physical education activities for preschoolers

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14 Physical Development Activities for Preschool Kids

Physical activity is an integral part of a preschooler’s everyday life. Because they are still developing, staying physically active can help boost growth and development and provide many different long-lasting benefits. However, it may be challenging to think of ways to keep toddlers busy every day, so finding new games and activities for them can help parents and teachers keep preschoolers engaged and active. We put together a list of physical activities that will be great for development in preschool children.

We dive deeper into each one below, but here are 14 great physical development activities for preschool kids:

• Duck Duck Goose
• Musical Chairs
• Red Light Green Light
• Freeze Dance
• Hit The Balloon
• Toss and Catch
• Riding a Tricycle or Scooter
• Obstacle Course
• Scavenger Hunt
• Playing on the Playground

Why Physical Development Activity for Preschoolers Matters

Physical activity is essential for healthy brain and body development in toddlers. Because their minds and bodies are still forming, parents, teachers, and guardians can help foster strong and healthy development through physical activities and encouraging toddlers to play outside . Toddlers especially have a lot of natural energy. You can direct that energy through playtime to promote many areas of development, including:

• Motor skills: Preschoolers have more control over their bodies than younger babies, but they are still refining muscle strength and control. Physical activity gives children the chance to grow and expand their skills, especially their fine motor skills, through activities like throwing balls. They can also increase overall motor skills to improve coordination and balance through activities like climbing and jumping.
• Bone strength: Bones are still forming and growing in young children, but physical activity can help. Because bones respond to the level of force they face, more activity leads to stronger bones. For toddlers, activities like jumping and dancing can help increase bone strength.
• Social skills: Playtime is a great opportunity where children learn essential social skills for school and playing with friends. Parents and teachers can teach tools like active listening and following instructions in games. Playing with other children can help them learn to share and respect boundaries. To productively play together or reach a common goal, children need to communicate with each other.
• Memory and concentration: Children’s brains begin forming connections and neural pathways as toddlers, providing them with crucial skills they will need later in life. Games and playtime can help test memory and concentration in children by using games that require them to think, recall, or pay attention to instructions.

Playtime for preschoolers can help develop children’s healthy bodies, minds, and social habits. They can gain skills and healthy habits that will follow them into adolescence and adulthood. Further, playing games is fun, so children create good memories and enjoy themselves in the process.

Best Practices for Toddlers

Preschooler playtime helps toddlers’ brain development , but it is also how they learn. Because children learn through observation and trial and error, playtime can help them learn and test new skills. There are two different ways for children to play to learn and grow skills — structured and unstructured play.

Structured vs. Unstructured Play

Parents and guardians can help guide children through guided playtime, also known as structured play. In structured play settings, children have to follow guidelines, instructions, or premises while playing, and it often takes the form of games or classes. Even though adults often establish the rules or guidelines for structured play, that may be their only role in this playtime — children may play the games together with adults only monitoring or refereeing progress.

Structured play helps teach children various new social skills and rules. Adults guide children through learning new movements, words, games, and skills, and children try to solve problems with help nearby. Structured play creates a safe environment for children to learn new things where adults can answer questions and establish guidelines.

Unstructured play gives children the freedom to play and explore with no restrictions. With unstructured play, children have the freedom to explore their surroundings and create games. Children can play alone during unstructured play or with other children in a group game. As long as the children have control over their playtime, it qualifies as unstructured play.

Unstructured play lets children freely explore the world around them and pursue what interests them, encouraging them to follow their curiosity and let their imagination go wild. Unstructured play typically happens in places where children feel safe and comfortable, creating a place where they can safely explore their emotions and feelings, allowing them to grow emotionally.

Balancing Structured and Unstructured Play

While both structured and unstructured play have benefits, adults need to balance them. Toddlers need around 30 minutes of structured play and an hour of unstructured play each day. Because they have higher energy levels, they can’t go longer than an hour without playing or moving if not sleeping.

Children need structured play to learn, but too much of it can be overwhelming and make them resistant to trying new things. Unstructured play lets children try things independently, but too much freedom can leave them bored. Mixing structure and unstructured playtime for toddlers can help them benefit from both types while keeping them interested.

Explore Playground Components

The CDC recommends children between the ages of 3 and 5 stay physically active throughout the day to accommodate growth, development, and high energy levels. Activities should range in difficulty and skill to provide aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and bone-strengthening activities. Adults can choose from several age-appropriate activities to keep children entertained and active throughout the day.

1. Duck, Duck, Goose

Duck, duck, goose is another classic children’s game many toddlers love. Like tag, it can work as a structured or unstructured game. Many adults use this as a structured game and teach the rules to children, but kids can play themselves without adult supervision. The rules are simple, so it is a popular toddler activity for parents and caregivers.

Though the game is simple, it involves many different skills for children to practice. At the start, children need to sit in a circle, so adults can test how well kids know their shapes with this game, as well as how well they listen to instructions. Children will have to make conscious decisions and think about their actions to choose the next goose. Running and sitting will help improve children’s bone strength, balance, and coordination.

2. Musical Chairs

For a fun structured game to play with preschoolers, musical chairs is a great source of coordination and motor skills for young kids. Adults can practice listening and following instructions with kids by having them assemble the chairs and listen to the game’s rules. They can test their attention throughout the game by seeing who notices when the music stops.

Even though it is a structured activity, children have plenty of room to show their creativity and express themselves. Adults can encourage kids to dance while they move around the chairs to the music or after they get out, which can help build bone strength. When the music stops, children can test their problem-solving skills by finding a chair before they’re all gone.

3. Red Light, Green Light

Like musical chairs, red light, green light is everyday structured physical activity for toddlers. Adults serve as the mediator for the game, teaching children the rule and calling out the instructions. Children can then take over the game by selecting the winner to be the announcer at the beginning of each round.

Red light, green light can help develop balance and coordination as children make quick decisions to stop or start movement. Developing their balance and coordination can help increase their body awareness and control. Red light, green light can also help build critical thinking skills as children try to work towards a specific goal — reaching the announcer first — and make decisions to help them achieve that goal.

4. Freeze Dance

Freeze dance is similar to freeze tag and musical chairs, combining the aerobic movement from tag with the musical element of musical chairs. However, freeze dance lets children express their creativity through their dances and gain better control of their movements, strengthening gross motor skills . Dancing can also improve bone strength, making it an excellent preschooler activity that covers multiple types of exercise for kids.

Like musical chairs and red light, green light, kids can practice their listening skills and follow directions by stopping with the music. They also have to respect other children’s boundaries as they play, careful not to bump into anyone else as they dance around the room. Adults can use this as a structured activity to play indoors or outside.

5. Hopscotch

Hopscotch is an easy physical development activity for preschool kids. Adults can use games to help teach children new information or concepts. Hopscotch can help kids learn to count to 10 by pairing counting with hopping through the spaces to make it fun. In addition to counting, children need to balance as they jump from square to square, especially if they hop on one foot. Hopscotch is an aerobic, bone-strengthening activity that can also help improve coordination, motor skills, and concentration.

Children can play hopscotch alone or with a group. After they learn the rules, they can play it individually, allowing it to be structured or unstructured. Since toddlers are new to counting , they may benefit from adult supervision, who can help them when they get stuck and need help with a number.

6. Hit the Balloon

Give your toddlers a balloon and tell them they have to keep it off the ground for as long as possible. Set up for this game is simple and easy because you only need the kids and the balloons.

Kids will have fun coming up with creative solutions to keep the balloon in the air, developing problem-solving skills. Because they have the freedom to choose how they approach the game, they can improve their fine and gross motor skills by hitting the balloon.

7. Toss and Catch

Ball games are significant preschool activities. Because toddlers need to use many different body parts and muscles when playing games with balls, these games can help improve motor skills in many different areas, including the hands, arms, and legs. Throwing and catching balls can help children improve hand-eye coordination and how to better control their bodies.

Playing toss and catch with toddlers is an adjustable game. For younger toddlers, try rolling the ball to one another so the child can get used to directing their muscles towards a common goal. Older kids may want more of a challenge, so throwing and catching may be the better option for them. Adults can add more elements to games, like teams, baskets, goals, and other rules to further challenge and test preschoolers’ skills.

Another alternative to rolling balls is to recreate bowling with foam balls and bottles or cans. Some children may already understand or know of bowling, so they enjoy playing it at home or school where they usually can’t. Set up for this game is easy — determine a starting point where kids can line up and wait to roll the ball and arrange bottles, cans, or other pin substitutes a few feet away.

Like other ball games, bowling can help develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination in preschoolers. It makes a great structured group game that children can learn about waiting in line, listening to directions, and counting the number of pins they knock over.

9. Kickball

Kickball can be a great structured group game for older preschoolers with more control over their bodies. Since kickball incorporates running and kicking, it can help preschoolers practice coordination and balance while stimulating muscle and bone growth. Running can also challenge them aerobically.

Adults can split preschoolers into teams to make the game more challenging and to help them develop teamwork and communication skills. Children have to work together towards a common goal, and they can learn how to do that in a safe, fun environment with adults nearby to help facilitate learning.

10. Riding a Tricycle or Scooter

Including toys like tricycles and scooters in playtime can benefit preschoolers. Riding a tricycle or scooter can help improve bone and muscle strength and provide good aerobic exercise. While kids can independently play with these toys in unstructured playtime, they may need to practice listening and following directions to keep themselves and others safe, like wearing a helmet or not crashing into other children.

Because this is often an unstructured play activity, children can use their time on scooters or tricycles to reflect quietly on their days or expand their imaginations and creativity to make fun games or scenarios. Depending on the rules of using tricycles or scooters, children may race or play pretend when riding the toys.

11. Simon Says

While many games like musical chairs or freeze dance may require adults to lead the game, Simon says is an excellent game for kids to lead themselves. Adults may have to explain the rules or demonstrate how to play, making it a great choice for structured play, but kids can play it together without adult supervision. It is also one of the physical development activities for preschool kids that does not require any equipment or specials places to play. If you have at least two people, you can play.

Simon says will help develop listening comprehension skills as kids translate commands to various movements. They will have to actively listen for the speaker to say the command correctly before deciding to move. They strengthen their balance, coordination, and muscles by holding different poses. Kids can even put their creativity to use by coming up with various commands for their friends and classmates to try.

12. Obstacle Course

For an activity that challenges your toddlers’ strength and mind, try building an obstacle course. Create a unique course every time to keep kids entertained and fit their skill levels. With an obstacle course , children can test and strengthen many skills they are still developing, like muscle strength, coordination, balance, and problem-solving.

Obstacle courses challenge kids to work towards a single goal and direct their actions towards achieving it, whether getting to the other side of the course or getting a specific item along the way. You can change the rules and the goals as you play it with your preschoolers to keep them engaged and further develop their problem-solving skills.

13. Scavenger Hunt

Keep kids engaged with their environment and surroundings by staging a scavenger hunt. Especially when hosted outside, kids can improve their coordination and balance as they search through their terrain to find the objects they are looking for. Children can practice problem-solving and active listening as they ask for hints and listen to clues about where to find what they are looking for.

Like obstacle courses , scavenger hunts can change every time you play, making them great repeat games for preschoolers.

14. Playing on the Playground

One of the most common spaces for unstructured play is on the playground. Adults can easily supervise as children play while keeping their distance and letting them dictate their free time. Children can choose from various ways to play, whether playing a game they already know or using their imagination to create new scenarios and situations to act out.

Regardless of how children play, the playground is where many children feel comfortable exploring their environment and creativity during unstructured playtime.

The Benefits of Physical Development Activities for Preschoolers

While playing is fun for toddlers, it also provides essential physical activity, which benefits them in many different ways, including:

• Reduce the risk of health conditions: When children exercise, they can help maintain healthy bodies and reduce the risk of developing obesity or type 2 diabetes. Children can build a healthy relationship with exercising, ensuring they keep good habits to keep them healthy as they grow older.
• Learn social skills : Playing is a good way for kids to communicate and act around other kids and adults. They can learn social cues to help them become better communicators and team workers. Many kids will play with their friends, giving them a sense of belonging.
• Improve sleep: Especially with toddlers with a lot of energy, regular physical activity can help improve their sleep schedules, so they stay asleep for longer and sleep more deeply. They can feel more rested when they wake up and feel ready to continue playing.

Learning healthy habits and skills as toddlers can help set children up for their futures to remain healthy, active, and happy into later childhood and their teenage years.

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46 Unique Phys Ed Games Your Students Will Love

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There’s nothing kids need more to break up a day spent sitting still and listening than a fun PE class to let off some steam. In the old days, going to gym class probably included playing kickball or dodgeball after running a few laps. Since then, there have been countless reinventions of and variations on old classics as well as completely new games. Although there is no shortage of options, we love that the supplies required remain relatively minimal. You can transport to another galaxy using just a pool noodle or two or create a life-size game of Connect 4 using just Hula-Hoops. You’ll want to make sure to have some staples on hand like balls, beanbags, and parachutes. There are even PE games for kindergartners based on beloved children’s TV shows and party games. Regardless of your students’ athletic abilities, there is something for everyone on our list of elementary PE games!

