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Games That Develop Movement

Engaging children in movement games at an early age can promote social interaction, reduce stress and improve focus. Many games can help children develop movement and build coordination. Prepare movement games for children ages 4 and up at home or in a classroom at school. All you need are a few game ideas to help children learn and practice their movement skills.

Easy Games
- Call out certain motions and have the children do the motions. Some suggestions from the Sask Sport Inc. website include "tick-tock," in which children spread their legs and stick their arms out to the side moving up and down like the hands of a clock, and "eggbeater," which means both hands straight up in the air together with arms twisting back and forth in both directions. Show the children all the movements and start calling out different ones. Any child who does the wrong movement is out of the game. The last child standing wins the game. Speed up the rate at which you call out the movements to make the game more difficult.
Circle Games
- Have all the children stand in a circle and rub their tummies. Follow by asking them to pat their heads. Any child who cannot do both at the same time must sit down and is out of the game. Keep adding other movements like tapping one foot on the ground and spinning in a circle. If a child messes up, he is out of the game and must sit down. The last player remaining in the game wins. Sing the song ̶0;Head, shoulders, knees and toes̶1; with the children. Have them do the movements with the songs. Keep singing the song faster and faster. Any child who does the movements incorrectly is out of the game. The last player standing wins.
Obstacle Courses
- Make obstacle courses for children to build movement skills. Use foam noodles for children to limbo under, ropes on the ground to walk on as if on tightrope, and jump ropes to jump. Time each child running through the course and the child with the fastest time wins the race. Alternatively, set up two identical courses and have the children race at the same time. Divide the children into two teams and the team who can run the course the fastest wins the game.
Other Games
- A variety of party games allows children to learn and exercise different movements. Different games, such as simon says and mother may I, teach different movements. A game of pin the tail on the donkey teaches children how to move and navigate through darkness or lowlight conditions. Advanced games for older children to improve their motor skills include "Operation," "Pick Up Stix" and "Perfection." These games are available online and at many toy stores.

Kids Games