Home >> Games & Cards >> Kids Games

Games for Children 5-8

By the age of five, most children can understand games with simple rules and enjoy the challenge of competing against other players. Children aged 5 to 8 are often bounding with energy, so active games that allow them to channel their energy in a positive direction are perfect for this age group. As they are still young, they are also likely to become emotional if they are overtired, so at times, a quiet game is needed to calm things down and bring a quiet focus.

Dead Ant Tag
- Tag games are popular with games of all ages but, by the age of 5 to 8, children will enjoy tag games with set rules. Have the children play this game in the same way as regular tag -- one person is 'It' and chases the other players trying to tag them. If a player is tagged, he must lay down on his back with his arms and legs sticking up in the air like a dead ant. To come back to life, he must have each limb tagged by a separate player -- he can lower each limb as it is tagged. Once a player has been a dead ant three times, he becomes the new 'It.'
Red Light/Green Light
- Children of 5 to 8 years of age reap great excitement from sneaking-up games such as this one. One person is chosen as the 'stop light' and the other children must sneak up and try to reach her. Have the children line up about 15 feet away from the stop light. She stands with her back to the players and calls "Green light!" The players move toward her as fast as they dare, but if she calls "Red light!" and spins around, the players must freeze. Any player caught moving is out. Play starts again when the stop light turns around and calls "Green light!" again. The stop light wins if all the other players are caught out before any can reach her. If a player makes it to the stop light and touches her, she wins, and becomes the new stop light in the next round.
Burst the Balloon
- Blow up a bunch of balloons and let them loose all over the floor. At the word, "Go," have everyone race to burst as many balloons as they can by sitting on them. Have someone keeping score -- players can put their hand up as soon as they burst a balloon and shout "Pop!" When all the balloons have been popped the scores can be added up and a winner declared. By the age of 5 to 8 children are usually not scared of popping balloons and will enjoy the exciting and competitive elements of this game.
What's in the Sock?
- This is a great game to play to quieten things down. Gather a selection of colored socks and hide a small object in each one. Choose familiar items, such as a toy car, a piece of LEGO, a key, a coin, a wrapped candy, a clothespin and a rubber ball. Have the children feel each sock in turn and try to guess what is inside. Have them write their answers on a piece of paper. Children of 5 to 8 can usually do this by themselves or you can offer help if needed. Number each sock to make it easier. When everyone has had a turn, reveal the objects and add up scores to find who guessed the most correctly.

Kids Games