Childhood memories are filled with games. Kids make up games as they go or they play games that have spanned generations. Children play games alone, with partners or in groups. They compete outside or inside whatever the season may be or the weather may bring. Games challenge children’s imagination, competitive spirit and athletic abilities.
Outdoor Games
Whether a child has access to a large field or a sidewalk, there are common games she and her friends may play. Hopscotch is an outdoor game in which children draw a board with number-filled squares, throw a rock or beanbag on each number and hop to that square. According to Games Kids Play, a player is out if her marker doesn’t land on the correct square, if she falls when picking up the marker or if she lands on a square with both feet.
Another common outdoor game is baseball. Children hit a ball with a bat and attempt to run around four bases and return to home plate before being thrown out by an outfielder on the opposing team.
Kickball is a similar common outdoor game in which children kick a larger ball and run around four bases trying to reach home base before being thrown out by an opposing team member.
Indoor Games
Children also entertain themselves with common indoor games. Hide and seek is a common game in which children hide while a “seeker” counts and then searches for the “hiders.”
A common memory game involves a fictitious trip to grandma’s house. Children tell what they are going to take with them on their trip to grandma’s house. The first child says an item that starts with the letter A. The second child repeats what the first child is taking and then adds an item that begins with the letter B. Children continue through the alphabet.
Musical chairs is a common children’s game. One person starts and stops music as children dance around a circle of chairs. There is one fewer chair than there are children. When the music stops each child must sit in a chair. The child who doesn’t get to a chair is out. The game continues until there are two children and one chair. The child who claims the last chair when the song stops wins.
Board Games
Board games can be played indoors or outdoors. Kids Fun and Games recognizes Scrabble as “the world’s most popular game.” To play Scrabble, children arrange tiles with letters written on them to form words. Each letter has a point value. The player who scores the most points wins.
Checkers is another common board game. One player maneuvers black checkers and the other player maneuvers red checkers across a board. Children remove their opponent’s checkers by landing next to a checker and “jumping” it. According to Learn Play Win the child who captures all of his opponent’s checkers or completely blocks his opponent is the winner.
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