bottles up in a row. Divide the group of kids in half, one group standing on either side of the bottles at a distance. Each team gets a chance to try and knock down the bottles as quickly as it can. The adult keeps track of the kids’ time score and names the winner.

What the game teaches: Motor skills, teamwork

Tag Games

Tag Games

Most of us probably remember playing tag as kids, chasing everyone amid shouts of “Tag, you’re it!” Tag is a great outdoor game, providing kids with good exercise and lots of excitement. You can use these variations for anywhere from four kids to larger groups.

 

Game: Blob Tag

How the game is played: When the tagger tags someone, they join hands to form a tagging pair. They now chase while holding hands, moving as a “blob.” When they tag someone else, that person joins hands and becomes part of the tagging blob. The members of the tagging blob have to work together to keep moving in the same direction to achieve their goal.

Game: Band-Aid Tag

How the game is played: In this variation, when a child is tagged, he or she places a hand on the spot that was tagged. The child must keep a hand on that spot for the rest of the game. If the child gets tagged a second time, a hand must be placed on the second spot. Now the child has used up all the Band-Aids. If tagged a third time, the child must go to the “hospital” (the sidelines) and do five jumping jacks to “get well” and rejoin the game.

What the game teaches: Motor skills, agility, teamwork