1. Tic-Tac-Toe Relay

Elementary PE games that not only get students moving but also get them thinking are our favorites. Grab some Hula-Hoops and a few scarves or beanbags and get ready to watch the fun!

Learn more: Tic-Tac-Toe Relay at S&S Blog

2. Blob Tag

Pick two students to start as the Blob, then as they tag other kids, they will become part of the Blob. Be sure to demonstrate safe tagging, stressing the importance of soft touches.

Learn more: Blob Tag at Playworks

3. Cross the River

This fun game has multiple levels that students have to work through, including “get to the island,” “cross the river,” and “you lost a rock.”

Learn more: Cross the River at The PE Specialist

4. Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Cones

Line up cones, then have students pair up and stand on either side of a cone. Finally, call out head, shoulders, knees, or cones. If cones is called, students have to race to be the first to pick up their cone before their opponent.

Learn more: Head, Shoulders, Knees & Cones at S&S Blog

5. Spider Ball

Elementary PE games are often variations of dodgeball like this one. One or two players start with the ball and attempt to hit all of the runners as they run across the gym or field. If a player is hit, they can then join in and become a spider themselves.

Learn more: Spider Ball Game at Kid Activities

6. Crab Soccer

We love elementary PE games that require students to act like animals (and we think they will too). Similar to regular soccer, but students will need to play on all fours while maintaining a crab-like position.

Learn more: Crab Soccer at Playworks

7. Halloween Tag

This is the perfect PE game to play in October. It’s similar to tag, but there are witches, wizards, and blobs with no bones!

Learn more: Halloween Tag at The Physical Educator

8. Crazy Caterpillars

We love that this game is not only fun but also works on students’ hand-eye coordination. Students will have fun pushing their balls around the gym with pool noodles while building their caterpillars.

9. Monster Ball

You’ll need a large exercise ball or something similar to act as the monster ball in the middle. Make a square around the monster ball, divide the class into teams on either side of the square, then task the teams with throwing small balls at the monster ball to move it into the other team’s area.

Learn more: Monster Ball at The PE Specialist

10. Striker Ball

Striker ball is an enjoyable game that will keep your students entertained while working on reaction time and strategic planning. We love that there is limited setup required before playing.

Learn more: Striker Ball at S&S Blog

11. Parachute Tug-of-War

What list of elementary PE games would be complete without some parachute fun? So simple yet so fun, all you will need is a large parachute and enough students to create two teams. Have students stand on opposite sides of the parachute, then let them compete to see which side comes out on top.

Learn more: Parachute Tug-of-War at Mom Junction

12. Fleas Off the Parachute

Another fun parachute game where one team needs to try to keep the balls (fleas) on the parachute and the other tries to get them off.

Learn more: Fleas Off the Parachute at Mom Junction

13. Crazy Ball

The setup for this fun game is similar to kickball, with three bases and a home base. Crazy ball really is so crazy as it combines elements of football, Frisbee, and kickball!

Learn more: Crazy Ball at Health Beet

14. Bridge Tag

This game starts as simple tag but evolves into something more fun once the tagging begins. Once tagged, kids must form a bridge with their body and they can’t be freed until someone crawls through.

Learn more: Bridge Tag at Great Camp Games

15. Star Wars Tag

Elementary PE games that allow you to be your favorite movie character are just way too much fun! You will need two different-colored pool noodles to stand in for lightsabers. The tagger will have one color pool noodle that they use to tag students while the healer will have the other color that they will use to free their friends.

Learn more: Star Wars Tag at Great Camp Games

16. Rob the Nest

Create an obstacle course that leads to a nest of eggs (balls) and then divide the students into teams. They will have to race relay-style through the obstacles to retrieve eggs and bring them back to their team.

17. Four Corners

We love this classic game since it engages students physically while also working on color recognition for younger students. Have your students stand on a corner, then close their eyes and call out a color. Students standing on that color earn a point.

Learn more: Four Corners at The Many Little Joys

18. Movement Dice

This is a perfect warm-up that requires only a die and a sheet with corresponding exercises.

Learn more: Roll the Dice Movement Break at Teaching Littles

19. Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag

A fun spin on tag, children will tag one another and then play a quick game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine who has to sit and who gets to continue playing.

Learn more: Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag at Grade Onederful

20. Cornhole Cardio

This one is so fun but can be a little bit confusing, so be sure to leave plenty of time for instruction. Kids will be divided into teams before proceeding through a fun house that includes cornhole, running laps, and stacking cups.

Learn more: Cardio Cornhole at S&S Blog

21. Connect 4 Relay

This relay takes the game Connect 4 to a whole new level. Players must connect four dots either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

22. Zookeepers

Students will love imitating their favorite animals while playing this fun variation of Four Corners where the taggers are the zookeepers.

23. Racket Whack-It

Students stand with rackets in hand while balls are thrown at them—they must either dodge the balls or swat them away.

Learn more: Racket Whack-It via PEgames.org

24. Crazy Moves

Set mats out around the gym, then yell out a number. Students must race to the mat before it is already filled with the correct number of bodies.

Learn more: Crazy Moves at PEgames.org

25. Wheelbarrow Race

Sometimes the best elementary PE games are the simplest. An oldie but a goodie, wheelbarrow races require no equipment and are guaranteed to be a hit with your students.

Learn more: Wheelbarrow Race at wikiHow

26. Live-Action Pac-Man

Fans of retro video games like Pac-Man will get a kick out of this live-action version where students get to act out the characters.

27. Spaceship Tag

Give each of your students a Hula-Hoop (spaceship), then have them run around trying not to bump into anyone else’s spaceship or get tagged by the teacher (alien). Once your students get really good at it, you can add different levels of complexity.

28. Rock, Paper, Scissors Beanbag Balance

We love this spin on Rock, Paper, Scissors because it works on balance and coordination. Students walk around the gym until they find an opponent, then the winner collects a beanbag, which they must balance on their head!

Learn more: Rock, Paper, Scissors Beanbag Balance at PE Universe

29. Throwing, Catching, and Rolling

This is a fun activity but it will require a lot of preparation, including asking the school maintenance staff to collect industrial-sized paper towel rolls. We love this activity because it reminds us of the old-school arcade game Skee-Ball!

Learn more: Winter Activity at S&S Blog

30. Jenga Fitness

Although Jenga is fun enough on its own, combining it with fun physical challenges is sure to be a winner with young students.

Learn more: Jenga Fitness at S&S Blog

31. Volcanoes and Ice Cream Cones

Divide the class into two teams, then assign one team as volcanoes and the other as ice cream cones. Next, spread cones around the gym, half upside down and half right side up. Finally, have the teams race to flip as many cones as possible to either volcanoes or ice cream cones.

Learn more: Warm-Up Games at Prime Coaching Sport

This fun variation on dodgeball will have your students getting exercise while having a ton of fun! Begin with three balls on a basketball court. If you are hit by a ball, you are out. If you take a step while holding a ball, you are out. There are other rules surrounding getting out and also how to get back in, which can be found in this video.

33. Musical Hula-Hoops

PE games for kindergartners that are similar to party games are some of our favorites! Think musical chairs but with Hula-Hoops! Lay enough Hula-Hoops around the edge of the gym minus five students since they will be in the muscle pot. Once the music starts, students walk around the gym. When the music stops, whoever doesn’t find a Hula-Hoop becomes the new muscle pot!

34. 10-Second Tag

This game is perfect to play at the beginning of the year since it helps with learning names and allows the teacher to get to know the first student in line.

35. The Border

This game is so fun and requires no equipment whatsoever. Divide the gym into two sides. One side can move freely while the other side must avoid letting their feet touch the floor by rolling around, crawling, etc.

36. Freedom Catch

This is a simple throwing, catching, and tag game that will certainly be a hit with your PE class. Captors attempt to tag players so they can send them to jail. You can be freed if someone on your team runs to a freedom cone while throwing a ball to the jailed person. If the ball is caught by the jailed person, they can rejoin the game.

37. Oscar’s Trashcan

As far as PE games for kindergartners goes, this one is a guaranteed winner since it is based on the show Sesame Street . You’ll need two large areas that can be sectioned off to use as trash cans and also a lot of medium-size balls. There are two teams who must compete to fill their opponent’s trash can while emptying their own. Once over, the trash will be counted and the team with the least amount of trash in their trash can wins!

38. 4-Way Frisbee

Divide your class into four separate teams, who will compete for points by catching a Frisbee inside one of the designated goal areas. Defenders are also able to go into the goal areas. There are a number of other rules that can be applied so you can modify the game in a way that’s best for your class.

39. Badminton King’s/Queen’s Court

This one is simple but fun since it is played rapid-fire with kids waiting their turn to take on the King or Queen of the court. Two players start and as soon as a point is earned, the loser swaps places with another player. The goal is to be the player that stays on the court the longest, consistently knocking out new opponents.

40. Jumping and Landing Stations

Kids love stations and they definitely love jumping, so why not combine those things into one super-fun gym class? They’ll have a blast challenging themselves with all the different obstacles presented in this video.

41. Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course

Regardless of whether you’ve ever seen an episode of American Ninja Warrior , you are probably familiar with the concept and so are your students. Plus, you’ll probably have just as much fun as your students setting up the obstacles and testing them out!

42. Balloon Tennis

Since kids love playing keepy-uppy with a balloon, they will love taking it a step further with balloon tag!

43. Indoor Putting Green

If your school can afford to invest in these unique putting green sets, you can introduce the game of golf to kids as young as kindergarten. Who knows, you might just have a future Masters winner in your class!

44. Scooter Activities

Let’s be honest, we all have fond memories of using scooters in gym class. Regardless of whether you do a scooter sleigh or scooter hockey, we think there is something for everyone in this fun video.

45. Pick It Up

This is the perfect PE game to play if you are stuck in a small space with a good-size group. Teams win by making all of their beanbag shots and then collecting all of their dots and stacking them into a nice neat pile.

46. Dodgeball Variations

Since not all kids love having balls thrown at them, why not try a dodgeball alternative that uses gym equipment as targets rather than fellow students? For example, have each student stand in front of a Hula-Hoop with a bowling ball inside of it. Students need to protect their hoop while attempting to knock over their opponents’ pins.

What are your favorite elementary PE games to play with your class? Come and share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group  on Facebook.

Plus, check out  our favorite recess games for the classroom ..

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28 Best PE Games With Absolutely No Equipment

P.E. lessons can be a bit daunting at times. All that equipment to organize and worry about. Yuck!

Then there are the safety aspects to consider. Eek!

The good news is, there are plenty of simple P.E. games that you can use with no equipment!

The Ultimate List of PE Games With No Equipment

Whether you need ideas for Kindergarten PE games, or PE games for preschool this list will spark the creativity you need for gym class or at home!

I’ve been teaching in early education for the best part of 20 years now, and in that time I’ve come up with a full armory of the very best PE games WITH NO EQUIPMENT! Woop!

Table of Contents

That’s right! Just a group of children are enough to create many games and have plenty of fun.

All you need are a good space and plenty of energy, so let’s go!

1. Stop And Go Bubbles

Practice drawing a great big pretend bubble with your finger in the air.

Reach up as high as you can and reach down as low as you can. Really reach all the way around you.

If you can reach and touch anyone else with our moving your feet you are too close to move away and make sure you are in your own space.

Stretch out in your bubble to make sure you can’t touch anyone else’s just in case you should burst their bubble.

Ask the children to move like a bubble and float around the space. How freeing and mindful this bit is!

When you tell them to stop, make sure their bubble is in a good space so that no one can burst it.

2.Extra Sensory Perception (ESP)

This is a brilliant pairs game, that is good as a warm-up or as a fun game on it’s own!.

What you do is invent three movements and demonstrate them to the group.

Once you’ve played it a couple of times, the kids can come up with their own ideas.

Three examples of moves could be:

• Doing star jumps
• Doing Jazz hands
• Jumping a 360 spin on the spot

Then everyone gets a partner.

The true challenge now is to activate your ESP, which (as pretty much all kids seem to know), is your Extra-Sensory Perception. Simply put, this is the ability to read your partner’s mind (which is very exciting).

Everyone displays one of the three moves at the same time. You want to do the move that you think your partner will do.

Do the same move? Woo woo! You activated your ESP.

Different move? Just try again.

Keep going for a few goes, before changing partners to see if your ESP works better or worse on other people.

As well as being a great PE activity, I often use this as a circle time game in class. This is one of the favorite games from my book 101 Circle Time Games…That Actually Work!

This book contains all the very best mindfulness circle games, active circle games, math games, literacy circle games, and so much more! You can check out the book here.

3. Foxes And Hares

Once the children have got a good understanding of space, and they can stop and start on your command, there are lots of fun PE games you can introduce.

