Physical education teaches children the importance of incorporating physical activity and exercise into their day. According to Georgia State University's Department of Kinesiology and Health, regular physical activity improves quality of life and reduces the risk of serious diseases, including stroke, some cancers, high blood pressure and diabetes. Give children a good start towards optimal health by introducing them to fun gym games that encourage participation regardless of athletic ability.
Games for Very Young Children
Games for very young kids should be fast-paced and have easy-to-follow rules to hold their interest. Some popular gym games for preschool-aged children include Duck Duck Goose, Simon Says and Farmer in the Dell. Running games are also generally a hit for the younger set. Have several children at a time race from one side of the gym to the other. Another option is to give each child a sock or strip of fabric to place in their pocket, allowing most of it to hang out. Let the kids chase each other and grab each others' fabric. Put on some music and let the kids dance, or teach them how to do the Hokey Pokey.
Ball Games
Elementary- and middle-school students often enjoy ball games. At this age, children are usually able to quickly learn and follow the rules that accompany games.Kickball, soccer, basketball and softball are all good games to play with these age groups. If you have chalk or masking tape, make several four-square courts in the gym or on the blacktop. Use large foam or soft rubber balls to play dodge ball. Play HORSE by having kids shoot a basketball into a hoop from various areas of the gym; once a child succeeds in landing a basket from the "H" section, he moves along to the "O" section, then to the "R," "S," and "E." The first child to spell out "HORSE" wins. To improve dribbling skills, have kids dribble from one side of the gym to the other in a relay race.
Tag Games
Tag is a game that keeps everyone running at the same time, and with so many variations, can be novel and new every time the children play. Old favorites include Freeze Tag and TV tag. Ameoba Tag, sometimes called "blob tag," encourages teamwork; as each child is tagged by "It," he links arms with the other children already tagged, making "It" a large group of attached children. In Reverse Tag, all of the children chase one child, instead of one child chasing the group. In Dragon Tag, all of the children line up, holding the person in front of them by the shoulders. The "head" of the dragon, or the first person in line, tries to catch the "tail," or the last person in line. Once accomplished, the head becomes the new tail, and the second child in line becomes the new head. Allow kids to come up with their own ideas and make up tag games of their own.
