Physical games for children

Physical activity is good for our health. That is why it is important to use physical games in children’s development as soon as possible. Youngsters do not need expensive equipment or special clothing – a bit of creativity and free space will suffice. In this article, you will learn about physical games and activities for children at school age. If you are looking for games and activities for the youngest, read our entry on physical games for preschoolers. Remember! Games described in this article are only our choice – perhaps you will find something else that will suit your needs. That is why do not hesitate and check our Game Book in which we have collected over 1300 games and activities for all possible occasions and find a game that meets your requirements. -> Go to the Game Book <- Shortcut – go to the game you are interested in Physical games and activities at school:

Outdoor physical games and activities

Physical games and activities at kindergarten

What are the advantages of physical games for children? We live in times where even the youngest children spend many hours in front of a TV or computer screen or with a smart phone in their hand. On the other hand, children freely playing outside are a rare view, while complicated physical games are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Physical activity is one of the natural needs of every human being. It also brings many advantages e.g., it increases the child’s stamina and agility. It has a positive influence on cognitive functions – concentration, ability to memorize things. That is why, if you want your child to develop correctly, pay attention to their physical activity. Physical games for children have a great advantage over activities in which children just freely run around, because they stimulate specific functions, such as motor coordination, speed, focus or ability to cooperate in a team. What is more, they teach how to follow rules and are more interesting than a regular walk or jog. That is why they keep children’s attention for a longer period. Physical games are also a wonderful method for integration – see our entry on integration games and activities for children Physical games and activities for 1st to 3rd grade children Students at school age spend more time sitting in classes than the youngest children. However, physical activity still plays a significant role in their lives. That is why they should be provided with a daily dose of exercises. Moreover, children should be presented with a variety of games and activities – do not limit yourself to one or two games because the students will quickly find them boring. This is where our book of games and activities comes in handy. There, you will find several hundred of different options. What should you pay attention to when choosing physical games for children at school age? When choosing physical games for children at school age, pay attention to these 3 aspects:

Age of the group – 1st graders will have different needs and skills than older children. At the beginning of education, it is recommended to focus on integration physical games for children because they will allow the group to get to know each other.
Size of the group – when there is more participants, team physical games will be a better choice.
Available space – if you only have a small room at your disposal, choose physical games that do not need a lot of free space.

When looking for games, pay attention to the skills they develop. Some games require cooperation, other are based on competition. What is more, physical games can develop various abilities, such as speed, dexterity, patience, concentration. You should plan the activity properly to stimulate various areas of children’s development and do not expose them to excessive effort, e.g. by proposing several concentration-based games in a row. Games and activities can also be selected according to the upcoming events. That is why you may choose different children games for the carnival and different games for Valentine’s Day. The list of the most interesting physical games to be played at school:

Money Grabbers

Preparation

Ask players to stand on one side of the room, facing the wall.
Place coins on the floor of the gym. The number of coins should be half the number of the participants.

Game rules

On signal, players run to search for coins.
When someone finds a coin, he or she puts their foot on it.
When all coins are found, players who did not find a coin must do an exercise given by the game leader (e.g. 10 sit-ups, pushups, jumping jack).
Next, the game leader collects the coins and players return to their starting spot. The teacher removes one coin and distributes the rest on the floor. Continue the game until there is only one coin left.

Goal

To find coins.

Read the full description and check the possible modifications: Money Grabbers

Soft basketball

Preparation

Divide children into two teams.
Give foam noodles to 30% of the players (in each team).
Give basketballs to the remaining players.

Game rules

Players with the balls must make successful throws at the opponent’s basket as many times as possible. Each successful throw is worth a point.
Players can move around the whole court.
Players with foam noodles can move only within their half of the court. Their goal is to touch the opponents’ ball with the foam noodle.
If someone’s ball is touched with the foam noodle, the player must return to their half of the court and start again.
The game consists of 4 rounds: 1 – throws from under the basket, 2 – jumps from the air, 3 – throws for 3 points, 4 – people with foam noodles can move around the whole court and when a player is touched with the foam noodle – he or she must do an exercise given by the game leader.
Replace people with foam noodles after each round.

Goal

To score as many points as possible.

