Home >> Games & Cards >> Games

Games to Play With Groups of Kids

Planning activities for large groups of kids can be difficult, but you can count on most kids enjoying organized games. Recreation that gets kids physically active and burns off energy can help make them less antsy when it's time for more sedentary activities. Having access a large field or gym and equipment makes it easier to stage active games, however, as long as you have ample space, there are many games the kids can play without even needing any equipment.

Tag Games
- Tag-based games are good for a large group of kids. A basic game of tag can also work well for smaller groups of kids who are roughly even in physical ability, but if one child in a small group is slower than the rest, he will end up being "it" too often. "Ships across the ocean" is a good alternative. To play, have all the kids line up on one side of the playing area and pick two taggers. The taggers shout "Ships across the ocean!" at which point the other kids run to the other side of the playing area, while the taggers try to catch them. Anyone who is tagged goes into the middle and assists the taggers in the next round.
  
  Freeze tag is another option. Select two or three fast kids to be taggers. The taggers run around the playing area and touch as many people as they can. When a player is tagged, he must stand still with his legs open in a "V" shape. If another player crawls through the legs of the tagged player, he is unfrozen and can rejoin the game. The game ends when all players are frozen.
Capture the Flag
- "Capture the flag" is a great choice when you have a large field and a large group of kids. Designate two similar objects, such as balls, as the flags. Place the "flags" on opposite sides of the playing field and create a center line, either by using cones as markers or by using a line that already exists on the field. Divide the kids into two teams and send each team to different sides of the line. Each team must run into the other team's territory to try to grab the flag and return it to its own side to win. While in the opposing team's area, kids can be tagged. Tagged players must go back to their own side and start over again.
Sports
- Simple organized sports such as basketball and touch football are a good choice for groups of kids; they will probably already have a good idea of how to play, and you can rotate players as often as necessary for everyone to get a turn. Kickball is one of the easiest games for kids to play, since an adult can pitch the ball. Complex games that require more skill, such as baseball and hockey, may not be suitable for younger groups--the need for a great deal of specialized equipment also limits this to groups with the necessary resources.

Games