Encouraging preschoolers to move and play is key to developing their gross motor skills, like balance, coordination, and strength. This page is filled with fun, active games designed to get children moving while having a great time.
Have the children sit in a circle. Choose one child to be "It" and walk around the outside of the circle, carrying a handkerchief, letter, or another small item. While a song is sung or played, the child continues walking around the circle. When the song stops, the child drops the item behind someone in the circle and then runs around it. The child who had the item dropped behind them must quickly stand up and chase the first child around the circle.
This game helps with running, coordination, and quick thinking.
Divide the children into pairs, leaving one child to be the "caller." The caller will give instructions to the pairs on how to position themselves. For example, they might say, "line up back to back," "foot to foot," "elbow to elbow," or "shoulder to shoulder."
When the caller yells “back to back,” all the children must quickly find a new partner. The child who is left without a partner goes into the middle and becomes the new caller for the next round.
This activity encourages teamwork, listening skills, and quick movements as they switch partners.
Find a spacious area, either indoors or outdoors, and clearly mark off a safe playing zone that is free of any dangerous obstructions. Choose one player to be "It," and place a blindfold on them.
The objective for the blindfolded player is to try to touch the other players without being able to see them. The other players must work together to avoid being touched while staying within the designated area.
To ensure safety, remind the children to move carefully and respect each other's personal space. After a set amount of time or when a player is touched, you can switch roles so everyone gets a turn to be "It." This game helps improve spatial awareness, listening skills, and encourages teamwork.
How to play:
Choose one child to be "it." He should sit blindfolded in the center of the circle of children. Have an adult give the button to one of the children. Have all children hide their hands behind their backs. Uncover the child's eyes and allow three guesses as to which child has the button. Whomever has the button is the next person it.
The Chant:
Doggy, Doggy, who has your bone?
Somebody stole it from your home.
Who could it be?
How to Play:
1. Choose one child to be the "doggy." Have them sit blindfolded in the center of a circle formed by the other children.
2. While the chant is recited, an adult will discreetly give a small item (the "bone") to one of the children in the circle.
3. As the chant continues, all children should hide their hands behind their backs to keep the secret.
4. Once the chant is finished, remove the blindfold from the "doggy," and give them three chances to guess which child has the bone.
5. If the "doggy" guesses correctly, the child with the bone becomes the new "doggy." If not, they can keep guessing until they run out of turns.
Feel free to change the main character and object to fit seasonal themes or books (e.g. a pilgrim with a hat, a snowman with a scarf, or Harold with a purple crayon from Harold and the Purple Crayon).
This game encourages critical thinking, teamwork, and listening skills while adding an element of fun and excitement!
In this classic game, players sit in a circle facing inward. Choose one player to be the "picker" (or the "fox"). The picker walks around the outside of the circle, gently tapping each player on the head while calling them a "duck." Eventually, the picker selects one player to be a "goose."
When called, the goose stands up and immediately chases the picker around the circle, trying to tag them. The goal for the picker is to return to the empty spot where the goose was sitting without being tagged.
This game promotes physical activity, quick thinking, and social interaction, making it a fun choice for preschoolers!
Select one child to be the leader, who will stand at the front of the line. The other children will line up behind the leader.
The leader then begins to move around, performing various actions like jumping, clapping, or walking in different directions, while the rest of the children must mimic those actions.
If any player fails to follow the leader's movements, they are out of the game. The last child remaining or the one who mimics the leader the best can become the new leader for the next round.
This game encourages physical activity, listening skills, and creativity as children try to match the leader's actions!
Read We're Going on a Bear Hunt, a fantastic book for exploring spatial relationships. Encourage the children to act out the movements as you read. You can use the ABCJesusLovesMe version for an interactive experience, where the children repeat each line after you to enhance their engagement with the story.
Refrain:
We're going on a lion hunt. (march in place)
We're not afraid. (shake head ‘no’)
We're going to catch a big one! (Spread arms open wide.)
But look! (look with hands)
What's that ahead? (Place your hand above your eyes as though you were looking far away.)
Uh-oh.
There's mud ahead!
Can't go over it. (move hand “over”)
Can't go under it. (move hand “under”)
Can't go around it. (move hand “around”)
Better go through it. (Make sloshing sounds and move hands and feet as if wading through mud.)
Refrain
Uh-oh.
There's a lake ahead.
Can't go over it. (move hand “over”)
Can't go under it. (move hand “under”)
Can't go around it. (move hand “around”)
Better swim through it. (Make swimming motions.)
