Physically Active Games for Kids

Amoeba Tag

• Variations of tag are probably among the most common active games that kids play, and amoeba tag has the kids running from the beginning of the game to the end. When the child who is "it" tags a player, the two of them join together and become "it." The third player to be tagged also joins the first two. When the fourth player is tagged, however, the foursome splits into two groups of two. The two groups continue to add members as each new player is tagged. Play continues until only one player is left untagged, and that player becomes "it" in the next round.

Steal the Salami

• Divide the kids into two equal teams and give each kid a number based on the number of players on each team. (For example, if there are two teams of eight kids each, the two teams will be made up of numbers 1 through 8.) Kids then line up on either side of a large room, with an object in a circle in the exact center of the room. When you call out a number, the player on each team with that number runs to the center of the room and tries to grab the object and bring it back to her team without being tagged by the other player, who is trying to do the same thing. If a player makes it back safely, her team gets a point. If a player is tagged while trying to get back to her team, the other team gets a point. The team to get a set number of points first wins.

All Over

• Two teams of kids stand on either side of a line, with many balls sitting on the line. When the referee calls out "All over!," both teams grab as many balls as they can and throw them over the line. Both teams continue trying to get all of the balls out of their team&'s zone by throwing or kicking the balls back over the line. When one side of the line is completely empty of balls, the referee calls out "All over!" again to end the game.