Hobbies And Interests
Red Light, Green Light
One player is chosen as the "stop light." He stands with his back to the other children who line up facing him about 20 feet away. When he calls "Green light!" they move slowly towards him. When he calls "Red light!" he turns to face them. The players must freeze -- any caught moving are out. The aim of the game is to reach the stop light and touch him without being caught out. Any player to succeed wins and becomes the new stop light.
Elimination Dodgeball
There are many variations on the popular kid's game of dodgeball. In Elimination Dodgeball each player plays for himself -- there are no teams. It is best played in a large space, with plenty of room to run around. Use a soft rubber ball or tennis ball that will not hurt another player if hit. One player is given the ball to start. She must throw it at any player she chooses and try to hit them below the head. If the target catches the ball the thrower is out. If the thrower hits her target below the head, the target is out. If the ball bounces before it hits the target it does not count. When only two players are left the person holding the ball decides whether to throw or try to catch it. The last round is played standing still to determine the winner.
Tunnel Tag
Tag is an all-time favorite among kids this age. It provides plenty of fun and excitement as well as great exercise, and is ideal for groups of four or more kids. In this variation, if a child is tagged, she must freeze on the spot, standing with her legs apart to make a tunnel. She stays like that until another player crawls through her legs to free her so she can rejoin the game. However, if a player is tagged while she is crawling through the tunnel, she becomes the new "it."
Kick The Can
Kick the Can is a more advanced version of Hide and Seek which has great appeal for kids this age as the rules are more complex. Place an empty coffee can in the center of an open space. Choose one player to be "it." She covers her eyes and counts to 100 while the other players hide. She then goes looking for the others. If she spots someone she calls their name and then races them to the can. If "it" reaches the can first, the person she spotted goes to an area designated as "prison." Once a player is in prison, any uncaptured player can attempt to kick the can -- if she does so, she frees any players from prison and they can hide again. Once everyone is in jail, the first player to be put there becomes the new "it."