Foxes and hares is a classic chase game .

Aim of the game: To catch all the hares of course!

About a fifth of the children should be foxes. So if you are playing with 10 children, 2 children can be foxes. 

The hares move around the space by hopping. To hop, they should move both feet together and then put two hands together on the floor, just like a rabbit or a hare moves in bunny hops.

The foxes also move on four legs (hands and feet) but they should be quicker as they are less restricted.

To catch a hare, simply touch them (gently, please! No fox attacks).

When all the Hares are caught by the foxes, the game is over and you start a new game with a new group of foxes.

4. Trains and Tunnels

This is a similar version to the game above. There are always loads of train enthusiasts among pretty much any age of children, so this game is always a winner.

Choose a few children to be the trains. 

Explain that the rest of the children are tunnels. They should make a tunnel by putting both their hands and feet on the floor and arching their back as high as they can to make a high tunnel with their body. 

The trains should run around the space until you shout Whoo Whoo.

At the sound of the train whistle, they should crawl through as many of the tunnels as they can. 

When a train has been through a tunnel, the tunnel is released and becomes a train. 

Keep playing until all the tunnels are trains. 

This is a fun game for pairs.

One child is the leader, the other is their shadow.

Explain how your shadow does exactly what you do. It follows you everywhere, and your movements are identical.

As the leaders move around the space, the shadow follows and copies exactly what they do.

Encourage the children to use different levels of movement.

• Roll on the floor
• Move on your hands and knees
• Move on one or two feet

Encourage them to use different speeds of movement

• Move slowly and gracefully
• Move quickly and craftily

Encourage them to use different balances

• Balance on one foot
• Balance on all fours
• Balance on two feet and one hand

Remember to swap over so that both children have a chance to be the leader. 

6. Good Toes Naughty Toes

This is another simple listening game requiring no equipment and it can be played as an indoor and outdoor game.

There are two instructions that the children are going to listen out for. Those are:

Good toes – They should stand completely still with their feet together

Naughty toes – They should dance around wildly using the space and not bumping into anyone else. (Music can be used if you want to)

This game is all about freedom and expression!

7. Noisy Running!

This is possibly my all-time favorite mindful PE game.

This is best done outside in a large space.

The idea is that the children are going to move and make noises at the same time. The volume of the sound they make will be directly linked to how fast they move.

Start by all humming very faintly, and walking really slowly.

Then try a fast walk, and raise the volume of the sound coming out of everyone’s mouth.

Then try light jogging, with a medium noise – aaaaahh – coming from everyone’s mouth, about the volume of talking.

Keep getting faster and increasing the volume! When you are running at full pelt, you will also be yelling as loud as possible – AHHHHH!

I like to do this activity in a structured way to introduce it and mix up the speeds/volumes for a while.

But then, for a couple of minutes, let the children ‘freestyle’. They choose their speeds and volumes and race around.

This activity is all about mindfulness , and experiencing a sense of freedom and liberation from inhibitions!

8. Floating!

Another mindful PE activity here.

Get the children to stand in a space and close their eyes. Then you are going to help them to visualize that they are transforming into something that floats or flies!

It could be:

Let’s imagine we start with the balloon.

Tell the children to visualize they are slowly changing into a balloon. Their skin is becoming colored rubber. And now someone is blowing them up, and they are getting lighter and lighter, and larger and larger.

Then, tell them they are fully inflated.

The children open their eyes, and now they are going to imagine they are floating like balloons around the space!

Off they go – billowing and wafting in the breeze.

After a couple of minutes, you can try transforming into feathers or eagles.

9.  Be The Teacher

This is a good way for children to start to think about the quality of their movements in PE class.

Work in pairs again. One child should be the teacher. 

Explain that as the teacher, they have to help their pupil make the best quality moves and shapes that they possibly can.

It depends on what kind of moves you are working on, but I like to do this with gym moves.

Try moves like:

• Forward roll
• 360 jump rotation

Ask one child to demonstrate the move, and the other child should help them to make it perfect.

Encourage the children to be kind and helpful. For example, they might say things like:

Tuck your head in a bit more.

Can you straighten your legs even more?

Can you reach up taller?

Ask them to use lots of praise if they spot some good quality movements and make sure they tell their partner what they are doing well.

Don’t forget to swap so that everyone has a go at being the teacher.

10. Make A Shape

Put the children in groups of 4 or 5 and give them the challenge of working as a team to make a shape.

Explain that they can work on the floor, lying down or standing up, as long as the shape is clear.

Begin with the basic shapes of:

circle, triangle, square rectangle

Build up to more difficult shapes like:

stars, hexagons, ovals, rhombus, or octagon

11. Body Letters And Numbers

You can extend this from shapes to letters of the alphabet or numbers.

Simply ask the children to make a letter by working together to get into the shape. This is a good activity for team building as they will have to work together and everybody is needed. 

12. Dance Like No-One’s Watching

Dancing is good for you for so many reasons. It’s a workout for the whole body, it encourages you to keep a beat and keep in time with music, and most of all, it’s fun.

It’s good for the soul, so put some happy upbeat music on and encourage some free dancing.

Clap your hands, wiggle your hips, wave your arms. Have fun!!

13.  Heart Monitors

It’s important for children to know that exercising makes changes to our bodies so that they aren’t frightened by the changes and they understand what is happening to them. 

This is a nice activity to explain those changes so that the children understand that it is perfectly normal.

Count down one minute of any kind of high-intensity exercise, for example:

• Fast running on the spot with high knees 
• Tuck jumps with both feet together
• Pretending to skip on the spot as fast as you can
• Burpees (lay down then jump up)

Really encourage the children to put lots of effort in here.

When the minute is up, encourage the children to put their hands on their hearts and feel it beating.

If they’ve put enough effort in, it should be pounding. Ask them to feel their forehead – it should be at least warm, if not hot and sweaty. 

Notice how fast their breathing is when they stop. They should be out of puff.

With older children, you could ask them to take their own pulse before and after exercising and see how much their pulse rate has increased. 

14. Eight Dance!

This is a great dancing game for kids of all ages.

Put some pumping music on to get everyone going!

Then pick some kind of action or dance move, and everyone does it eight times to the music while also counting at the same time – ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8!’

So, you might do eight star-jumps while counting. Or eight big marches on the spot.

Then shout out a new action, and start that, keeping the counting going throughout.

Some other good dances/actions could be:

• Arms up arms down
• Punch the air with one arm, then the other
• Arms wide, arms across your body
• Walking in place

For the older ones, the emphasis is on the movement. But for younger kids, this is also a great rote counting activity.

15. Animal Copy Cat

One child will be the leader in this game. This is the ‘cat’ that the others will try to copy.

The leader is going to pretend to move like an animal. Everyone else will copy!

For example, they might move like a monkey. They will stoop low, and swing their arms like a monkey. Everyone copies!

After a while, the leader will change the animal. They might pretend to be an elephant!

The trick is for everyone to watch for the transition and try to copy.

The leader can mix things up as quickly or slowly as they like.

16. Animal Freeze!

This is a variation of the animal copycat game above with a bit of music added.

Once again, have a leader that is going to pretend to be different animals that the others copy.

Put on some music, and the kids move around like the animal that the leader is demonstrating.

The adult will pause the music at any given moment. The children must then freeze in their best animal pose! It’s a bit like musical statues at this point. Anyone that moves could be out! (Or you can just play the non-competitive version where everyone gets to carry on each time).

17. Transformers

Wow – transformers are one of the most exciting things on the planet for many kids.

And this game really taps into this enthusiasm.

The kids are all now shape-shifting transformers. They can transform in the blink of an eye into many different types of vehicles, and move around the space like them.

Some good vehicles to try include:

• Train – with ‘chugging’ arms and lots of tooting!
• Helicopter – arms as rotas spinning over your head
• Racing cars – running around as fast as possible!
• Plane – Lots of swooping and soaring
• Monster trucks – Be as big and wide as you can

18. Mr Men/Little Miss Game

The idea of this is that the kids pretend to be some of the characters out of the Mr. Men and Little Miss books.

Some good ones to try include:

Mr. Grumpy – stamp around the room with your angriest face

Mr. Tall – Stretch up and walk as tall as you can

Mr. Bump – Go round bumping into walls and imaginary objects (though not other people)

Little Miss Tiny – Curl up like a tiny weeny ball

Lots of modeling of movements work well for this game – both from the adult and skillful children.

19. Child-Friendly Yoga

I find yoga is most effective with children when they can readily understand that the pose they are doing is mimicking something.

Some great poses that mimic things that children know are:

Household Yoga

In this, the kids mimic everyday actions in the house. It could be sweeping the floor, or washing the pots.

Lie on your front, with your hands flat on the floor next to your face.

Push upwards until your arms are straight, your chest is off the floor, and your back is arched.

This stretches the back and abdomen.

Giraffe Pose

Stand with one foot in front of the other.

Reach up high with both hands (this being the giraffe’s neck.) Then slowly bend down, and touch your leading foot with both hands.

Then slowly return to the original position.

Turtle Pose

Lie on your back. Pull your knees into your chest so that you form a ball shape. Slowly rock backward and forwards.

Your curved back forms the turtle’s ‘shell’.

20. Bean Game

This is one of those all-time classics that I thought I should include on this list.

The children pretend to be types of beans, each of which has its own separate movement.

Model two or three bean movements to start off with, have a practice, and then all play the game. Add more bean movements when the children get more confident.

The adult simply calls out a bean name, and the children move in that way.

The beans and associate movements are:

Sprouting bean  – Walk around on your tip-toes, with your arms stretched as high above you as possible

Baked bean  – Sit down on the floor

Broad bean  – Try to be as wide as possible! Walk around like this

Beans on toast  – Lie down on the floor

Chilli bean  – Shiver! This is a ‘pun’ on the word ‘chilli/chilly’ (obviously!)

Jelly bean  – Wibble and wobble!

Runner bean  – Run around like crazy

French bean  – Say, ‘Bonjour!

When you’ve played a few times, a child could potentially become the leader of this game.

21. Action Stories

This is a really good way of combining storytelling, listening, and action!

The adult makes up a story, and the children act it out.

After you’ve done it a few times, a confident child might well be able to lead this.

You want to have lots of active characters in the story, such as stamping giants, witches on broomsticks, unicorns galloping, and all that kind of thing.

As well as that, it’s good to have lots of action, such as terrible storms blowing, landslides, sinking sand, and all the rest of it.

The kids act all of these things out.

A sample start of a story might go:

‘One day the giant went stamping off through the forest. A terrible wind began to blow. The trees were swaying from side to side. Suddenly a unicorn came galloping into the forest to save the giant…’

I’m sure you get the picture!

22. Traffic Lights

Here’s another absolute classic of the repertoire!

In this, the children will pretend to be cars, and the adult gives different verbal instructions that the cars respond to.

The easiest way to play the game is to have three simple instructions that correspond to the colors of a traffic light:

Green  – Go! Jog around the space

Red  – Stop still

Yellow  – Walk on the spot, ready to go

Start easy, but you can always add more elements to the game when they are ready. Some other verbal cues include:

Honk the horn  – A noisy one, this! Go round tooting!

Roundabout  – Jog around in a narrow circle

Parking Lot (or car-park)  – Lie down on the floor

Freeway  – Run as fast as you can

23. Fox and Chickens

This is a variation of a basic tag game .

The idea is to mix up the game by incorporating a theme that the children are interested in.

So, you could have a fox catching chicken by tagging them. Or one of the following:

• A shark catching fishes
• A bird catching worms
• Or a witch catching children

Anything you think the children will respond to is fine.

24. HIIT Session

Here is a simple idea, that is great for fitness for all ages.

You have a structured sequence of activities that you perform together. Spend about thirty seconds on each movement, with a fifteen-second break.

Some simple moves include:

• Reach up, reach down
• Jumping like a frog
• Jumping in place
• Reach to one side, reach to other

For older or more skillful children, you can try some of these:

You can do one round of the activities or even two or three reps!

25. Simon Says Active Version

Of course, you all know the basic idea of Simon Says .

But it works really well in PE sessions if you make the moves super-active!

So, rather than ‘Simon says touch your nose’ kind of instructions, you want to think more along the lines of ‘Simon says crawl like snakes across the floor!’

Some other good examples might be:

‘Simon says wade through the muddy swamp.’

‘Simon says climb the rope ladder.’

‘Simon says run like a cheetah on all fours!’

26. Captain’s Coming

This is another game that is donkey’s old, but children love it generation after generation.

All the kids pretend to be on a boat. The adult gives orders to the ‘crew’.

These include:

Scrub the deck  – Get on hands and knees and start scrubbing the floor!

Swim to shore  – Use a powerful front crawl to move around the space

Into the hammock  – Lie down on the floor

Lift the cannonballs  – Lift up those super heavy cannonballs, and load them into the cannon!

Row the boat  – Row!

Captain’s coming  – Salute!

27.Melting Moments

This is a visualization and mindfulness game that is great as a warm-down.

