Get Ready for Non-Stop Fun in Playground Games! Jump, run, and play your way through Playground Games—a high-energy program designed to get kids moving, laughing, and learning classic playground favorites in a safe and supportive environment. Each session brings fresh excitement with a mix of team games, friendly competitions, and creative twists on beloved activities. Through active play, kids will develop essential skills like coordination, sportsmanship, and communication, all while making new friends and staying active. Our enthusiastic instructors will guide them in learning rules, strategies, and teamwork, building confidence and a love for play in every participant. On rainy or bad-weather days, we’ll keep the fun going indoors with exciting alternative games and activities. Get ready for outdoor (and indoor!) fun like never before!
Instructors should take the time to get to know their students and tailor lessons to match the group’s energy, interests, and abilities. Feel free to mix and match activities from the options below or create your own to keep sessions engaging and dynamic. Always prioritize participant safety while ensuring activities are both enjoyable and accessible for everyone.
If you have any concerns or questions when planning for this program, please discuss with your Senior Instructor or email Liz or Randy to confirm.
See the Playground Fun Packing List here.
Option 1: Introduction to Playground Games
- Objective: Set expectations, introduce rules, and play icebreaker games.
- Activities:
- Follow the Leader (to practice movement and listening)
- Freeze Dance (introducing reaction skills)
- What’s Your Name? Relay (learning names while running and tagging)
Option 2: Classic Tag Games
- Objective: Improve speed, agility, and fair play through tag variations.
- Activities:
- Freeze Tag (learn how to help and unfreeze teammates)
- Sharks and Minnows (practice dodging and running)
- Blob Tag (teamwork as players join together)
Option 3: Parachute Play & Cooperation Games
- Objective: Foster teamwork, coordination, and following instructions while emphasizing safety.
- Activities:
- Parachute Popcorn (toss balls and work together to keep them bouncing)
- Mushroom Tent (lifting the parachute and running under it)
- Cat and Mouse (chasing under the parachute while others wiggle it)
- Safety Note: Kids will review and practice parachute safety rules, including how to hold the parachute properly, staying aware of others, and following instructor cues to prevent collisions.
Option 4: Throwing & Catching Games
- Objective: Enhance hand-eye coordination and teamwork.
- Activities:
- Clean Your Yard (throw beanbags or balls over a midline to “clean up”)
- Target Toss (throwing at different distance targets)
- Hot Potato (quick reaction and cooperation)
Option 5: Relay Races & Obstacle Course
- Objective: Build endurance, balance, and turn-taking skills.
- Activities:
- Hopping Relays (various movements like skipping, crab walking)
- Balancing Beanbag Relay (carrying objects without dropping)
- Obstacle Course Challenge (stations with jumping, crawling, running)
Option 6: Playground Ball Games
- Objective: Develop coordination, reaction time, and teamwork.
- Activities:
- Four Square (bouncing and hitting a ball in a grid)
- Kickball Basics (learning how to kick, run bases, and field)
- Keep It Up (working together to keep a ball in the air)
Option 7: Cooperative & Non-Competitive Games
- Objective: Promote teamwork, problem-solving, and inclusion.
- Activities:
- Human Knot (untangling hands through teamwork)
- Pass the Clap (sending a rhythmic clap around the circle)
- Building Block Tower Tag (stacking small building/domino blocks between rounds of tag)
Option 8: Creative Movement & Balance Challenges
- Objective: Encourage balance, coordination, and movement creativity.
- Activities:
- Balancing Act (walk across a designated area balancing a beanbag on the head)
- Jump and Land (practicing different types of jumps and safe landings)
- Tightrope Walk (pretend to walk across a “tightrope” line drawn on the ground)
Option 9: Partner & Small Group Games
- Objective: Encourage collaboration and positive social interactions.
- Activities:
- Mirror Movements (partners mimic each other’s movements)
- Hand Clap Challenges (rhythm-based hand clapping games)
- Buddy Balance (working together to balance on one foot, hop, etc.)
Option 10: Stealth & Strategy Games
- Objective: Develop focus, reaction time, and strategic thinking.
- Activities:
- Red Light, Green Light (practicing listening skills)
- Statue Garden (players freeze like statues when the leader turns around)
- Capture the Flag (Modified) (simple version with a small playing area)
Option 11: Jump Rope Fun
- Objective: Enhance coordination, endurance, and timing.
- Activities:
- Jump Rope Challenges (try single jumps, double jumps, and cross jumps)
- Snake Rope (waving a rope along the ground for others to jump over)
- Jump Rope Relay (passing a jump rope and taking turns)
Option 12: Creative Movement & Dance Games
- Objective: Encourage self-expression, rhythm, and movement.
