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School-Age Children Games

Whether after school in the back yard, in the rumpus room on weekends or during recess on the playground, organized games keep school-age children busy. Not only do games keep children entertained, they also offer an opportunity for kids to get much-needed exercise. If you're a parent or a teacher, having a list of games for school-age children can come in handy.

Wall Ball
- Wall ball (also known as suicide) requires nothing more than a tennis ball or similarly bouncy ball and a wall to play. The game may be played with any number of players greater than two. A player begins by throwing the ball at the wall. After the ball bounces, a player must catch the ball before it touches the ground. If this does not happen the player who threw the ball must run and touch the wall before another player throws the ball at the wall. Players who touch the ball but fail to catch it must also touch the wall before a player throws the ball at it. If players fail to do this, they receive a strike. Three strikes and a player is out.
Kickball
- Kickball is a classic children's game that can be played in a gymnasium or out in a field. Kickball is played in a manner similar to baseball, except players kick a bouncy ball instead of hitting a ball with a bat. The game also has other minor rule variations from baseball. Balls may be thrown at players running to a base rather than tagging them. However, if the ball misses a running player the player may only advance one extra base. A team forfeits the game if one of their players kicks the ball onto a roof or other inaccessible area.
Tag and Variations
- Everyone has played the classic game of tag where one player is "It" and must touch another player who then becomes "It." However, tag has a number of variations beyond the basic game. In reverse tag "It" runs away from all the other players who try and tag her. Freeze tag has rules where players tagged by "It" can't move until they are tagged by a free player. The round ends when "It" has frozen all players. In TV tag players may avoid becoming "It" by sitting down and shouting the name of a television character.
Dodgeball
- Dodgeball has a variety of variations. In one popular version, players separate into two teams occupying their own half of a field of play. Place three balls on the center line and players run for the balls before throwing them at the opposing team. If a player catches a ball thrown by an opposing player, the player that threw the ball is out. Head shots do not count, and players who throw to the head may be ruled out if they connect with a head shot.

Kids Games