Encourage children to get away from the T.V. and computer with active games. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Children do not need to jump on the elliptical trainer or treadmill to get this exercise; engaging, active games provide a good source of exercise for children.
The Blob
You can play the blob outdoors with a medium to large group of children. Find a playing area with boundary lines or designate trees and fences as the general boundary lines. Have one child begin the game as the blob. The blob functions as the "it" player in classic tag. When the game begins the blob must tag as many players as she can. When the blob tags a player, that player must join the blob by holding the hand of another member of the blob. As the blob grows, it will have more trouble moving efficiently but it will be able to cover a larger area, meaning other players will have trouble escaping it. Continue playing until only one player remains who has not been captured by the blob. That player gets to start the blob in the next round.
Color Guard
You can play color guard with colored beanbags or balls or with water balloons on a hot summer day. Fill a large container with many water balloons, balls or beanbags of different colors. There should be at least as many objects in the container as there are children playing the game. Select one player to serve as the color guard in the first round. That player must stand in front of the container to guard it with his eyes closed. The remaining players then take one balloon, beanbag or ball each from the container and step about 10 paces away from the guard. The guard then calls out a random color to summon all players who selected a ball of that color. The color guard opens his eyes after calling out a color. The players with objects of the chosen color must attempt to toss their objects back into the container before the color guard can tag them.
Annie, Annie Over
This outdoor game adds suspense to classic games like volleyball or catch. You can play with teams of two, three, four or more players. Create a barrier between the two teams by hanging a large sheet from a clothesline or over a badminton net. The sheet should prevent the two teams from seeing each other. Find a volleyball, large beach ball or other object to play with. Each time a team tosses the ball over the sheet, the team must call out "Annie, Annie Over!" to warn the opposing team. Teams can wait any amount of time before tossing the ball over the sheet to build suspense. The opposing team must try to catch the ball before it hits the ground. If the ball hits the ground before the team catches it, the team simply tosses the ball back over the sheet while calling "Annie, Annie Over." If the team catches the ball before it hits the ground, however, the team then sprints around the sheet and attempts to tag members of the opposing team. The opposing team can run to safety by sprinting to the opposite side of the sheet. If a team tags a member of the opposing team, that player must join the team that tagged him. Eventually, one player will be left alone to play against the rest of the players. That player must tag players to expand his team in order to remain alive. Continue playing until one team acquires all players.
Member Comments