A well known and easy to play group game suitable for all ages.
How Many Players: 3 or more
Aim of the Game: For the group to dodge, run, jump and avoid being touched by the ball/beanbag.
How to Play: Decide who is On first and give them a soft ball or beanbag.
All players run around the designated area (not too large otherwise it becomes untenable) the person who is On chases the group members and aims and throws the soft ball/beanbag at the legs of other players. If the ball makes contact with a players legs they are now On.
Equipment Needed: Softball or beanbag
Where to Play: In a good sized space clear of any obstacles eg park, hall. Decide on a boundary for the game before starting.
Benefits of this game: All “taggng” games are high intensity Aerobic Exercise so even a few minutes of a game like this will raise the heart rate, begin working the lungs and start burning calories. Good for all round health, spatial awareness and cardio vascualar health. Additional benefits are deveopment of hand eye co-ordination when On, and development of gross motor skills, flexibility and strength when dodging.
Play safe: Clear space free of obstacles, laces done up and good running footwear. Encourage players to be aware of everything around them, including each other! Only aim the ball/bean at players legs. Thow the ball/bean to make a gentle impact, it’s not bowling!
Games you used to play
1.
Stuck in the Mud
2.
Tag/Tig or It
3.
Hide and Seek
4.
Rounders
5.
Dodge Ball
6. Marbles (or Go-Go’s)
7. Skipping Games
8. Hop Scotch
9. Red Light Green Light
10. Capture The Flag
Do you remember your childhood days of tag, french skipping and acky 1,2,3 played at the top of the street with most of the neighbouring children? Now we are told that less than 50% of our under 12s ever play out at all [source: Living Streets]
Increase in traffic and built up areas, a fear of strangers and the ease, availability & attraction of TV, PC and Games Consoles have all contributed to the disappearance of much outdoor play for children. How sad that grazed elbows and gravely knees have been replaced with repetative strain injury and cabin fever.
Regular outdoor play keeps children fit and healthy by providing sustained activity which burns calories, strengthens heart and lungs and all round motor skills. Like all activity it increases endorphin levels generating a feeling of happiness and reducing childhood stress. Additionally group play develops social skills, imagination, confidence, concentration, rule following and negotiation – all important life skills that help children at home and in the classroom and ultimately as healthy, capable adults.
What games did you play outside as a child? Do you still remember the rules and how to play? Do you let your kids out to play? Do they have somewhere safe to play? Have your say!
Play yourself Fit
Keping fit doesn’t have to involve gyms, classes or extra expense. Active play is the healthiest and most natural way of keeping fit, both for children and for parents! Children’s imagination is designed to keep them generating new ideas, activities and games and each one of these games will encompass a range of natural movements in all directions, stimulate their cardio-vascular system, develop motor skills, co-ordination and balance and provide them with an all round work out all whilst having fun. It is this kind of activity that keeps weight down and heart rates up! In the winter months it generates warmth and lifts mood so all year play is vitally important for children and families.
There are many games that can be played indoors, in the backyard or out the front with neighbouring chldren and a supervising eye nearby.
Over the coming months we wll regualrly add new games and fitness ideas for family members so keep checking back or subscribe and let us know what brilliant ideas you and your children generate!
A well known and easy to play group game suitable for all ages (including parents!)
How Many Players: At least 2
Aim of the Game: For one person to be the “seeker” and all other players to hide and wait to be found.
How to Play Decide who is the first seeker and how long they will give the other players to hide eg a count of 20. The seeker closes their eyes (no cheating!) and counts as agreed whilst all other players find somewhere within a designated area to hide. Once the seeker ocmpletes they’re count they shout they are coming, ready or not and begins to seek out the other players. Once found that player can either join the hunt for the others. The last player found becomes the seeker for the next game.
Equipment Needed: None
Where to Play: In a good sized space with hidey holes eg house.
Benefits of this game: This game develops turn taking, following rules and stimulates the imagination. It also develops the skill of keeping still and quiet!
Play Safe Ensure all children are being careful with their chosen hiding places for example if playing indoors they must stay indoors. Avoid hiding in places where their are obvious dangers such as in the kitchen or behind locking doors. Make sure all players have been found before finishing a game. It is helpful to decide a term that lets all players still hiding that the game is over (only to be used when the game is truly over) such as “Game Over”
A well known and easy to play group skill game suitable for 4 plus
How Many Players: enough for two teams at least 6 per team
Aim of the Game: To run as many “rounds” as possible per team before all players are out.
How to Play: Split the group into two teams and decide which team bats first and which team will field. Batting team decide the order of who is to play whilst the fielding team choose bowler, backstop, close fielders to cover the four posts and long fielders to cover the rest of the field/play zone. Decide when the teams will swap over. For example after all the players are out or after 5 minutes of play. Someone needs ot keep score of rounders and aware of time.
One batter goes first. The bowler must throw a ball between knee and shoulder height toward the bat. The batter recieves up to 3 good balls (no balls dont count) and attempts to hit the ball. Once the ball is hit, the batter drops their bat and runs for the first corner/post. The batter can stop at any of the 4 posts if the ball is coming back into play. Once the batter has completed a circuit around all 4 posts the team have scored one rounder. If one of the fielders touches a post that the batter still has to run to whilst the batter is running s/he is out. If the batter is at a post then s/he is safe. Once the first batter has stopped running and the bowler has the ball again, the next player steps up to the batting mark, picks up the bat and has their turn. The second batter can not out run the batter already playing, they must wait until the next post is clear before they can move on. if they do outrun their team mate then their team mate is out. Continue play like this until it is time to swap as decided earlier.
Equipment Needed: A rounders or tennis ball. A rounder bat or cricket bat. Posts or jumpers to mark the 4 corners and a mark/mat or stick to indicate where the bowler and batter play from.
Where to Play: In a good sized space clear of any obstacles eg park, field Decide on a boundary for the game before starting.
Benefits of this game: All team games help children develop turn taking, sharing and rule following as well as encouraging other team members. Additionally this game combines slow and fast movements plus intervals of rest as well as motor skills involved with acurate throwing and batting.
Play safe: Give the batter plenty of room clear of other players. Encourage bowler and fielders to aim the ball at the bat or hands (not faces) and all players to be aware of the moving targets – balls and people. Spatial awareness and knowledge of the rules will increase safety of the game.
Develop skills Younger children may find the skills of ball thoriwng, catching and batting a challenge to begin with. Practice before the game passing the ball from shorter lengths, increasing the distance as their skill develops. Make it fun by creating targets such as hoops or chalk marks on walls/pavement to aim at. Encourage children to use their eyes to follow the ball and bring the ball fromhands towards chest. hen throwing “follow” the ball with the arm as this will create a more acurate throw. Practice passing the ball underarm and overam.
What’s been said