The children are going to be imagining that they are something that melts. For example, they could be:

-A chocolate bar

-An ice-cube

Let’s imagine we go for ‘snowman’. Tell the children to stand in a space and then close their eyes.

Tell them to imagine that they are transforming into a snowman. They can feel their freezing cold body, their carrot nose, and coal for their eyes.

But now the hot sun has come out. You can feel the warmth on your face!

Feel how the snow is melting your body. Water is starting to drip down the snowman.

Imagine you are shrinking! You are getting lower to the ground! And finally, you are a steaming puddle lying on the floor.

(Ask the children to lie down and imagine this!)

28. Figures Of Eight

This is a good game to use as a warm-down.

The basic idea is that the kids stand in a space, and they are going to form a large figure 8 in the air with different parts of their bodies.

Start with their finger, but then move on to using their:

Warming Up And Cooling Down

To warm-up before PE Class or a fun activity at home, I like to play some music with a good steady beat and perform some repetitive actions for the children to copy. I make sure I warm up my arms, shoulders, feet, legs, hips, and neck. 

To cool down after PE games, try some nice long stretches for all the different body parts. I always like to finish a cool-down with some big deep breaths. Scoop up some air, stretch up and hold it above your head and then blow it away as you release your arms back down to your sides. 

Not Just Good For Physical Learning

One of the biggest benefits of daily physical activity is that children’s behavior improves as well as their overall confidence and independence. Check out this study on tracking of physical activity into into adulhood for more information on the benefits of PE Games .

Now that’s something worth trying for.

Good luck if you try out any of these fun PE games!

50 Fun PE Games Your Students Will Love

by Sara Ipatenco

Kids naturally love PE because it’s a time to be active and play fun games. An essential part of the school day, PE teaches kids the life skill of getting regular exercise. While playing the same old games over and over again can get a bit boring, incorporating a wide variety of games into your lesson plans helps keep PE fun and engaging. With a few PE staples, such as foam balls, hula hoops, and bean bags, your students will be having fun in no time! Here are 50 PE games to get you started.

1. Blob tag

Choose one child to be “it.” As that child tags other children, they link arms or hold hands to create a “blob.” The game continues until the blob has tagged everyone in the game.

2. Chain tag

This is kind of like blob tag, but instead of forming a blob, students must link arms to form a chain.

3. Bean bag balance

Give each student a bean bag. Ask the students to balance their bean bags on various parts of their body, such as their foot or knee. See how long the students can balance before they move off their bean bag falls. Give increasingly hard challenges as you go, such as on the shoulder or the thumb.

4. Clap and catch

Arrange your class into a large circle. Give one player the ball and have them get ready to toss it. Players must clap before they catch the ball. If a student doesn’t clap or drop the ball, they are out.

5. Animal races

Line your PE class up at one end of the gym or playing field for this game. Call out an animal, such as a cheetah or a frog, and students have to race to the other end, running like that animal.

This is another racing game that starts with lining your students up on one end of the playing field. Every time you yell, “jump,” students jump as far as they can. Repeat until the winning player reaches the end of the field or until the whole class finishes.

7. Bridge tag

This game starts as regular tag, but each time a student is tagged he must kneel and form a bridge. Players can rejoin the game when another player crawls under their bridge, which frees them.

8. Crab soccer

This game follows the rules of traditional soccer, but players crab walk instead of regular running.

9. Step back

Put your class into teams of two. Have them stand about three feet apart and roll a hula hoop to each other. Once the other person catches the hula hoop, they must take a large step backward and continue playing. As they get further apart, the game gets more challenging.

10. Freeze tag

This is another tag game that starts out like traditional tag. However, once a student is tagged, they are “frozen” until another player tags them. They can then rejoin the game. The last player to be frozen gets to be “it” on the next round.

11. Parachute change

Arrange your students around a large parachute. Call out things like colors the students are wearing or birthday months. Any player who fits the category you call out has to run under the parachute and switch places with someone else.

12. Parachute volleyball

Have your students arrange themselves around a parachute. One half of the parachute is team A while the other half is team B. Put a beach ball in the middle of the parachute. The objective is to launch the ball off the parachute and over the heads of the opposing team, which scores one point.

13. Banana tag

Spread your students around the play area and choose two kids to be “it.” They are the monkeys. When they tag another student, he turns into a banana and must put both arms straight up above his head. Other players can free the “bananas” by peeling them, which means they pull down one arm and then the other arm.

14. Teacher island

This PE game includes the teacher! Stand on a stool and have a bunch of cones or balls handy. Start throwing them toward the students, who are spread out around you. If a student fails to make a catch, he is out. Play continues until only one student is left.

15. Throw archery

Set up five jump ropes at various distances from where your students will stand. Give them bean bags and have them try to get them past the different jump ropes. The further away the jump rope, the more points the student gets. For example, getting the bean bag past the first jump rope is worth ten points while getting it past the last jump rope is worth fifty points.

16. Crazy moves

Set out several mats around the play area. Start calling out numbers and that number of kids need to find a mat and stand on it together as fast as they can. Any student who doesn’t find a mat is out.

17. Rob the nest

Set up the game by putting a hula hoop (nest) in each corner of the play area and ten or more basketballs in the middle of the play area. Divide the class into 4 teams, one at each hula hoop. Students take turns getting a basketball and dribbling it to their hoop. Any time you blow the whistle, students can steal basketballs from other nests. The winner of each round is the one with the most basketballs when you blow the whistle a second time.

18. Tic-Tac-Throw

Set up nine hula hoops in a 3×3 grid, like a tic-tac-toe board. Make enough grids so you can divide your class into teams of two. Give the teams two different colors of bean bags. The students will throw the bean bags into the hula hoops trying to get three in a row.

19. Bounce into buckets

Set up enough buckets in the middle of the play area that there is one for each group of two kids. At each bucket, have one student on each side. The kids take turns trying to bounce balls into the buckets. Make it more challenging by having the students back up further from the bucket as they go.

20. Backward soccer

Play this game just like you would regular soccer but turn the soccer goals around backward.

21. Speed ball

This PE game combines basketball and soccer. Divide your students into two teams and give them a rubber ball to play with. Play starts with students passing the ball to other players on their team. There is no bounce passing in this game. If the ball hits the floor, the game switches to soccer.

22. Pool noodle archery

Have one student hold up a hula hoop while another child tries to launch pool noodles through the hoop. Once a student gets a noodle through, the players switch places.

23. Kangaroos and Crocs

Divide your class into two teams – one team will be kangaroos and the other team will be crocs. Have the teams line up back-to-back in the middle of the play area. Call out one of the animals. That team will try to make it to the end of the play area without getting tagged by the other team. Anyone tagged sits down and is out. Play continues with additional rounds.

24. Noodle hockey

Play a traditional PE game of court hockey but use pool noodles and a small plastic ball instead of hockey sticks and a puck.

25. Continuity ball

Have your students spread out in the play area. Give them one beach ball and challenge them to keep it from hitting the ground. Gradually add more beach balls until you have several going at the same time.

26. Birds on a branch

Set up two balance beams and split the class into two teams. Have the teams line up on the balance beams and call out directions, such as “stand on one foot” or “put your arms above your head.” If a student falls off the beam, he is out. The winning team is the one who keeps the most “birds” on their branch.

27. Shark zone

Set up mats, hula hoops, and other PE equipment around the gym. Use items that students can stand on or inside of. These are shark-free zones. Identify one or two students as sharks. When you say go, players will run around the gym standing on mats or inside hula hoops to stay away from the sharks. If a student fails to get to a safe area before being tagged, they are out.

28. Cats and mice

Give each student a scarf – one color for cats and one color for mice. Have them tuck the scarves into their back pockets or waistband as tails. Cats will chase mice and mice will chase cats. If the opposite team catches a tail, they keep it. The winning team is the one who steals all the tails first.

29. Tunnels and trains

Choose two students to start out as trains. The rest of the students put their hands and feet on the floor creating a tunnel with their bodies. The trains must crawl through the tunnels. When a train goes through the tunnel, that student joins the tunnel at the front and the next student at the back of the tunnel turns into a train. Play continues until all students have become trains.

30. Noisy running

Explain to students that you will be playing music and the louder the music gets the faster they need to run around the play area. As you turn down the volume, they will slow their running.

31. Freeze dance

Play some upbeat dance music and encourage students to free dance. When you stop the music, they must freeze. Any student who doesn’t freeze is out.

32. Eight dance

Choose one student to start the game. Turn on some upbeat music and have the student demonstrate any move they want, such as jumping or spinning in circles. The rest of the students must copy the move eight times. Let all the children have a turn to be the instructor.

33. British bulldogs

Choose one student to be the bulldog. He stands in the middle of the play area. The rest of the players try to get past the bulldog without getting tagged.

34. Body part tag

This game is played like traditional tag except that whatever body part gets tagged cannot be used anymore. If a student gets tagged on the arm, they cannot use their arm anymore. If he gets tagged on the leg, he has to hop on the other leg.

35. Crab Kickball

This game is played just like traditional kickball except that students must walk and play in the crab walk position.

36. Broom hockey

This is a PE game played like regular hockey except students use brooms instead of hockey sticks.

37. Hop in a hoop

Lay out several hula hoops in the play area. Have students run around the hoops while you play music. When you stop the music, students must hop into a hula hoop – one student per hoop. Students who don’t have a hoop are out.

38. Hot potato

Arrange your students in a circle and give them a small ball. They will pass the ball around the circle until you blow the whistle. The student holding the ball when the whistle blows is out.

39. Scooter tag

This PE game is played just like traditional tag except students must play by sitting on and moving around on scooters.

40. Bucketball

This game is played just like regular basketball except students use a bucket instead of the usual basketball hoop.

Break your class into small teams of 5 or 6 players. Give one student from each group a jump rope. That student will spin the jump rope on the ground while the other members of the group jump over it. If the “snake” touches a student, they are out.

42. Shipwreck or Captain Says

This is a game that puts a twist on the traditional “Simon Says.” Line your students up and start calling out commands that have to do with ships and pirates, such as “swab the deck” or “walk the plank.” Instead of saying “Simon says,” you’ll say, “Captain says.”

43. Hula hoop tag

This is another version of traditional tag. Students follow the same rules as regular tag, but they must spin a hula hoop while they run around.

44. Museum guard

This game is like freeze tag. Students will tiptoe silently around the play area pretending to sneak around a museum. When you call out “museum guard” they must freeze. Students who don’t freeze are out.

45. Mirror, Mirror

Divide your class into teams of two. Have them stand facing each other. One person does a move, and the other students must copy the move. Continue playing, encouraging students to make the movements harder and more complicated.

46. Backward tag

Play this game just like regular tag except students can only walk or run backward during play.

47. Alligators in the swamp

Choose several students to be alligators and have them lay on their stomachs in the middle of the play area. Spread them out so there are several feet between each alligator. The rest of the class starts on one end of the play area and has to try to get past the alligators. If an alligator tags them, they are out.

48. Sleeping baby

Students run around the play area until they hear the teacher yell, “sleeping baby.” At this point, all the kids drop to the floor and pretend to be sleeping. The last student to “fall asleep” is out.

49. Garbage tag

Wad up a bunch of pieces of paper to be the garbage. Choose one student to be “it.” That person starts to throw the garbage at the other players. Any player hit with a piece of garbage is out.

50. Lighthouse and ships

Place several obstacles around the gym, such as cones or mats. Students will close their eyes and pretend to be ships trying to get to the lighthouse. If they run into one of the obstacles, their ship is sunk and they are out.

PE class is about to get so much more fun for your students! Any of these games are sure to make PE their favorite class of the day.

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50 Exercises and Activities for At-Home P.E.

November 3, 2020 by Evan-Moor | 0 comments

Online school means hours of sitting in front of computers and screens, both for you and your children. One of the best ways to break up this screen time is with movement sessions, or simply at-home P.E.! One of the aspects of school that gets lost in the translation to online learning is P.E. Recreating physical exercise classes at home is very important for both mental and physical development. Here are some ideas and suggestions.

Why Is P.E. Important?

In addition to giving kids a break from online school, P.E. activities are extremely beneficial in development, and they improve:

• Flexibility
• Cardiovascular endurance
• Muscular strength and endurance
• Agility and balance
• Coordination
• Power and speed
• Reaction times

Physical exercise also has a direct impact on the behavior and development of the brain. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , physical activity has an influence on cognitive skills such as concentration and attention. It can also improve children’s attitudes and behaviors.

Exercises for the Whole Family

It can be motivational and encouraging for children to do these exercises with you or the whole family. Take a break from your day to do some of these family-friendly exercises and activities!