Read the full description and check the possible modifications: Soft basketball

Sea battle

Preparation

Place one mattress in the middle of the room (pirate ship) and 4 mattresses in the room’s corners (sailor ships).
Choose 3 people who will be “its” (pirates) and give each a foam noodle.
Other players (sailors) scatter around the whole room.

Game rules

On signal, pirates run after sailors and try to “tag” them with the foam noodles.
The tagged sailor must get on-board of the pirate ship.
In order to free a sailor from the pirate ship, another sailor must take them out of there i.e., grab their hand and pull off the ship, without being caught themselves.
Sailors are safe on their ships but they can stay there for maximum 3 seconds.
The game ends when all sailors are caught or the set time limit expires.

Goal

To catch all the sailors.

Read the full description and check the possible modifications: Sea battle

Crazy maths

Preparation

Prepare cones with numbers stuck on them (e.g. from 1 to 6). Place them in a row in the middle of the room.
Divide children into two teams.
Mark two start lines on the opposite sides of the room.
Ask the teams to stand in rows at the marked lines.
Give a relay baton to the first person from each team.

Game rules

The game leader says a mathematical puzzle (e.g. 3+2).
Persons with the baton must run as quickly as possible to the cone with the number that stands for the solution of the puzzle given by the teacher and then run back to their place.
The team whose player reaches the correct cone and gets back to their place first wins.
The losing team must get a penalty e.g., do 5 jumping jacks.
Then, the baton is given to the next person in the row and the game goes on.

Goal

To run to the correct cone.

Read the full description and check the possible modifications: Crazy maths

The big race

Preparation

Use 6 cones to arrange a circle-shaped race track.
Divide players into 6 teams and ask each team to stand next to one of the cones.

Game rules

One person from the team enters the race track and stands next to their cone.
On signal, all participants of the race start running. They must run a whole lap and do a “high five” with the next person waiting near the cone. Then, the next person can start their lap.
The relay goes on for a specific time or number of laps.

Goal

To run around the track as quickly as possible.

Read the full description of the game and check the possible modifications: The big race

One mind

Preparation

Within the game area, place a specific number of sacks in 4 various colors (the same number of sacks for each color) and cover them with frisbees/cones. It is important that the children must not see where specific colors are hidden.
Divide children into 4 groups and assign each group with one of the 4 colors of sacks.
Designate the start line and ask the teams to stand behind it in rows.

Game rules

On signal, the first person from the row of each team runs towards a selected frisbee and looks what is under it. If he/she finds a sack of the color of their team, he/she takes it and goes back to their team. If the sack under the frisbee is of a different color, the player goes back to their team empty-handed.
When the first person gets back to their team and stands at the end of the row, the next player runs towards the next sack, and so on.
The team that manages to collect all the sacks of their color wins.

Goal

To collect sacks of specific color.

Read the full description of the game and check the possible modifications: One mind The most interesting physical games to be played outdoors

Cat and Birds

Preparation

Designate the area for the game.
Children (birds) stand in a circle and hold hands.
The game leader chooses one person to stand in the middle of the circle (and be the “old gray cat”).

Game rules

The “birds” start walking around the “cat” saying: “We’re just weak birds high up the tree, you’re an old gray cat that won’t catch us!”
One they finish saying it, birds let go their hands and start running away from the cat that tries to catch them.
If a bird is caught by the cat, he/she becomes the new cat in the next round. If the cat fails to catch a bird, the game leader chooses the new cat on their own.
It is recommended to set a time limit of e.g. 30 seconds for the cat to catch a bird.

Goal

To catch a bird/run from the cat.

Read the full description of the game and check the possible modifications: Cat and birds

Dangerous beach

Preparation

Designate 2 lines on both sides of the room.
Choose several people who will be the sharks and ask them to stand in the middle of the game area. Other players will be the swimmers.

Game rules

When sharks shout “SHARK ATTACK”, the swimmers start running to the other side of the room but must avoid being caught by a shark. Swimmers will be safe only behind the marked lines.
Sharks, on the other hand, must catch as many swimmers as possible.
When a swimmer is caught by a shark, he/she must sit down on the ground and start waving their hands to get help.
It will be possible to rescue the swimmer in the next round. To do it, another swimmer must “swim” near the caught swimmer and do a “high five”; the caught player is rescued and can join the game in the next round.

