You’ve got a bunch of energetic children to entertain for hours, so what are you going to do? How about playing some circle games for kids until it’s time for pickup?
What are circle games for kids?
These games are played with several children, most often in a classroom or party setting. The leader determines a goal and then the children work together against either another player or a prop to win. One of the best examples of a circle game for kids is “Duck, Duck, Goose.”
Kids enjoy playing games in a circle like that because they can see all of their friends while having fun. It’s a great way to encourage healthy competition without being too pushy or structured. Plus, children can learn how to win (and lose) more gracefully too.
The 4 best circle games for kids and how to play them
Duck, Duck, Goose is great but it’s not the only choice you have. So, whether your child is in school or just hanging out with friends, introduce one of these four pastimes to keep them entertained:
- Musical Chairs – Start up a short tune and have the children walk or jog in a circle around some chairs. Make sure there are more children than chairs, then instruct the kids to sit down as fast as they can when the music stops.
- Cat and Mouse – Let the children take turns being either the cat or the mouse. The mouse sits inside the circle while the cat sits on the outside and tries to “eat” the mouse. The catch is that the cat can’t stay inside the circle for more than 10 seconds, so all the children must count out loud.
- Tangled Snake – Pick someone to be the head and the tail of the snake. Then, have all the children hold hands or lock arms. After that, tell “the head” to walk, crawl, or step over the rest of the snake until they reach the end. Keep going until everyone has had a turn.
- Circle Ball – Use two similarly sized balls and encourage the children to pass that ball back and forth in the same direction. Whoever throws it the fastest gets a point. But the player who throws it slower has to step aside and let someone else play.
Keep in mind that all of these circle games for kids can be adjusted and customized for children with special needs. So, make sure you talk about boundaries before each game begins. Also, don’t forget to discuss these options with parents because some of them may be too physical for their kids.
3 clever ways to make circle playtime more exciting
It’s okay to “be extra” when you’re playing circle games for kids. It’s more fun and you can teach them something too. So, maybe try one of these methods if the kids get bored:
- Change the rules to include a prize at the end.
- Incorporate trivia questions then give props to smart answers.
- Set up a game of adults versus kids.
Then, when you get done playing, ask for feedback from the kids so you can create a more exciting experience the next time.
