The weather is great, so let’s go outside
and PLAY! Here are three simple
games that my kids loved. They don’t
require any special skills or equipment and everyone can have fun.
Circle
Soccer
Materials: playground ball
Directions: Stand in a circle and hold hands. Place the ball inside the circle. Children try to kick the ball and keep
it inside the circle. If the ball
goes out of the circle between two people, then both people are out of the game. If a player kicks the ball too high and
it goes over someone’s head, then the player who kicked the ball is out of the
game. The game continues until
there are just one or two players left.
Jump
the Creek
Materials: 2 jump ropes
Directions: Place the two ropes on the ground a few
inches apart to make a “creek.” Have
the children line up single file and try to jump over the creek one at a time
without stepping on a rope. After
every child has jumped, move the ropes a little farther apart to make the creek
wider. Continue moving the ropes
farther apart and letting the children jump over them. When a player can no longer jump over
the rope, he must stand to the side of the game and be a cheerleader. The object of the game is to see how
far the children can jump.
*You
can play a similar game by drawing lines in the sand or dirt.
Build
the Castle
Materials: long jump rope
Directions: Choose two people to hold the rope. The other players form a straight line
and take turns jumping over the rope.
The rope begins on the ground, but after everyone has had a turn, it is
raised a few inches. If a child’s
foot touches the rope, she is out of the game. Continue raising the rope until there is just one child left
who can jump the height.
*A
similar game called “school” can be played. When the rope is on the ground it is called “kindergarten.” Each time the rope is raised, it is
called “first grade,” “second grade,” and so on.