Goal

To get to the other side of the room/catch swimmers.

Read the full description of the game and check the possible modifications: Dangerous beach

Black Feet

Preparation

Choose one person who will be the great chief.
All other participants will be young Indians.

Game rules

The great chief stands somewhere near in a visible spot.
Young Indians must approach the great chief unnoticed.
The chief claps their hands 1 time and turns their back to the participants who then start sneaking towards the chief.
The chief claps 2 times, turns around and starts looking for Indians.
If he or she sees someone, they are eliminated from the game.
Then, the chief claps their hands one time and turns around again.
The Indians start sneaking, the chief claps twice, and so on.
The game goes on until somebody touches the chief.

Goal

To approach the chief unnoticed.

Read the full description of the game and check the possible modifications: Black Feet

Indian hares and hounds

Preparation

Specify the area of the game, preferably one side along the road.
Divide participants into two groups.

Game rules

One group hides in the forest within the established boundaries.
After a while, the second group starts looking for them.
The searching group has 5 minutes to find as many members of the opposite team as possible.
Then, the groups swap roles.
The group with the better score wins.
The game can be repeated any number of times.

Goal

To find as many members of the opposite group as possible.

Read the full description of the game and check the possible modifications: Indian hares and hounds

City Gates

Preparation

Divide participants into teams.
Teams stand in rows facing each other.
Players in teams hold hands.

Game rules

One member of the team starts to force themselves to the other side, trying to pass between two players of the opposite team.
If he/she manages to do it, players that he/she passed between must join his/her team.
If he/she fails, he/she becomes a member of the opposite team.
The teams take turns until there is only one person left in one of the teams.

Goal

To break the “wall”.

Read the full description of the game and check the possible modifications: City Gates

A master to a master

Preparation

Ask the participants to sit down in a circle and choose the master who will determine the pace and starts the game.

Game rules

All participants do the following set of moves in the same rhythm (on four): pat on the knees with palms, clap hands, snap the fingers, pause
When patting on their knees with palms, the Master is to say their name; when clapping their hands, he or she says “to”; when snapping the fingers, they say the name of the person they pass the game to.
The new person repeats the set of moves: first, they say their name (1), then say (2) “to”, and then say the name of the person that they choose to be next (3).
A person who makes a mistake is out of the game. There is also another variant of this game where the goal is to replace the master, i.e. participants take turns clockwise; if the master makes a mistake, the new master will be the person sitting to their left.
Everyone who makes a mistake goes to the end of the line and sits on the master’s right side – the whole line slowly moves forward.
One may call their own name, either to just catch a breath or baffle other participants.
It is important that the names must not repeat. If that is the case, the participants should determine how individual participants will be referred to.

Goal

To repeat the whole sequence as many times as possible and without mistakes.

Read the full description of the game and check the possible modifications: A master to a master The most interesting physical games and activities to be played at kindergarten Physical activity is very important. That is why physical games should be played at home, but also at the kindergarten. During team-based games, children integrate, develop creativity, become relaxed and gain many useful skills. You will find many interesting physical games for both small and large groups of participants. Such activities should take place at least once every day. Feel free to use our list of group games and choose the most interesting physical games for children.

What physical games for the youngest? The choice of the game depends on the amount of free space and the size of the group. In order to choose the proper game, we divided our list into several categories. First, we will describe games and activities that can be played in small rooms (that are probably at your disposal at the kindergarten). Another category is for outdoor games – we assume that your kindergarten has a backyard or a place where you organize games during warmer seasons. Of course, we encourage you to find games on your own. All you need to do is to go to our Game Book and choose instructions you are interested in Games and activities to be played in a small room at kindergarten All aboard!

Preparation

Divide players into groups of 6 or 8 people.
Ask each group to use a skipping rope to create a circle on the ground (it will be their lifeboat).

Game rules

Each team stands inside their lifeboat.
In the next round, players make their circle smaller by one foot (about 30cm).
Players again enter their lifeboat. All players must fit into the circle. They must not touch the edges (of the skipping rope).
Each round, players keep making their lifeboat smaller.
The team that does not manage to fit into their lifeboat loses.

Goal

To fit into the boat.

See the full description + modifications: All aboard! No-hands-cup challenge

Preparation

Divide participants into teams.
Prepare a small rubber band for each team. Tie as many strings to the rubber band as there are players in the team.
Prepare 10 cups per team.