Refrain
Uh-oh.
There's a gate ahead.
Can't go over it. (move hand “over”)
Can't go under it. (move hand “under”)
Can't go around it. (move hand “around”)
Better go through it. (Gesture as if you open a gate, walk through, and close it.)
Refrain
Uh-oh.
There's tall grass ahead.
Can't go over it. (move hand “over”)
Can't go under it. (move hand “under”)
Can't go around it. (move hand “around”)
We'd better crawl through it. (Crawl around, moving your hands to push the grass out of your way.)
Refrain
Uh-oh.
There's a cave ahead.
Can't go over it. (move hand “over”)
Can't go under it. (move hand “under”)
Can't go around it. (move hand “around”)
Guess we'll have to walk into it. (Tip toe quietly.)
Look to the left. Look to the right.
Look Up. Look Down.
I think I see some big eyes! (Place fingers to form circles around eyes.)
I think it's a LION! (Throw arms back and make scared faces.)
Run out of the cave!
Crawl through the grass!
Open the gate!
Swim across the lake!
Wade through the mud!
Run into the house!
Close the door!
Run up the front stairs!
Crawl under your bed!
Whew! We made it! (Wipe forehead.)
And we weren't afraid! (Shake head 'No.')
The traditional poem, Going on a "Lion" Hunt is used in the ABCJesusLovesMe Curriculum as a gross motor activity and to supplement the Bible story Daniel in the Lion's Den. Have the child repeat each sentence after you and don't forget the actions!
Refrain:
We're going on a lion hunt. (march in place)
We're not afraid. (shake head ‘no’)
We're going to catch a big one! (Spread arms open wide.)
But look! (look with hands)
What's that ahead? (Place your hand above your eyes as though you were looking far away.)
Verse:
Uh-oh.
There's mud ahead!
Can't go over it. (move hand “over”)
Can't go under it. (move hand “under”)
Can't go around it. (move hand “around”)
Better go through it. (Make sloshing sounds and move hands and feet as if wading through mud.)
Refrain
Uh-oh.
There's a lake ahead.
Can't go over it. (move hand “over”)
Can't go under it. (move hand “under”)
Can't go around it. (move hand “around”)
Better swim through it. (Make swimming motions.)
Refrain
Uh-oh.
There's a gate ahead.
Can't go over it. (move hand “over”)
Can't go under it. (move hand “under”)
Can't go around it. (move hand “around”)
Better go through it. (Gesture as if you open a gate, walk through, and close it.)
Refrain
Uh-oh.
There's tall grass ahead.
Can't go over it. (move hand “over”)
Can't go under it. (move hand “under”)
Can't go around it. (move hand “around”)
We'd better crawl through it. (Crawl around, moving your hands to push the grass out of your way.)
Refrain
Uh-oh.
There's a cave ahead.
Can't go over it. (move hand “over”)
Can't go under it. (move hand “under”)
Can't go around it. (move hand “around”)
Guess we'll have to walk into it. (Tip toe quietly.)
Look to the left. Look to the right.
Look Up. Look Down.
I think I see some big eyes! (Place fingers to form circles around eyes.)
I think it's a LION! (Throw arms back and make scared faces.)
Run out of the cave!
Crawl through the grass!
Open the gate!
Swim across the lake!
Wade through the mud!
Run into the house!
Close the door!
Run up the front stairs!
Crawl under your bed!
Whew! We made it! (Wipe forehead.)
And we weren't afraid! (Shake head 'No.')
Choose one player to be the seeker, who will search for the others. The rest of the group will hide in a designated area. The seeker stands at a home base, covers their eyes, and counts to 20 or 30 while everyone else hides.
Once they finish counting, the seeker calls out loudly, "Ready or not, here I come!" and begins searching for the hiders. The hiders must stay quiet, and the last person found becomes the winner and the next seeker.
This classic game promotes physical activity, teamwork, and strategy while allowing children to enjoy a fun game of hide and seek!
Gather everyone in a circle and play The Hokey Pokey. Follow the directions of the song, where participants will put different body parts in and out of the circle. As you sing, encourage everyone to join in the movements, such as shaking their arms, wiggling their hips, and turning around. This fun, interactive activity promotes physical movement, rhythm, and coordination while allowing everyone to have a great time together!
Choose one person to be the seeker and have them leave the room while the rest of the group hides a small object. Once the seeker returns, the group will guide them by saying "hot" if they are close to the object or "cold" if they are far away. The seeker continues searching based on the clues given until they find the hidden object.