• PE Shed : This online resource has many great ideas for at-home P.E., including activities, games, and other resources to keep kids active.
• Color matching game: Draw circles on the sidewalk using chalk, each a different color. Challenge your children to find items of similar colors and place them in the circles.
• Red light, green light: Line everyone up on one side of your yard and have one person calling out “red light, green light.” To make it more fun, change the instructions from walking or running to jumping, skipping, or spinning!
• Create an American Ninja Warrior course at home : Watch this video for ideas on how to create your own backyard ninja obstacle course!
• Fill out a bingo sheet with different exercises and call them out at random one at a time.
• After children complete the exercise, they can mark it on their bingo sheet. First to get bingo wins!
• Soccer juggling in a group
• Create your own obstacle course in your backyard
• Children lead an exercise circuit – their pick!
• Get Kids Moving workouts : These fun workouts are made especially for kids, and have fun themes like Superheroes, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and more!
• Beanbag toss (use paper plates or tape for targets).
• Bowling (set up plastic cups or other objects as targets and roll or kick the ball)
• Exercise stations: Set up four stations in your backyard, each with a different exercise (hula hooping, jump roping, agility ladders, hopscotch, etc.) and do each for 30 seconds before rotating.
• Sponge race: Using two teams, set up a bucket of water on one side of the race (one to share or one per team) and on the other side, place a cup or bucket for each team to fill. Children must race from one side with a sponge full of water and squeeze it out into the cup on the other side. First to fill their cup wins!
• Balloon/beach ball striking: Don’t let it touch the ground!

• Paper airplane contest: Design and make your own paper airplanes and then see how far they’ll fly! Use long hallways or big rooms to test distance or do fun tricks inside.
• Obstacle course using household items
• Treasure hunt: Hide an item somewhere in your home and write out clues or riddles for children to solve and find the item! You can also play hot and cold with this game, saying “warmer” as the person gets closer to the hiding spot and “colder” as he or she moves away from it.
• The floor is lava! Don’t touch the floor as you get to the other side of the room.
• Indoor bowling: Using softer objects and a hallway or clear space
• Balloon volleyball
• Indoor basketball: Use rolled-up socks as your ball and try to make it in targets, using yarn, paper plates, or baskets.
• Agility ladders (use painter’s tape to mark ladder spaces).
• Make an indoor laser maze using a hallway and painter’s tape.
• Beanbag toss: Arrange targets in a line or spread out and see if you can land your beanbag on the target.
• Hide-and-go-seek
• Wax museum: Assign one person to be the guard. While his or her back is turned, everyone can move around freely, but when the person turns around, you have to freeze in your position! Don’t get caught moving.
• Active board games like Twister
• Family yoga or stretching: Cosmic Kids Yoga : This channel has fun yoga videos for kids and the whole family.
• Indoor exercise routine (sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, etc.)

Independent Activities for Your Child

• Jump rope challenges: Assign a challenge each day. For example: 30 jumps without messing up, 10 skipping jumps in a row, etc.
• Soccer exercises: Practice passing against a wall or juggling (set goals like 10–30 juggles in a row).
• Shoot baskets, taping marks for where you want to practice shooting from.
• Tennis against a backboard
• Agility ladder exercises: Write down which ones they should do.
• Create your own workout calendar: Your child can check the calendar to see which exercise or activity is assigned (jump rope, ladders, basketball, yoga, etc.). Here’s an example of an exercise calendar .
• Cosmic Kids Yoga can be done by kids by themselves!
• P.E. with Joe : This YouTube channel supplies fun, kid-friendly workouts and exercises that can be done indoors or outdoors.
• Ring toss: Use beanbags and paper plates or hula hoops and a cone or water bottle.
• Soccer ball bowling

• Coach Wood Workouts : Coach Wood is a popular YouTube channel who does themed workouts for kids! He guides children through an activity or workout with a fun twist.
• GoNoodle Games : With a variety of games and activities (for a short or long period of time) GoNoodle will get children moving and having fun throughout the day.
• Balloon striking: Don’t let it touch the ground; challenge yourself by only using your foot or head.
• Cup stacking: A challenge that improves dexterity and coordination
• Workout circuit indoors: Assign each room an exercise (sit-ups, jumping jacks, hopscotch, etc.) and have your child complete the circuit.
• Balance beam: Use a long thin object or painter’s tape on the floor and challenge your child to cross it without falling.
• Put a twist on a regular indoor scavenger hunt by including a theme that your child enjoys! For example, make it a Pokemon, Star Wars, Harry Potter, or Princess scavenger hunt!
• Balancing challenge: Balance items like beanbags, books, or other objects on your head as you walk across a room.
• Kids HIIT Workout
• KIDZ BOP Daily Dance Break
• Digital games like Just Dance get kids moving and having fun. Just Dance Videos are available on YouTube.

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10 Exciting Movement Activities for Preschool

Welcome to our guide on 10 exciting movement activities for preschoolers! These fun and interactive activities are designed to encourage physical activity and promote gross motor development in young children. 

Great Movement Activities for Preschool

1. hopscotch.

Finding new and engaging activities for your preschoolers is always exciting. And, what could be better than a classic game that’s been around for centuries? We’re talking about hopscotch! This beloved game is not only a blast to play, but it’s also packed with educational benefits that will help your child grow and develop important skills.

So, next time you’re looking for a fun and educational activity for your preschooler, don’t hesitate to break out the hopscotch! Not only will they have a great time, but they’ll also be developing important skills that will benefit them for years to come.

2. Zoo Animals Roll and Move Game

The Zoo Animals Roll and Move Game is a fun and interactive way for children to learn about the zoo and its inhabitants while building important skills. This game is perfect for parents and teachers looking for a way to make learning about the zoo a blast.

After the game, you can even have a brainstorming session, record a list of other zoo animals, and ask the children how these animals move. This can be used for a fun round of animal charades, adding even more fun and learning opportunities to the game.

3. Exercise Eggs – Find & Move Scavenger Hunt

This next activity is a great way to get kids up and moving using the novelty of finding and opening sport-themed Easter eggs.

So, gather some plastic eggs and prepare for the Sport-Themed Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt! It’s a fun and simple approach to get kids exercising and having fun. Take lots of pictures and appreciate those little ones while they’re still little!

4. The Floor is Lava

This activity not only provides physical activity but also improves color recognition and following instructions. Have fun and enjoy the giggles and laughs with your family or class!

5. Bean Bag Toss

Introduce the next level of fun by teaching children how to toss a bean bag. Start by having them take a step back and gently toss the beanbag to you or another person. As they get more comfortable with this, you can set up a small bucket, basket, or other container and challenge them to see how many times they can successfully toss the beanbag into it.

This exciting activity is perfect for kids who love to mimic and copy. It’s a great way to get kids moving, laughing, and having fun all at the same time. It’s like a game of following the leader, but with a twist. You’ll be copying everything from silly dance moves to silly facial expressions. Imagine copying a robot dance or even pretending to be a monkey, the possibilities are endless!

For more information about this resource, be sure to check out themeasuredmom.com

7. How Many Can I Carry?

It’s a great way to teach them about balance and control. You can make the game even more exciting by challenging your child to collect a specific number of items or by timing them to see how quickly they can collect all the items. Let the games begin!

8. Alphabet Yoga

Airplane pose for A, Bicycle pose for B, Cat and Cow pose for C, Downward Dog pose for D, Elephant poses for E, Flower poses for F, Gorilla poses for G, Half Moon pose for H, Ice Skater pose for I, Jack Rabbit pose for J, Kite poses for K, Lion poses for L, Monkey poses for M, Night poses for N, Octopus pose for O, Pig poses for P, Queen poses for Q, Rock poses for R, Ship poses for S, Tree poses for T, Umbrella poses for U, V pose for V, Whale poses for W, X pose for X, and so on.

9. Tape Shape Game

Get ready for some shape-tastic fun with the Tape Shape Game! This exciting activity is perfect for kids who love to move and learn at the same time.

For more information about this resource, be sure to check out whatmomslove.com

10. Weaving Through a Rainbow

For more information about this resource, be sure to check out teachpreschool.org

Let them have fun while learning valuable lessons that will stay with them for life.

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30 Gross Motor Skills Activities for Preschoolers Your Kids Will Love

Physical activities that work their muscles benefits even little kids. Here are the best ways for your preschooler to have active fun indoors and out.

• Indoor Activities
• Outdoor Activities
• Gross Motor Skills Games

Little kids can develop their gross motor skills through a variety of fun activities. Active play that uses the large muscles of the legs, arms, and trunk is important for your preschooler's health and physical development . In fact, learning to harness the power of their muscles to run, jump, throw, catch, and kick is vital to the growth of their bodies and brains. Plus, it's a lot of fun.

Read on for our list of great gross motor skill activities for preschoolers to inspire active fun for the whole family.

Indoor Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers

Muscle-moving play doesn't have to take up a ton of room. With just a little floor space, your preschooler can enjoy these gross motor skill-building activities inside:

Playing The Floor Is Lava

  Create obstacle courses  with furniture, pillows, boxes, and blankets, and have your kids find their way through. Make it even more interesting by playing "The Floor Is Lava."

Kids can freestyle or follow songs with movements, such as "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," "I'm a Little Teapot," "The Wheels on the Bus," or "Popcorn."

Target hopping

Can you hop like a bunny? Set up targets with masking tape or cardboard to make jumping from place to place on the floor more fun.

Large-scale arts and crafts

Large crafting projects can stimulate both gross motor skills and creativity. Break out the art supplies and help your preschooler turn that old cardboard box into a rocket ship or boat.

Playing pretend

Kids boost gross motor skills when they use their bodies to become waddling ducks, stiff-legged robots, galloping horses, soaring planes, or any other creature they can imagine. Want to really get them moving? Play a game where you walk like an animal together and have them try to move like all different types of animals.

Pulling and pushing large toys

 Playing with wagons, large trucks, doll strollers, or shopping carts helps develop upper-body strength and coordination.

Playing flashlight tag

Turn off the lights and break out the flashlights. The person who is "it" in holds the flashlight and attempts to "tag" everyone else with their beam of light. Play until everyone is tagged out and then pick a new person to be "it."

Kid-friendly yoga

Yoga isn't just for grownups . Your preschooler will love getting into funky positions while learning the names of each one. And falling over is part of the fun.

Throwing paper planes

Help your preschooler make and decorate a paper plane and then use their arm muscles to see how far they can throw it.

Puzzle hunt

Hide pieces of a favorite puzzle around the house and have your kids look for the pieces as they put them together.

Dance and movement classes, like pre-ballet or tumbling, can be fun and provide opportunities for gross motor skill development and practice, but they can be time-consuming and expensive. These organized activities are great but they are not essential to your child's development. The most important thing is that kids have plenty of time and opportunities to move their bodies—whether with activities at home or in class.

Outdoor Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers

Kids have plenty of room outside to play hard and challenge their growing muscles, and in fact, even so-called rough and tumble play practiced in a supportive and safe environment can help kids regulate big emotions and learn to socialize. Help get their imaginations working by suggesting activities and games such as:

Doing balance practice

Have your child walk on a low beam or plank at the playground or a homemade balance beam.

Navigating an obstacle course

Set up outdoor obstacle courses with rocks, logs, or playground equipment that require your preschooler to climb, stretch, and reach.

Using ride-on toys

Encourage your child to play with tricycles, scooters , and other ride-on toys that require them to use their muscles.

Engaging in water play

Most kids love water play of all kinds, from swimming to playing with water squirters or sprinklers.

Playing at the playground

Playgrounds offer ample opportunities for kids to pump their legs on a swing, shoot down a slide, climb ladders, and run freely.

Going on a walk or hike

Take a walk around the neighborhood or a park. Pump up the fun and bring simple instruments to form a musical parade. As you walk, tell stories, look for colors, count, or play games.

Playing catch

Provide large, soft balls for throwing, catching, kicking, and rolling.

Doing a silly scavenger hunt

Set up a scavenger hunt but with one rule—no walking! Instead, kids can get from place to place to gather their items by marching, skipping, jogging, dancing, hopping, crawling, or even tip-toeing.

Having a weed-picking competition

Garden beds full of weeds? Help your preschooler identify the weeds, set a timer, and see who can pick the most before the timer goes off!

Giving the hula hoop a try

Older preschoolers are right around the age where they can start getting the hang of a large hula hoop. Even if they can't quite keep it going, hula hoops make for lots of active fun for kids with a little creativity.

Gross Motor Skills Games for Preschoolers

Some activities for developing gross motor skills work best outside, while others can be done indoors. But some of the best ways to motivate major movement in preschoolers is to get to play a game. Give one of these indoor and outdoor games a try:

Hit the target

Use hula hoops or sidewalk chalk to designate targets on the ground, then have kids throw bean bags or balls (even snowballs) at the targets. 

Jump the brook

Set out two jump ropes or draw two chalk lines representing the brook, and have kids try to jump over them. For a few levels of challenge, try making it wider in some spots and narrower in others. Or try having them jump with two feet and then with just one.

Paper plate skate race

 Use paper plates to glide along the carpet. Try to imitate speed skaters, hockey players, or figure skaters and have a competition or race.