Game rules

Each person from the group holds onto one string tied to the band. As a group, they must use the band to raise the cups and stack them to form a pyramid.
When a cup falls down, it can be picked up only with the rubber band with strings.
The game lasts until the task is fully completed, e.g. a pyramid of 10 cups is built.

Goal

To build a pyramid.

See the full description + modifications: No-hands-cup challenge A bonded line

Preparation

Divide players into teams of 5-6 people and bind them together with tape.

Game rules

The goal of the game is to go from point A to point B.
Players get 5 minutes to come up with a strategy.
On signal, players start running towards the finish with their time measured.
When every team has been told their time, they can come up with a new strategy.
After two attempts of each team, choose the winner with the best time.

Goal

To move as fast as possible

See the full description + modifications: A bonded line Hopscotch Hopscotch is one of the most popular games for the youngest children. Nowadays, all you need to do is to buy a mat dedicated for this game or draw the needed fields and assign them with numbers from one to five. The rules of this physical game are very simple – the child tosses e.g., a gym sack and must jump on the drawn “fields” until he or she reaches the tossed object. The person who does not fall or confuse the order scores a point. Find the game here:

At kindergarten, we recommend playing the following game: “Figures, rows, patterns”. This physical game is about recreating patterns that must be memorized. First, arrange any pattern and then the child has several minutes to memorize the image and then he or she must turn around. Meanwhile, another participant shuffles the elements at random. Once they finished, the first player turns around again and tries to recreate the pattern. The game is good for children at ages from 4 to 7. Other similar games:

Say 5 – The selected person has several seconds to say names of 5 things/5 words connected with a previously selected category e.g. nature. Find the game here:
What’s missing? – Create an exposition consisting of various items. The selected participant tries to memorize the exposition and then turns around while the group chooses one item and takes it away. When everything is ready, the selected player turns around again and tries to guess which of the items is missing. Find the game here:

An interesting proposition for preschoolers is a group-based game titles “4 seasons”. The goal of the game is to get the highest score. The game is for 6 to 60 people. First, divide the group into teams and choose a leader who will keep the score. Teams must stand according to the order of the seasons of the year. In this game, the rules are very simple as well: – the leader starts the game by saying e.g., “I am summer and I’m leaving”, – players who are “summer” stand up and say “I am fall and I’m coming”, – if all the people do this task correctly, they score a point, – the leader can say the names of seasons at random as well as change the word “coming” to “leaving”. – You can add a different action that players must perform apart from standing up find the game here:

It must be mentioned that recently there have been many games created for preschoolers, but one should try to move back in time and think of “their” physical games. Let the new generation learn about the traditional games. Traditional games and activities for children Skipping rope should definitely be included on the list of traditional games. You can use this item to create various “competitions”: whoever skips more times, whoever will keep skipping for the longest time. Another example of a great game of this type was “Red Light, Green Light” (find the game here). In this game, children would stand next to each other at the end of a predetermined line. On the other side, there would be a person playing as “it”. When “it” covered their eyes, the group would move towards them. When “it” said “red light”, he or she would open their eyes and check whether everybody is standing still. If someone failed to do so, he or she would have to replace “it” or get a minus point or eliminated from the game. Other games that are worth mentioning are: colors, balloon, tag, hide and seek, games with a beach ball, dodge ball. One would probably manage to think of many other games from the past that should be shown to the kids, but it is hard to remember them all. You will find the list and descriptions of traditional games and activities here:

Hide and seek – find the game here
Standard tag – find the game here
Bottle caps game – find the game here

Advantages of physical games at kindergarten Coming back to what me mentioned at the beginning… when children play together, they build strong friendships, learn various behaviors from each other, feel no restraints and are not overburdened with duties. Childhood games play a significant role in the development of one’s personality. Team games “bring” joy. Young people use them to relieve stress. Of course, education is important but it can also have many various forms. During physical games, one may eventually learn maths or foreign languages. Edutainment is effective and you can find many interesting pieces of information covering this topic. Where can you find interesting team games for children? You will find more interesting games in our browser www.Gamionary.com. Just enter the instructions that you are interested in and you will find many various games and activities. Every game has been described in detail.