Active Children's Games

Capture the Flag

• Capture the flag is one of the all-time children's classics and a perfect outdoor game for open spaces. There are many different versions, so it is important that the children agree on the rules before the game starts. Designate a border such as a stream or other natural feature and divide the kids into two teams. Give each team a "flag" (either an actual flag, or some other object that is easy to see and carry) and have each team place its flag within a certain distance of the starting line (50 feet is usually good, unless you have a lot of space.) After three minutes, blow a whistle to start the game.

  Each team has to try to capture the other team's flag and carry it back. The flag's defenders are allowed to tag anyone coming onto their side. They can watch the flag, but can't get closer to it than a certain distance (20 feet and 50 feet are common). If a flag attacker is tagged offsides, he is taken to jail where he can only be rescued if one of his friends manages to tag his hand without first being tagged. In that case, they both are allowed to return to their side. Gameplay continues either for a set period of time or until one team captures the other's flag.

Foursquare

• Many active kids' games require a lot of space to play, but not all. Foursquare is a great active children's game that requires very little space. Draw a square out of chalk and divide it into four smaller squares. The squares are given names designating rank, such as ace, king, queen and jack. The person in the ace square bounces a kickball in his square and then hits it into one of the other squares. The person in the receiving square has to let the kickball bounce and then hit it into another square.

  If the ball hits someone before it bounces, if it bounces twice before he can hit it or if he double hits or catches it, he is out. If the person striking the ball lands it outside of the court, he is also out. If the king, queen or jack gets out, everyone behind him advances a square. For example, if the ace hits the ball into the jack's square, who then hits it back, striking the ace's foot, the ace is out. The king becomes the new ace, the queen becomes the king and the jack becomes the queen. The ace either starts over as jack or, if someone else is waiting, that person gets to be jack. Although this active game is best played with 4-6 players, one foursquare court can easily accommodate 8 or more players; the game moves quickly and the players who are out do not usually have to wait for very long. If they have another kickball, extra players may prefer to draw a second court and begin their own game instead of waiting.

What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?

• What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? is a kids' game that combines imagination with suspense and a bit of theater. The children all stand at a starting line, and Mr. Fox stands some distance away with his back turned. The children ask him, "What time is it Mr. Fox?" Mr. Fox replies by calling out an hour, such as "1 o'clock." The players take a number of steps towards Mr. Fox corresponding to the hour called (7 steps for "7 o'clock," for example.) When Mr. Fox calls "Midnight!" he turns around and chases the players. They have to get back to their starting line before he can catch them. The players who were tagged are out of the game, and a new round begins. The game continues until Mr. Fox has tagged everyone but one player, who becomes the new Mr. Fox.