Paper ball soccer

Instead of playing a real game, just let your kid enjoy kicking the ball and aiming it toward a goal, large cardboard box, or laundry basket turned on its side. For an extra challenge, try using use crumpled paper instead of balls.

There are so many great variations on hopscotch , this classic outdoor game, and between drawing the court, throwing the rock, and hopping and jumping, your preschooler will love this gross motor skill activity.

Teach little ones simple ways to play tag or other classic games  such as "Follow the Leader," "Mother May I," and "Simon Says."

See how far your preschooler can bend to get under the broomstick. Change it up by going reserving the game, and having them jump over the stick starting on the ground and moving it up bit by bit.

Another classic childhood game Twister, and you can play even if you don't have the traditional board. Try creating your own board by drawing circles with sidewalk chalk.

Fans of the show Bluey will be familiar with the name of this balloon game, but just about all of us played it as kids. Fill a balloon with air or use an old, deflating helium-filled balloon from your last party. The rule: The balloon can't touch the ground. Keep the balloon up in the air using any part of your body.

Freeze dance

Your preschooler will love this movement-based game. Stream a fun freeze dance song and get everyone involved or go old-school and have someone responsible for pausing the music to make everyone freeze.

To encourage gross motor skill development for everyone playing, avoid games that force kids to sit still or be eliminated from active play, such as duck duck goose or musical chairs. Alternatively, you can modify the games to ensure that everyone is moving the whole time!

Improving Motor Skills in Early Childhood through Goal-Oriented Play Activity . Children. 2021.

Guided Active Play Promotes Physical Activity and Improves Fundamental Motor Skills for School-Aged Children . Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2021.

Improvement in children's fine motor skills following a computerized typing intervention .  Human Movement Science . 2017.

Children’s Rough-and-Tumble Play in a Supportive Early Childhood Education and Care Environment . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021.

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18 Fun PE Games Needing No Equipment

Learning some fun PE games that don’t need equipment can be very useful for busy PE teachers, parents and child care professionals.  

They can help you provide the children you are caring for with fun activities that improve their fitness – without the need to pull out a cupboard full of equipment.  

PE games that don’t need equipment are also useful as impromptu activities at BBQs, parties, and trips away.   In this guide, I will be sharing 18 of the best PE games needing no equipment.

#1 –  Red Rover

This classic game is a lot of fun and easy to learn. In Red Rover, the participants are split into two teams of equal size that form two lines opposite each other. The members of each team will hold hands.

Each team will choose a player from the opposing team, saying “Red Rover Red Rover, send Peter over” to nominate Peter.  

Peter then has to let go of his team mates hands and attempt to run through the other team’s line, breaking their hold on each other.  

If he manages to do so, he will choose a player from the opposing team to join his team’s line.  

If Peter fails to break through the line, he will be forced to join the opposition team’s line.

The teams will alternate turns with the winner being the team that ends up with all of the players. Because all players will end up on the winning team, there are no losers in this game.

#2 – Captain’s Orders

Captain’s Orders is the perfect choice for a competitive group of kids who want to outdo each other.  

It can really test your student’s endurance levels and improve their fitness.   The game begins with one person being nominated to be the “Captain”. They must give out commands to the crew (the rest of the PE class).  

The Captain is limited to a set of commands, which you can alter if you have specific fitness objectives for the class to reach.   You could use a mixture of fun commands and physically demanding ones, like:

• Captain’s coming The crew must salute the captain and stand at attention
• Run to starboard/port The crew must run to the left (port) or right (starboard) sides of the room and touch the wall.
• Scrub the deck The crew must do 10 pushups
• Man the lifeboats The crew will perform 10 sit-ups while moving their arms like oars

You could have the crew members stand at attention after completing each task, which will make the more competitive students attempt to beat each other.   After a few minutes, change captains so a few children get a chance to be in command.

#3 – Relay running races

Running relay races are one of the simplest PE games needing no equipment.   Take the class outside and divide them into groups of 3 or 4 people each.  

Have them run 100 to 200 metres each before moving on to the next person in the relay.  

The mix-it-up relay race is fun variation of a normal relay running race.   In a mix-it-up race, each person in a relay team will perform a different action.  

The first person may have to skip, the second may have to run backwards, the third can run normally, and the fourth can hop.   This makes the race more exciting and enjoyable to watch.

#4 – Cops and Robbers (Team tag game)

There are many fun variations of tag that are useful for PE classes.   In “ Cops and Robbers ”, the PE class is divided into two teams — the cop team and the robber team.   The cops will pursue the robbers to tag them.  

Once a robber is tagged, they must go to a section of the playing area that has been nominated as the “jail”.

Robbers who have not been tagged can release their team mates by sneaking into the jail and tagging them.  

The game is complete when the cops have managed to round up all of the robbers.   Playing this game in an outdoor area with plenty of places to hide can make it even more enjoyable.  

#5 – Wheelbarrow races

This activity is very challenging and a lot of fun.   It’s best suited for fit students with decent upper body strength.   Split the group up into teams of two people that will stand on one side of the gymnasium.  

Each team will have one person go into plank position while the other grabs them by the ankles.    

When you say “Go” the person in plank position will go into pushup position while the person holding their ankles lifts them — forming a wheelbarrow .  

They will attempt to walk the wheelbarrow to the other side of the room.   Once there, they will touch the wall and switch roles before racing back.   The first team back to the starting point wins.

#6 – Duck Duck Goose

Duck Dusk Goose is a wonderful PE game for younger children.   The rules are simple and they will get plenty of exercise. Start by having the children sit in a circle facing the middle.  

Nominate one person as “it”.   They will walk around the circle touching each person on the shoulder and saying if they are a duck or a goose. If the person is nominated as being a duck, they remain seated.  

However, when someone is nominated as being a Goose, they must get up and chase “it” around the circle and tag them before they make it to the empty spot where the Goose was sitting.

#7 – Headstand/handstand practice

There are many advantages to teaching basic gymnastic techniques in the classroom. Headstands and handstands are a particularly useful gymnastic skill that can be practiced indoors on carpet or outdoors on grass.

Begin by teaching students correct headstand form — from getting into a correct starting position to eventually lifting their legs and completing the move.  

Once they understand the basics and know how to perform a headstand safely, have them split into pairs for practice.  

One student in each pair should be a “spotter” who helps the other student with their form and holds their legs. After they they have performed a few headstands have them switch roles.  

Move onto the handstands next, with groups of three (one person practicing and two to hold their legs).   If you are performing this activity outdoors, use trees to prevent students from overbalancing.  

#8 – High Jump Competition

This simple game is a great way for kids to have some fun while testing their athleticism.  

Have the children split into groups of two and stand next to a brick wall.   Have them jump as high as they can, touching the highest brick they can reach with their hand.   Each child gets 3 jumps.  

The highest jumper in each pair gets to go through to the next group, were they are paired off again and will get another three jumps.  

Eventually, you will discover who the highest jumper in the group is. You could also have a standing long jump competition to see who can jump the furthest.

#9 – British Bulldogs

British Bulldogs is a classic version of tag and one of the most popular equipment-free PE games.This game is also commonly known as “Bullrush” and “Cats and Mice”.

The game starts with all of the players at one end of a playing area.   A basketball court works well for small groups, while half a soccer or football field is better for larger groups.  

One player is selected to be “it”.   They will wait in the middle of the playing area.

When you say go, the children will attempt to run from one side of the playing area to the other without being tagged. If they are tagged, they will join the “It’ player in the centre of the playing area.

#10 – Simon Says

This is another classic game that young children love. It is easy to incorporate it into a PE class and everyone will know the rules.  

Start by either choosing a player to be “Simon” or by nominating yourself to play this role (usually better as you can then choose appropriate PE activities).

The students must follow the directives given by “Simon” as long as he starts each one with “Simon says…”.  

If a student accidentally carries out a directive that does not start with “Simon says…” they are out of the game.

You could mix up fun directives like “Simon says bark like a dog” with “Simon says, do 5 pushups” to get the PE component into the game.

The winner of the game is the last person who has successfully followed all of Simon’s orders. They get to become the next “Simon”.

#11 – Gymnastic Talent Show

Have the students split into groups of 3-4 children each and ask them to devise a short gymnastic routine that shows off their skills.  

Encourage them to do their best, but remind them to only perform stunts they are comfortable with.  

During the next 10 minutes, walk between the groups and help them plan their routines, suggesting gymnastic feats appropriate for their skill levels.   Remind them that they can help each other perform their rolls, handstands, and jumps.  

After the 10 minutes has expired, have the groups perform their routines for each other.  

#12 – Leap Frog Race

This fun PE game can be enjoyed by children of all ages.   Have your students split into groups of 2 (ideally, about the same height). Each group must race over a course that is 50 yards in length.  

However, they will have to cover the course by leap frogging each other!   If some kids have trouble jumping over their partner, let to do a couple of jump squats next to their partner instead.

To make the race more challenging, you could include “exercise pit stops” along the way.  

At each exercise pit stop, the children will have to perform a certain number of exercises. This could be star jumps, pushups, burpees, or whatever exercise you think the children would benefit from.

#13 – Light The Dynamite

This is a very challenging fitness game shared by Games Fitness .   The class is split into any number of teams that are the same size, with a minimum of 4 players per team.  

If a team doesn’t have the same number of players, you may have to alter how many repetitions of exercise they perform to keep the game fair.

Have each team sit lengthwise in a straight line, about one arms length from the next person in their team. So, if you have 5 teams, you should have five lines of people.  

You will give players in specific positions a designation of “fuse” or “dynamite” for each round.   For example, you might say players 1 and 2 in each group are fuses, followed by one dynamite player, one more fuse player, and a final dynamite player.  

There can be any number of fuse and dynamite players in each row.

The game starts with all players in a plank position.   When you say   “Light the dynamite!“, the first player is activated.

If they are a fuse player, they will immediately flip over and do 10 sit-ups then tag the next player in the line to activate them. The fuse player will hold a V-hold position after doing their sit-ups – which means they are an activated fuse.  

If the next player is a fuse, they will do their sit-ups also. However, if the next player is a dynamite player, all of the dynamite players in the team must jump up and do 20 burpees.

The first team to finish their chain of fuses and dynamite is the winner.

You can alter the types of exercises used and the number of repetitions for each exercise to make the game harder or easier.

#14 – I Spy, Fitness Version

I, Spy is a favourite game of children everywhere. One person will identify a physical object that is visible nearby and everyone else will have to guess what it is, using a series of questions.  

This   game combines I, Spy with 20 Questions to provide the kids in your PE class with an excellent workout.

Start by spotting an object in the area, like a basketball ring.   Going around the class, each student can ask one question about the item you are thinking of, or guess what it is.

If the answer to their question is “No” or their object guess is incorrect, the entire class must perform an exercise.

The number of repetitions they must perform increases every time they get the answer wrong.   So, the game might go like this:

PE Teacher: I’ve identified an object, your turn to guess – starting with Pete.

Pete: Is it an animal?

PE Teacher: No!   Do 3 pushups everyone.   Next question please Sam.

Sam: Is it alive?

PE Teacher: No!   Do 5 pushups everyone. Next question please Rebecca.

Rebecca: Is it made of wood?

PE Teacher: Yes!   It is partially made from wood.   Next question please Mark.

Mark: Is it a basketball ring?

PE Teacher: Well done.

#15 – Plankerpillar

This is a challenging game that will test the fitness of students and force them to work as a team.  

Divide the class into teams of at least 5 people each.   Have each team line up alongside each other in separate rows and nominate a finish line for the race.

When you say “Go”, all players will go into plank position except for the player furthest away from the finish line.  

They will move to the front of their team (closest to the finish line) and enter into plank position. Once they have started to plank, they will yell “go!” and the next player will move from the rear to the front.  

This is repeated until the group reaches the finish line.   As the effects of being in plank position begin to kick in, the team’s players will be yelling at everyone to hurry up!

#16 – Funny Running

This is a super fun PE game that young children will love. The objective of funny running is to get from one side of the gymnasium to the other while running like an animal.  

You can choose a different animal for each pass, including monkeys, snakes, horses, and kangaroos.  

You can also have the kids run across the gymnasium while performing a funny dance like the Floss Dance or teach them some disco moves .   Put some catch music on and they will have the time of their lives as they exercise!

#17 – Jump!

Jump is another simple game that is ideal for young children’s PE classes.   Have the kids line up against one wall of the gymnasium or on a boundary line of the sporting field.  

Then, simply yell out “1 Jump” and the kids can take   the biggest jump forward they can do from a standing start.   You can vary this by change the number of jumps you allow each time and sometimes throwing in “Steps”.

#18 – Elimination Running  

This exhausting game will help you discover which kids are the fastest in the class.

Have your students line up against a wall of the gymnasium.   When you say “Ready, Go!”, they will run to the other wall.   If you say “Ready, Go!” again while they are running towards the wall, they must turn back and reach the wall that they came from.  

