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Fun Running Games

Running games provide exercise and entertainment. Play running games outside to have plenty of room. Watch out for rocky areas or holes. Explain the rules clearly before each game to avoid arguments about who is "it," who is out and so on. Running games are great for all ages and can be simple.

Tag
- Tag is a fun and easy running game to play. It has several variations. End the game once everyone has had a turn being "it." Having a base is optional. Have a time limit for the base so players don't stand there the whole time. Also, forbid base guarding. To play regular tag, pick one person to be "it." Everyone else runs from that person. Once the person who is it tags someone, that person is it and must tag someone else. To play freeze tag, choose a freezer and an unfreezer. The freezer tags people. Once someone is tagged, he can't move till the unfreezer tags him. If the unfreezer gets tagged, the game is over. Choose new people and start again. Toilet tag is similar to freeze tag, except that the once a person is tagged, he has to stand still with his hand out. The unfreezer "flushes" the person by pushing on his hand to unfreeze him.
Hiding Games
- Hiding games combine running with thinking skills. For hide-and-seek, the person who is "it" covers her eyes and counts to 20. Everyone else hides. The hiders have to get back to base before getting tagged. Whoever is tagged first is it for the next round. Capture the Flag is another good hiding game. Pick two items to be the flags, or use flags. Split into two teams. Each team gets a base to keep its flag, or can hide its flag anywhere on its side. The idea of the game is to capture the other team's flag. Players are captured if they are tagged. Players have to hide from one another while they run to get the flag.
Red Light, Green Light
- Red Light, Green Light combines running and reflexes. Pick one person to be the traffic officer. The other players stand in a line several feet away from the officer. When the officer is facing the players, they have to stand still. He turns away from the players and yells "Green light!" The players run or walk quickly toward him. The officer then turns toward the players and yells "Red light!" The players must stop. If a player moves, he must go back to the start. The first person to reach the officer wins.

Kids Games