Games to Play for Children's Recess Time at School

Hot and Cold

• Just like Hide and Seek, Hot and Cold is a classic recess game. With all the children in one spot and with their eyes closed or covered, another child or an adult hides an object such as a certain color of ball or a stick with a ribbon tied on it. Once the object is hidden, the children can search for it while listening to clues. "Hot" and "cold" refer to the distance the seeking child is from the hidden object.

Hula Go Round

• Encourage kids to use their problem-solving skills while playing Hula Go Round. Have children form a circle and slip a hula-hoop onto one child's arm. The kids hold hands and have to figure out a way to move the hula hoop around the circle while holding hands.

Four Square

• Give children a large box of sidewalk chalk and a bouncing ball to use for creating their own Four Square game. Four Square is a fun game kids enjoy with lots of action and simple rules. Children bounce the ball to one another and try to bounce it back. Use the sidewalk chalk to keep score and also to decorate the playing ground.

Simon Says

• A large group of children makes playing Simon Says lots of fun. Simon Says is a simple game that encourages listening skills. One child plays "Simon" by giving directions, prompted by the phrase "Simon says." If the child doesn't say "Simon says" first, the children who follow the directions are out of the game. Keep playing until there is a winner.

Freeze Tag

• Provide kids with a chance to get their wiggles out with a game of Freeze Tag. One child is "it" while the others run around. When a child is tagged, he must stay frozen in place. Keep playing until one child is left. That child becomes "it" and the game can be played again.