If you blow your whistle, any student who hasn’t reached the wall will be eliminated.   Eventually, you will only have a small number of children left in the group.

I hope you found 18 Fun PE Games Needing No Equipment . Bookmark our website for more fun PE activities for kids .

A father to three young boys with a passion of homeschooling. I am always seeking new ways to help them learn, grow, and have fun. I have a passion for traveling with the family and exposing our kids to new experiences and life lessons.

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Fitness lesson plans during preschool help young kids get off to a strong start in their awareness of physical health. Ideally, some sort of fitness plan should be a part of every early childhood education curriculum. Teachers are able to introduce students to the many benefits of regular exercise, cultivating healthy habits early on.

Some teachers run into creative issues with bringing physical fitness to the preschool classroom. Combining fitness with subjects such as reading, music, art and other educational activities can be a fun and creative way to teach fitness. Teachers should consider the following ideas when implementing fitness into their current curriculum:

1. A fitness reading circle

The reading circle is a great place to introduce lessons about physical fitness. It’s a natural place to read books related to fitness and exercise, and a number of great titles are available to choose from. Some suggested reading for a fitness reading circle would be:

• “The Monster Health Book: A Guide to Eating Healthy, Being Active & Feeling Great for Monsters & Kids!” by Edward Miller
• “The Busy Body Book: A Kid’s Guide to Fitness” by Lizzy Rockwell
• “Spriggles Motivational Books For Children: Activity & Exercise” by Jeff and Martha Gottlieb
•  “Being Active” by Mari C. Schuh

These books are age-appropriate and talk about the benefits of regular exercise on a level pre-schoolers will understand.

Another method of instruction is to bring in books with photographs directly related to health and fitness, and pass them around the class. Have the children discuss the images, what people are doing in them and how exercise can benefit everyone. Have each child talk about their favorite fitness activity. Ask them to explain what it is they like about it and how often they do it.

2. Playing restaurant

Another creative way to get students talking about health and fitness is by having them play restaurant. This can go a long way in teaching them how to make healthy food choices, whether they’re at home or out to eat. To do this, start by creating a mock menu offering a variety of food choices, from healthy to unhealthy. This is probably all that’s needed if your space and time is limited, but you can also set up a counter, a kitchen, pretend food and a dining room if you wish. Have the children take turns playing customer, cashier, cook and waiter. Help the kids to understand how to make healthy choices, even when out at a restaurant.

3. Physical education put to music

Music can be a great part of preschool fitness lesson plans, in part because it is so easy to get kids to start moving when music is playing. Most kids love music, and it’s a great way to get them to practice some of the exercise ideas you may have discussed during the reading circle. There are a number of great audio CDs to choose from that preschoolers will love. These CDs feature songs and dance-alongs that encourage fitness in children and teach them how to exercise. Here are some audio CDs that could be a great fit for your class:

• “Physical Ed” by The Learning Station
• “Wiggle Wiggle And Other Exercises” by Bobby Susser
• “Preschool Aerobic Fun” by Kimbo

4. Fitness education art activities

Art activities are another creative area where lessons about fitness can be incorporated. Have students create self-portraits of themselves engaged in their favorite physical exercise. They might also create drawings or collages of themselves playing a sport they may have never tried before, but would like to. The point is to get them thinking about exercise, physical fitness and health and understanding its importance to a balanced life.

Preschoolers who get started early with learning about physical fitness have a far better chance of creating healthy habits that can last a lifetime. Creative and fun preschool fitness lesson plans should be a part of every early childhood education curriculum.

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Categorized as: Tips for Teachers and Classroom Resources

Tagged as: Early Childhood and Elementary (Grades: PreK-5) ,  Physical Education and Health

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Free Lesson Plans

Spark sample lesson plans, the following pages include a collection of free spark physical education and physical activity lesson plans. if you’re searching for lesson plans based on inclusive, fun pe-pa games or innovative new ideas, click on one of the links below..

Snakes and Lizards Lesson Plan

Field Day Activity

Centipede Pass

Manipulatives Lesson

Partner Hoop Rolling

Parachute Switcheroo Lesson Plan

Catching and Throwing

Catching and Throwing Circuit Lesson Plan

Skill Cards

Skill Cards (Spanish)

Back to School

Back to School (Spanish)

Social and Emotional Learning

Kindness Definition Card and Lesson

Fitness Circuits

Body Composition Circuit Lesson Plan

Mirror, Mirror Lesson Plan

Performance Rubric Assessment

Choice Count (Pedometer Activity)

Cross the Pond

3-Catch Basketball Lesson Plan

SEL Definition and T-Chart Card

Flying Disc

Durango Boot

Zone and Player-to-Player Defenses

Radio Control

Mini Soccer

Soccer Student Self-Assessments

Track and Field

Sprints and Jumps Circuit

Skill Cards (English & Spanish)

Task Cards (Spanish)

Cooperatives

Spartan Adventure Race 201

Spartan Adventure Race 101

Group Fitness

Yoga Basic Training Lesson Plan

Yoga Content Cards

Yoga Content Cards (Spanish)

Basic Training Peer Checklist

Basic Training Peer Checklist (Spanish)

SFI Certification Tracking Sheet

iGames Lesson

iStrike/Field

Boulder Runner

I Got Your Back Lesson Plan

Practice Plan

Practice Plan (Spanish)

Fitness Fun

Fun and Fitness Circuit Lesson Plan

Fitness Station Cards

Fitness Station Cards (Spanish)

Fun Station Cards

Fun Station Cards (Spanish)

Great Games

Balanced Breakfast

Flying Disc Group Challenge Lesson Plan

Task Card (Spanish)

Building Blocks

Starting and Stopping Lesson Plan

Family Fun Activities

Family Fun Activities (Spanish)

Beanbag Bonanza

Station Play Lesson Plan

Station Cards

Have a Ball

Bounce and Catch

Recess Activities

Social studies.

Social Studies Fitness Relay

State Lists

State Lists (Spanish)

Fitness Relay State Cards

STEM Fitness Training

STEM Fitness Training Cards (English & Spanish)

Me Activities

ME: INSIDE (K-2)

ME: OUTSIDE (3-5)

We Activities

WE: INSIDE (3-5)

WE: OUTSIDE (K-2)

3 Activities

3: INSIDE (3-5)

3: OUTSIDE (K-2)

Sample Resources

Group Juggling

Object Control Skills-Underhand Throwing

What Your PE Student with Autism Spectrum Disorder Wishes You Knew

Football Unit Inclusion Strategies 3-6

SPARK Holiday Lesson

Hearty Hoopla

Stop the Grinch!

Zombie Graveyard

Build a Turkey

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Preschoolers should be physically active throughout the day for holistic growth and development. Therefore, starting early is essential to helping them build a strong foundation for an active lifestyle. Physical activities lower the risk of developing diseases like childhood obesity, improve cardiovascular fitness and weight management, and help with depression and anxiety management. 

Children are naturally active. There are plenty of age-appropriate activities, such as hide-and-seek, dancing, or musical chairs, that are simple to incorporate into a preschool classroom.

While offering structured playtime is essential, it is also beneficial to allow time for unstructured physical play to keep your children active. Here is a complete guide on the benefits of physical activities for preschoolers and indoor and outdoor activities to consider at your center.

Why is physical activity important for child development?

Regular physical activity keeps children active, builds strong bones and muscles, and reduces the risk of life-threatening diseases later in life, such as heart disease and obesity. Below we go into more detail on the benefits of physical activity.

Promotes physical health

Physical activity is integral to children’s physical growth and development. Exercise stimulates the secretion of growth hormones in the brain, which are responsible for children’s height, muscle growth, and bone length. 

Regular physical activity also improves children’s fitness levels by strengthening their muscles, boosting endurance, and improving flexibility. Children can reach key physical development milestones like being able to throw and catch a ball or hop on one foot.

Develops motor skills

Motor skills involve muscle movement and coordination. Fine and gross motor skills are the two types of motor skills children should develop from an early age. Children require motor skills to perform tasks like writing, eating, and dressing. Physical activity improves children’s motor skills by boosting skeletal muscle strength and endurance.

Maintains a healthy weight

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity is common among children affecting at least 12.7% of preschoolers. The right amount of physical activity is crucial for weight management as the body burns fat and calories, converting them to energy for various activities. This significantly aids weight management and prevents childhood obesity and other lifestyle diseases.

Improves cardiovascular health

The cardiovascular system comprises the heart and blood vessels like arteries, veins, and capillaries. Poor cardiovascular health can lead to cardiovascular diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, heart valve problems, and heart failure. 

The good news is that you can protect children from developing cardiovascular diseases through physical activity. A key benefit of physical activity is that it enhances the muscles' ability to get oxygen from the blood, so the heart doesn't overwork to pump blood to the muscles. Exercising also reduces stress hormones, which burden the heart more.

Aids cognitive development

In addition to keeping your heart, bones, and muscles healthy, physical activity also boosts brain growth and aids cognitive development . This means that physical activity can help with things like memory function and how you think, learn, and problem-solve.

Improves mental health

Physical activity is good for children’s mental health . Being active can help improve your mood, concentration, and attention, and is associated with less anxiety and depression.

Fosters social-emotional skills

Physical activities, like playing sports, can boost a child’s self-esteem and encourage social-emotional skills development. Team sports can teach children how to cooperate and interact with others towards a common goal and foster a sense of accomplishment.

CDC exercise recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends different levels of physical activity depending on a child’s age. In general, children ages 3-5 should be physically active throughout the day for their growth and development. Therefore, teachers and families are advised to promote regular physical activities for children in this age group. Below are more exercise recommendation guidelines for children.

Infants: 0-1 year 

Babies need at least 30+ minutes of interactive play, including tummy time, throughout the day. Tummy time , when a baby spends time awake on their stomach, is one of a baby’s first exercises and can begin as a newborn. This is vital to strengthening the neck, back, and head muscles and promotes visual, motor, and sensory development. 

Toddlers: 1-2 years

Toddlers should be physically active throughout the day for at least three hours . Physical activity for this age group can include neighborhood walks or free play outside. 

Preschoolers: 3-5 years

Preschoolers also need to be physically active throughout the day for at least three hours including one hour of moderate to vigorous activity. Things like jumping, running, walking, swimming, skipping, cycling, ball games, and dancing are excellent indoor and outdoor physical activities for preschoolers.

Indoor physical activities for 3-5 year-olds

There are plenty of indoor physical activities for preschoolers. Here are some you can consider at your center.

Musical chairs

This classic children’s game is easy to play and will get your children moving. Arrange chairs in two rows back to back, with one chair less than the number of players. Turn some music on and have the children walk around the chairs. When the music stops, each child will race to sit on a chair. The child left without a chair will be out of the game. Remove one chair after every round until you are left with one chair and two participants. The last child to sit on the remaining chair wins. You can also play a non-competitive version of this game by having enough chairs for all children.

Dance extravaganza

Dancing is one of the best indoor physical activities for preschoolers. You only need to create room for dancing and have music on your phone, computer, or radio. Play a familiar danceable tune or song that children like and invite children to the dance floor. You can also use music and movement activities to promote physical activity.

Balloon volleyball

This activity follows the same concept as volleyball, but uses balloons instead of a real ball. Put up a piece of string or yarn across the room at approximately head height. Divide the children into two groups and help them hit the balloons over the string to the other team without it touching the ground.

Hula hooping

Hula hooping is an excellent way to promote physical activity and the only piece of equipment needed is a hula hoop. Instruct children to step into the hula hoop, bring it up to their waist level, and ask them to move their waist in a circular motion to keep it spinning and balanced. You can also have your children try spinning the hoops on their arms or simply roll the hoops back and forth to one another.

Follow the leader

This is a great activity that will teach children the importance of following rules and taking turns. The movement in this game will also help develop gross motor skills. Identify a leader and ask the rest of the children to follow the leader and perform the same movement all at the same time. Take turns switching who gets to be the leader.

Don’t let the balloon drop

The goal of this game is to keep the balloon in the air and not let it touch the ground. Give each child a balloon and have them toss and hit it upwards to try to keep it in the air. Whoever drops their balloon should sit down. The last child standing with their balloon in the air is the winner. You can also provide one balloon and make it a group activity by asking children to hit it in the air so it doesn’t touch the ground.

Outdoor physical activities for 3-5 year-olds

When the weather permits, there are endless possibilities for outdoor physical activities . Below are some you can consider:

Kick the ball

Learning to kick a ball builds children’s eye-and-foot coordination and increases their focus and attention as they kick the ball into the goal. For this activity, you’ll need a soccer ball and a goal. You can make a makeshift goal using a big empty box or laundry basket. Allow the children to kick the ball back and forth, and the aim should be to kick the ball into the goal.

Playing the sack race is a great aerobic exercise that will strengthen children’s gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Give each participant a sack that fits their size and help them to put their feet inside. The rule is that at least one hand should be holding the sack at any time. Let them hop to the finish line, and the child that gets there first wins.

