Relay Race Games for Children

Circle Groups

• Assemble the children in the backyard for this outdoor relay game. Divide the kids into two equally-numbered teams. Have the teams stand a few feet from each other and tell each team to link arms and form a circle with their teammates. Position the teams at one side of the yard, or the starting point. When you say "Go," both teams race each other while staying in their circle formation until one team reaches the other side of the yard first.

Going Through the Tunnel

• Divide the children into two teams and line each team up single-file. Direct all of the kids to extend their legs to about hip-width apart, excluding the very last player in each line. When you say "Go," the last players in line get on their hands and knees and quickly crawl through their teammates' legs in front of them. Once the last player reaches the front of the line, the new last player races through. The first team to return to its original formation wins.

Boxes for Feet

• Prepare for this quirky game by first gathering a shoe box for each player. Tape the tops to the bottoms of each box and cut a hole in the box for the players to slip their feet inside. Divide the players into two teams, lining them up behind a starting line. When you say "Go," the first players race to the finish line with their shoe box shoes on and back again, prompting their teammates to go after they return. The first team to complete the race wins.

Quick Dress Up

• Assemble two piles of clothing, putting one of two similar items in each pile. For example, you can put a hat in one pile and another hat in the other pile. Divide the children into two teams and position each team behind a pile. When you say "Go," the teammates take turns one at a time putting on the clothes and taking them off for the next player to do the same. The first team to have tried on all the clothes wins.