Circle Games for Preteens

Classic Games

• Bring childhood memories back to the preteens with some classic circle games. Play a game of "Hot Potato," using a basket full of candy and snacks instead of a potato. Have the preteens pass the basket around the circle. When the music stops, the player holding the basket is out of the game. The last player remaining in the game wins the basket of goodies. For another classic game, the preteens can play a game of "Musical Chairs."

Candy Games

• Cut several types of candy bars into 1/2-inch pieces and blindfold each preteen. Hand each player a piece of the same candy to eat. The players will eat the candy and write down what kind they think it is on a small piece of paper. They can remove the blindfold to write down their answer. Each time, give the players a new piece of candy and have them write down their guess. The player who guesses the most correctly wins the game. Another idea is to give each preteen 10 chocolate candies. One at a time, the players must stand up and say something they have never done, such as "went to the beach" or "been in an airplane." If any player has done that, she must give the speaker a piece of candy. Each player must go two times and the player with the most candies at the end of the game wins.

Funny Games

• Select one player and have him stand in the middle of the circle. Blindfold the player in the middle and spin him around three times. Tell him to point to someone in the circle. The player he points at must say "Quack, Quack" like a duck and can disguise his voice, if possible. The player in the middle has three guesses to guess who the player is that "quacked." If he guesses correctly, that player goes to the middle next. If not, the player in the middle stays in the middle. For a variation, have the preteens select any animal noise they want when the player in the middle points at them.

Balloon Games

• Divide the players into two circles and give each team four inflated balloons to hit around the circle. They must keep the balloons off the ground. Keep adding a balloon to each circle every 30 seconds. If any of the balloons hit the ground, that team loses. For a variation, have all the players stand in one circle and give them five balloons to start with. Add a balloon every 15 seconds and see how many they can keep in the air before a balloon hits the ground. Have the preteens try to beat their highest score each time they play.