Staff Training Sheet
11 Basic Games
1.
The Key Game
All children but one sit in a semi-circle on chairs.
One child sits on a chair with their back to everyone else. A set
of keys is put under their chair.
The adult chooses someone to take the keys and hide them
behind their back.
Once ready, the child turns and takes three guesses as to who
has taken the keys.
2.
The Shape Game
Two groups of four or more children are arranged.
The adult calls out the name of something which can be ‘made’
with their bodies (as a team).
The children have around 3-4 minutes to ‘make’ that thing.
Ideas- A clock, a bathroom, a car, a sink, a planet, a tree, a waterfall, a
dog, a chair, a hula hoop, a witched hat, a spider, a TV, a mirror with
reflection, a book, a three headed monster etc.
3.
Musical Chairs
The same number of chairs as children will be needed. Set the
chairs up in a long line, one facing left, one right and so on.
Start the music and the children must walk or dance around the
chairs clockwise.
Take a chair away.
When the music stops the child left standing is out. Continue
until there is a winner.
Staff Training Sheet
11 Basic Games
4.
Musical Bumps
The children dance around and when the music stops must sit on
their bottoms as soon as possible.
The last child that sits down is out.
Continue until there is a winner.
5.
Musical Statues
The children dance around and when the music stops must stand
still.
Make this game fun by inspecting the children- are they still?
The person who is moving most is out. Continue until there is a
winner.
6.
Across the Valley
You will need a fairly long area for this game.
Two children are given two large sheets of paper each.
The rules are to ‘cross the valley’ by stepping on your paper to
cross to the other side.
The children must cross as fast as possible and not step on the
floor- only their paper.
The winner is the fastest one to reach the other side.
7.
Parachute Games
a- Name Swap
Two names are called out by the adult. They must swap places
as fast as possible. (Great for learning each other’s names)
Staff Training Sheet
11 Basic Games
7.
Parachute Games
b- Diving for Treasure
Children take it in turn to be called by an adult.
They must dive under the parachute and collect the ‘treasure’
(Shoe/bean bag etc).
Two names can be called or children can count to see if they can
beat their previous time.
c- Bouncy Ball Challenge
Children work as a team to bounce the ball into the centre/off
the parachute/in between two people etc.
d- Weather Game
The adult shouts out words that are weather types.
The children must follow the actions as soon as possible.
Sun! - Everyone pulls the parachute tight
Rain! - Hold onto the parachute with one hand and ‘tap’ your other onto the
parachute to be the rain
Wind! - Shake the parachute wildly
Storm! - Follow both the wind & rain actions
e- Cat & Mouse
Two children are chosen to be ‘cat’ and ‘mouse’.
The mouse goes under the parachute and the cat on top.
The aim of the game is for the cat to catch the mouse.
All of the children shake the parachute whilst the mouse crawls
in a clockwise direction- they get a 5 second head start.
The mouse also crawls clockwise, trying to catch the mouse.
Once caught, a new cat and mouse re chosen.
8.
Dodgeball
Depending on the size of the group, either one person or two
children aim to throw a soft ball at the children crossing to the
other side to get others ‘out’.
A similar version can be played with two groups playing against
each other to get each other ‘out’- (two different coloured soft
balls is ideal)
9.
British Bull Dog
The children run to the other side of the play area with one or
two people being named s ‘it’.
They must tag the children crossing.
The children can be ‘out’ or join them in catching the remaining
children.
10. Sleeping Lions
All children lay flat on the floor with their heads down.
They must lay as still as possible.
The adult must choose the child who is moving the most to be
out.
Eventually, there will be a winner (or two!)
11. Heads down, Thumbs Up
All of the children sit at the tables with their heads down, eyes
closed and with their thumbs up.
One to three children (depending on group size) will squeeze
thumb of one or two others.
Once everyone has chosen (squeezed the thumbs of) the number
of children selected they must stand in a line in front of the
others.
The children who have had their thumb squeezed have three goes
to choose who has chosen them.