This game encourages teamwork, listening skills, and problem-solving while allowing everyone to have fun together!
In this fun game similar to musical chairs, have the children sit in a circle and pass around a potato (or any other object) as quickly as possible while music plays. When the music stops, the child holding the potato is out of the game.
You can continue until only one player remains or for a set number of rounds. This activity promotes quick thinking, hand-eye coordination, and social interaction while providing lots of laughter and excitement!
Choose one child to be the spy. This child will select an object in the designated space that is visible to all players. Once the object is chosen, the spy announces, “I spy, with my little eye, something [adjective or starting letter].” For example, if the spy chooses a beach ball, they could say, “I spy, with my little eye, something round” or “I spy, with my little eye, something that begins with ‘B.’”
The rest of the children take turns guessing what the object is until someone correctly identifies it. This game encourages observational skills, critical thinking, and communication while keeping everyone engaged and having fun!
Leapfrog is an exciting game where players take turns leaping over each other. To start, the first player kneels on the ground and bends forward. The next player places their hands on the first player's back and leaps over by straddling their legs wide apart on either side. Upon landing, the second player also kneels and bends over, allowing the third player to leap over both the first and second players.
This process continues, with each player taking their turn to leap over the others until everyone is on the ground. Once all players have leaped, the last player in line begins leaping over everyone in turn, and the game continues.
Leapfrog promotes physical activity, coordination, and teamwork while providing a fun way for children to engage with one another!
Verses:
Verse 1:
London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady.
Verse 2:
Shake them up with salt and pepper, salt and pepper, salt and pepper,
Shake them up with salt and pepper, my fair lady.
Instructions:
1 Choose two children to create an arch by facing each other, joining their hands, and lifting their arms up.
2. Line up the rest of the children to walk under the arch in a single-file line.
3. Begin singing the first verse while the children walk under the arch and around, forming a circle as they continuously go under.
4. When you reach the last word of the verse ("lady"), have the two children drop their hands to gently capture the child in between their arms.
5. While gently rocking the captured child back and forth, sing the second verse.
6. Continue repeating these actions with the same verses or additional verses of the rhyme until all the children have been captured.
This engaging activity fosters movement, cooperation, and musical rhythm, allowing children to enjoy the classic nursery rhyme in a fun, interactive way!
Instructions:
1. Choose one player to be the "Mother" or "Father." Line up the rest of the players, spaced an arm's length apart, on the opposite side of the room.
2. Players take turns asking, “Mother/Father, may I ____?” For example, they might say, “Mother/Father, may I take five steps forward?”
3. The Mother/Father responds with either “Yes, you may” or “No, you may not do that, but you may _____ instead,” providing an alternative suggestion.
4. Players generally move closer to the Mother/Father based on the responses, but they may also be led farther away. Even if the Mother/Father suggests an unfavorable option, the child must still perform it.
5. The first player to reach the Mother/Father wins the game and becomes the new Mother/Father, while the original Mother/Father joins the children for the next round.
Suggestions for the "Mother/Father/Captain, may I ____?" prompt include:
If the children are reaching the Mother/Father too quickly, the Mother/Father can make adjustments by saying, “No, you may not do that, but you may ____ instead.” Some ways to adjust the original suggestion include:
This game encourages movement, listening skills, and following directions, all while promoting fun and interaction among the children!
1. Arrange chairs in a circle, facing outward, using one chair less than the total number of players.
2, Have the children stand in a circle just outside the chairs.
3. A non-playing individual can play recorded music or use a musical instrument to provide the music.
4. While the music plays, players walk in unison around the chairs.
5. When the music stops, everyone races to sit down in one of the chairs. The player left standing without a chair is eliminated from the game.
6. Remove one chair from the circle before the next round begins.
7. The music resumes, and the cycle repeats until only one player remains, who is declared the winner.
This classic game encourages listening skills, quick reactions, and a sense of competition while providing lots of fun and excitement for the children!
This is a partner hand clap jive. Begin with two children facing each other.
Pease (clap both hands to thighs) porridge (clap own hands together) hot (clap partner's hands),
pease (clap both hands to thighs) porridge (clap own hands together) cold (clap partner's hands),
Pease (clap thighs) porridge (clap own hands) in the (clap right hands only) pot (clap own hands),
nine (clap left hands only) days (clap own hands) old (clap partner's hands).