- Activities:
- Animal Walk Races (walking like different animals)
- Musical Statues (freeze when the music stops)
- Move Like a… (kids move like prompts, e.g., “waddle like a duck”)
Option 13: Indoor Game Day (Rainy Day Plan)
- Objective: Keep kids engaged with movement-based indoor games. Use these, your own or reference the additional indoor games at the bottom of this page.
- Activities:
- Silent Ball (pass a ball without speaking)
- Simon Says (practicing listening and movement skills)
- Balloon Keep-Up (work as a team to keep balloons from touching the ground)
Option 14: Team-Building Challenges
- Objective: Strengthen problem-solving, teamwork, and communication.
- Activities:
- Build a Tower (using cones, cups, or blocks)
- Cross the River (pretend the ground is lava and use “stepping stones”)
- Blindfold Walk (one partner is blindfolded and guided by their partner)
Option 15: End-of-Program Celebration & Favourite Games Day
- Objective: Reflect on the program, celebrate progress, and have fun!
- Activities:
- Vote on Favorite Games (kids pick their top games from the program)
- Obstacle Course Fun (biggest course of the program!)
- Certificate & High-Five Circle (recognizing participation and effort)
Additional Indoor Games Options:
1. Stack Attack (Building Blocks Challenge)
- Objective: Stack a tower of regular building blocks as high as possible within one minute—without it falling!
- Materials: Regular building blocks (from Option 7: Cooperative & Non-Competitive Games).
- How to Play:
- Each player or team gets a pile of blocks.
- They must stack them one by one into the tallest tower possible in 60 seconds.
- If the tower falls, they can restart, but time keeps running!
2. Keep It Up (Balloon Challenge)
- Objective: Keep a balloon in the air using only one hand for the entire minute.
- Materials: Balloons (from Option 13: Indoor Game Day).
- How to Play:
- Players must continuously tap the balloon to keep it from touching the ground.
- They can only use one hand (switching hands is allowed).
- If the balloon touches the ground, they must start over!
3. Cup Toss Relay (Target Toss Challenge)
- Objective: Toss and land as many beanbags or small balls into a cup or small container in 60 seconds.
- Materials: Beanbags or small balls (from Option 4: Throwing & Catching Games).
- How to Play:
- Players stand behind a throw line and try to toss beanbags into a cup or container.
- Each successful toss scores a point.
- The player or team with the most points at the end wins!
4. Balance Walk (Beanbag Challenge)
- Objective: Walk across a designated path while balancing a beanbag on your head—as many times as possible in one minute!
- Materials: Beanbags (from Option 8: Creative Movement & Balance Challenges).
- How to Play:
- Create a start and finish line (or walk around an obstacle).
- Players place a beanbag on their head and walk carefully without dropping it.
- Each successful trip back and forth scores a point.
- If the beanbag falls, they must stop and place it back before continuing.
5. Jump Rope Sprint (Speed Challenge)
- Objective: See how many jump rope rotations players can complete in 60 seconds.
- Materials: Jump ropes (from Option 11: Jump Rope Fun).
- How to Play:
- Each player starts jumping with their jump rope when the timer begins.
- They count their successful jumps within one minute.
- If they trip or stop, they restart from their last count.
Playground Fun Packing List
- General Equipment (Used Across Multiple Activities):
- Beanbags (for tossing, balancing, and relay games)
- Small Balls (for throwing, catching, and indoor games)
- Building/Domino Blocks (for stacking challenges and team-building)
- Jump Ropes (for individual and group activities)
- Balloons (for indoor and cooperative games)
- Blindfolds
- Parachutes (for group play and coordination games)
- Tag & Running Games
- Cones or Markers (to define boundaries, start/finish lines)
- Throwing & Catching Games
- Target Containers/Buckets (for tossing games)
- Large Plastic Cups in 2 Colours
- Playground Ball Games
- Playground Ball (Kickball Type) (for Four Square, Kickball, and group play)
- Team & Balance Games
- Flat “Stepping Stones” (Poly Spots or Foam Pieces) (for crossing games)
- Additional
- Paper: White and Construction
- Markers, Crayons, Pencil Crayons and Pencils
- Sidewalk Chalk if Available (check with the school to ensure this is permitted on their property before using)
- MP3 Player and Connectors
- A Games Inspiration Book
- Printed Games Guide
- Additional Games Materials as Needed/Available/Requested
- Rewards
- Small prizes, stickers etc. Connect with Liz if you need more throughout the term.