2nd Verse:
Some like it hot (clap)
Some like it cold (clap)
Some like it in the pot (clap)
Nine days old (clap)
This engaging hand clap activity promotes rhythm, coordination, and teamwork while allowing children to have fun interacting with their partners!
1. Sit the children in a circle with their palms together, creating a space for the penny to be passed.
2. Choose one child to sit in the middle as "It" and designate another child to hold the penny.
3. The child with the penny slides their hands through each child's hands, secretly depositing the penny in one person's hands without anyone knowing.
4. After the penny is hidden, the child who is "It" has three guesses to determine who has the penny.
5. If "It" guesses correctly, they become the new person to distribute the penny.
6. If the guess is incorrect, the original child continues to distribute the penny again, and the game repeats.
This game encourages observation skills and adds an element of surprise, making it a fun and engaging activity for preschoolers!
1. Hang a picture of a donkey on a wall, ensuring that it is at an accessible height for the children and that the tail area is clearly marked. Prepare paper "tails" with either a push pin or thumbtack poked through the end, or use double-sided tape for a safer option.
2. Blindfold each child one at a time.
3. Spin the blindfolded child around a few times to disorient them.
4. Once they are spun, guide the child toward the donkey, allowing them to grope around to find the appropriate spot to pin the tail.
5. After each child has taken their turn, determine who pinned their tail closest to the correct spot. This child is the winner!
This classic game promotes motor skills, spatial awareness, and friendly competition while providing plenty of laughs for the children!
1. Choose one person to be the "light" and have them stand at one end of the playing area.
2. Line up the other players arm's length apart at the opposite end of the space.
3. The "light" turns their back to the players and calls out "Green light!" At this command, the players run toward the "light" as fast as they can.
4. At any moment, the "light" can turn around and call out "Red light!" When this happens, all players must freeze in place.
5. If anyone moves after "Red light" is called, they must return to the starting line.
6. For added challenge, you can introduce a "Yellow light" as a diversion or instruct players to walk instead of run during "Green light."
7. The first player to reach the "light" wins and becomes the "light" for the next round.
Note: This game is how I taught Little Man to obey and stop immediately when commanded. You can also play variations of this game while on a trampoline, at the park, or while walking or running side by side. Teach children to stop promptly at the "red light" command, as this skill can be crucial in emergency situations, like in a parking lot.
Setup: Divide the children into two teams, forming two lines about thirty feet apart. Each team should hold hands to create a strong chain.
Choosing a Player: One team huddles together to decide which player from the opposing team they want to call over.
Calling a Player: The first team shouts, "Red rover, red rover, send [name of player on opposite team] right over."
Running to Break the Chain: The chosen player runs toward the other team and attempts to break through their chain by pushing against their hands.
Joining Teams:
Continuing Play: The other team then takes a turn to call over one of their opposing players, and the game continues in this manner.
Winning the Game: The game continues until one team no longer has any players left.
Note: Emphasize safety and fair play, ensuring that players understand how to run and pull safely to avoid injury.
Choose one child to be "Simon," who will issue physical instructions to the rest of the players (e.g., jump in the air, rub your head, stand on one foot). Players must only follow instructions that begin with the phrase "Simon says." For example, if Simon says, "Simon says jump in the air," players should jump.
Players are eliminated from the game if they follow commands that do not start with "Simon says" or if they fail to follow a command that does. The goal for Simon is to get all the other players 'out' as quickly as possible. The last player remaining who successfully follows instructions wins the game.
This game teaches children to listen carefully and follow directions, helping them develop their attention skills and obedience.
Begin by lining the children up and counting them off in a repeating pattern of "Tree...Tree...Squirrel" until only one or two children are left. The extra children are designated as Squirrels looking for a home in a Tree.
Instruct the children assigned as Trees to pair up by holding hands and forming a circle around a Squirrel (some Squirrels will not have Trees). Once the Trees are paired, spread them around the designated play area. When you blow the whistle, all Squirrels must leave their current Trees and look for a new Tree to join. The Trees will open their arms to welcome a new Squirrel, and when they catch one, they encircle them. Any Squirrels left without a Tree must wait for the next whistle to find a new Tree.
This game encourages teamwork and social interaction while teaching children the importance of cooperation and communication.
One player is selected to be "it" and chases the other players, attempting to tag them by touching them with their hand while the others try to escape. Once a player is tagged, they become "it," and the game continues.
Variations:
This game promotes physical activity, agility, and social interaction among children while also teaching them about the concepts of teamwork and strategy.