Hide-and-seek

Hide-and-seek fosters problem-solving skills and self-control (by learning to remain quiet while hiding), among other benefits. Children love this game, and the best part is that you don’t need special equipment or materials for this physical activity. Choose one child to be the “seeker”. Have them close their eyes and count to 10 while the other children hide. Once the seeker has finished counting, they can start looking for the other players until all are found.

Tag is a classic chasing game that will keep your children moving. Select one child to be “it”. They must try to tag someone else who then becomes “it”. You can also play freeze tag—once tagged, children must freeze in place until another teammate unfreezes them.

Egg on a spoon race

For this activity, children have to balance an egg on a spoon as they walk to the finish line. If you don’t want to use real eggs, you can also use grapes, small bouncy balls, or fake plastic eggs. Give each child an egg and a spoon and instruct them to balance the egg on the spoon as they walk to the finish line. Whoever gets there first without dropping the egg is the winner.

Hopscotch is a great activity that combines balance and coordination skills, number recognition, and taking turns. Draw a hopscotch grid on the sidewalk using chalk and write numbers from one to nine. Give the first child a small rock or beanbag to use as a marker and toss it on square one. Have them jump over square one and continue hoping until the last square (square nine), then turn back. Next, toss the marker on square two and repeat the same process with the next child.

Physical activity for preschoolers FAQ 

What are the three components of physical activity for children.

The three components of physical activity for children are endurance, strength, and flexibility. Children develop endurance through aerobic activities like running and cycling. They can improve their strength through activities like climbing the monkey bars at the playground. Lastly, they can achieve flexibility by doing stretching exercises like bending down to touch their toes.

What sports can a three-year-old do?

Three-year-olds can participate in sports such as soccer, swimming, gymnastics, karate, and dance. However, active playing throughout the day exposes young children to enough exercise. Typically older children around six or seven years old have the physical skills, attention span, and ability to follow rules needed for organized sports.

How much physical activity does a three-year-old need?

Children should be physically active for the better part of the day since it benefits their holistic development. Preschoolers (ages 3-5) should participate in outdoor and indoor physical activities for at least three hours each day. Active play like running, hopping, jumping, and playing chase games are great ways to keep this age group moving.

Why is physical activity important for preschoolers?

Physical activity improves preschoolers' physical well-being by strengthening body organs like the lungs, heart, muscles, and bones. It also improves their flexibility, coordination, and posture. Lastly, physical activity helps with weight management and promotes an active lifestyle that prevents diseases such as childhood obesity.

Keep children active with physical activities 

Preschoolers need plenty of physical activity throughout the day for their growth and development. Physical activity helps support overall fitness, motor skills development, and cognitive development. As an educator it’s important to promote an active lifestyle by incorporating plenty of opportunities for children to get up and move throughout each day.

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31 Indoor PE Activities – One for Everyday of the Month

• By Kerry Cordy
• January 4, 2024

We know that keeping kids active and excited about physical education can be a challenge, especially in the winter. That’s why we’ve compiled a month’s worth of fun, energetic indoor PE activities. These PE activities are not just exercises – they’re adventures that will make every day a celebration of movement and joy. From creative games to fitness challenges, we’re here to help you transform your learning space into a hub of enthusiasm and physical exploration. These activities provide a variety of ways for kids to stay active indoors while having a blast. Adjust the difficulty level based on the age and fitness levels of the children participating.

Badges you may wish to earn while staying active may include badges like the Health and Fitness Badge , Obstacle Course Badge , Stretching Badge , Story Movement Badge or Yoga Badge .

31 Ideas for Indoor Active Play

• Balloon Bop: Keep balloons in the air using only your knees, feet, elbows or any other body part besides your hands.
• Animal Yoga: Pretend to be different animals while doing yoga poses. Examples include downward dog, cobra, and butterfly.
• Balloon Volleyball: Pull a string across the room to act as a net and use a balloon for a volleyball.
• Simon Says Fitness : Play a fitness-themed version of Simon Says, incorporating exercises like jumping jacks, squats, and lunges.
• Indoor Bowling : Set up a bowling alley using soft balls or rolled up socks and empty plastic water bottles for pins.
• Musical Statues: Dance when the music plays and freeze when it stops.
• Hula Hoop Contest: See who can hula hoop the longest or learn fun tricks with the hoop.
• Pillow Jumping : Place pillows on the floor and challenge kids to jump from one to another creating pathways through the house.
• Obstacle Course: Create an indoor obstacle course using household items like cushions, chairs, and blankets.
• Play Twister: If you don’t own this classic board game, make one of your own using colored paper
• Indoor Hopscotch: Use tape or colored paper to create a hopscotch grid on the floor.
• Fitness Bingo: Create bingo cards with different exercises. Call out exercises, and kids mark off the ones they complete.
• Balloon Tennis: Play tennis using balloons and fly swatters as rackets.
• Scavenger Hunt: Hide cards with fitness activities around the house. As the cards are found, the kids must do each activity such as 10 jumping jacks, 5 push ups, spin in circles, a forward roll, etc.
• The Floor is Lava: Pretend the floor is hot lava and cannot be touched. Then give a simple task such as “Go get your bedroom pillow” and see how creative the kids can be in getting it without touching the ground.
• Play Red Light Green Light: Make a starting line and finish line with masking tape. Have the caller stand just over the finish line with their back to the players. When “Green Light” is called, everyone can move from the starting line toward the finish line. On “Red Light” everyone must freeze and the caller turns around. If they see anyone moving, that person must go back to the starting line. The caller then puts their back to everyone again and continues calling. You can make it more interesting by requiring specific movements to get from one line to the next like a crab crawl or jumping jacks.
• Mini Golf: Use items found around the house to create a mini golf course. A wrapping paper tube can be used as a golf club and a pingpong ball can make a good golf ball.
• Fitness Dice: Create dice with different exercises on each side. Roll the dice and perform the exercise shown.
• Indoor Soccer: Use soft balls to play a modified version of soccer indoors.
• Indoor Basketball Shootout: Set up a small hoop and challenge kids to shoot soft balls into it or use a small waste basket and rolled up socks.
• Bubble Wrap Stomp: Tape bubble wrap to the floor and have kids stomp on it.
• Play Body Part Twister: Whatever body parts that are called out are the only body parts allowed to touch the floor. For example you might call out “Right Foot, Left Hand” and kids must stand on their right foot with their left hand touching the floor. Call out “Bum” and have them balance solely on their buttocks or get creative and make calls like “Left Knee, Rigth Elbow.”
• Balancing Act: Set up a balance beam using a straight line on the floor, and challenge kids to walk across it in different ways.
• Fitness ABCs: Assign an exercise to each letter of the alphabet and spell out words or names with exercises.
• Animal Movement Relay: Act out different animal movements in a relay race, like hopping like a bunny or crawling like a crab.
• DIY Olympics Day : Create fun competitions and award medals for things like the most jumping jacks, or the longest held plank.
• Play Limbo: Grab a broomstick and see how low you can go!
• Math Jump: Place cards with numbers on the floor. Call out math problems and have kids jump to the correct answer.
• Marching Band: March around the room with homemade instruments, incorporating movements and exercises.
• Story Movement: Act out a story through movement.
• Not in My Backyard: Divide a room with a strip of masking tape. Put 20 balled up pieces of paper on each side. On “go!” each side tries to get rid of all their paper by throwing it to the other side. The first side with no paper wins.

As we wrap up our month-long excursion of indoor PE activities we hope your homeschool or classroom has been transformed into a dynamic hub of energy, laughter, and learning. These activities aren’t just about physical fitness; they’re about fostering a lifelong love for movement, creativity, and staying active. We encourage you to carry this enthusiasm forward, exploring new ways to keep kids engaged and excited about physical education. Whether it’s rainy days or sunny afternoons, let the spirit of active play continue to thrive.

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Top 33+ Playful Physical Games For Preschoolers

Jane Ng • 16 April, 2024 • 8 min read

Attention all parents, teachers, and caregivers of energetic preschoolers! If you're looking for delightful and easy-to-organize games that will have your little munchkins hopping with excitement, look no further. In this blog, we've gathered a collection of 33 indoor and outdoor physical games for preschoolers , promising endless fun and laughter. 

Let's embark on this playful adventure!

Table of Contents

Tips for creating a safe environment for physical games for preschoolers, 19 indoor physical games for preschoolers.

• 14 Outdoor Physical Games For Preschoolers

Final Thoughts

• FAQs About Physical Games For Preschoolers

Creating a safe environment for physical games is crucial to ensure that preschoolers can have a blast without any unnecessary risks. Here are tips to help you set the stage for safe and joyful play:

1/ Start by choosing a play area with a soft and cushioned surface

A grassy lawn or a rubberized playground surface can be ideal. Avoid hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt, as they can lead to more serious injuries if a child falls.

2/ Check the equipment

If you're using any play equipment or toys, inspect them regularly for any signs of wear and tear. Make sure they are age-appropriate and meet safety standards. Replace or repair anything that looks damaged.

3/ Supervision is key

Always have adult supervision during physical playtime. An attentive eye can quickly address any potential hazards, diffuse conflicts, and ensure that children are using equipment correctly.

4/ Set simple and easy-to-understand rules for the games

Teach children about sharing, taking turns, and respecting one another's space. Emphasize the importance of teamwork and playing safely.

5/ Help kids learn to pay attention to their bodies

Playing can be tiring, so ensuring they stay hydrated and take short breaks will keep them energized and reduce the risk of overheating.

If a child is feeling tired or sore, they should take a break.

6/ Always have a basic first aid kit nearby. 

In the case of minor cuts or scrapes, having the necessary supplies readily available will help you quickly attend to any injuries.

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Indoor physical games for preschoolers can be a fantastic way to keep them active and engaged, especially on days when the weather doesn't permit outdoor play. Here are 19 fun and easy-to-organize games:

1/ Freeze Dance: 

Play some music and let the children dance around. When the music stops, they must freeze in place until the music starts again.

2/ Balloon Volleyball: 

Use a soft balloon as the ball and encourage the kids to hit it back and forth over a makeshift net or imaginary line.

3/ Simon Says: 

Have a designated leader (Simon) give commands for the kids to follow, such as "Simon says touch your toes" or "Simon says hop on one foot."

4/ Animal Races: 

Assign each child an animal and have them mimic the movements of that animal during a race, like hopping like a bunny or waddling like a penguin.

5/ Mini-Olympics: 

Set up a series of simple physical challenges, like jumping through hula hoops, crawling under a table, or tossing beanbags into a bucket.

6/ Indoor Bowling: 

Use soft balls or empty plastic bottles as bowling pins and roll a ball to knock them down.

7/ Obstacle Course: 

Create an indoor obstacle course using pillows to jump over, tunnels to crawl through, and masking tape lines to walk along.

8/ Laundry Basket Basketball: 

Place laundry baskets or buckets on the floor and have the kids toss softballs or rolled-up socks into them.

9/ Indoor Hopscotch: 

Use masking tape to create a hopscotch grid on the floor and let the kids hop from one square to another.

10/ Pillow Fight: 

Set ground rules for gentle pillow fights to allow the children to release some energy in a fun and safe way.

11/ Dance Party: 

Turn up the music and let the kids dance freely, showing off their moves.

12/ Indoor Soccer: 

Create goals using household items and have the children kick a soft ball or a rolled-up pair of socks into the goals.

13/ Animal Yoga: 

Lead the kids through a series of yoga poses named after animals, like "downward dog" or "cat-cow stretch."

14/ Paper Plate Skating: 

Place paper plates under the children's feet and let them "skate" around on a smooth floor.

15/ Feather Blowing: 

Provide each child with a feather and have them blow on it to keep it in the air as long as possible.

16/ Ribbon Dancing: 

Give the kids ribbons or scarves to wave and twirl around while dancing to music.

17/ Indoor Bowling: 

Use empty plastic bottles or cups as bowling pins and roll a ball to knock them down.

18/ Beanbag Toss: 

Set up targets (like buckets or hula hoops) at varying distances and have the children toss beanbags into them.

19/ Musical Statues: 

Similar to the freeze dance, when the music stops, the kids have to freeze in a statue-like pose. The last one to freeze is out for the next round.

These indoor physical games are sure to keep preschoolers entertained and active even on the rainiest days! Remember to adapt the games based on the space available and the children's ages and abilities. Happy playing!

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Outdoor Physical Games For Preschoolers

Here are 14 delightful outdoor games for preschoolers:

1/ Duck, Duck, Goose: 

Have the kids sit in a circle, and one child walks around tapping others on the head, saying "duck, duck, goose." The chosen "goose" then chases the tapper around the circle.

2/ Red Light, Green Light: 

Designate one child as the traffic light who shouts "red light" (stop) or "green light" (go). The other kids must move towards the traffic light, but they must freeze when the "red light" is called.

3/ Nature Scavenger Hunt: 

Create a list of simple outdoor items for the children to find, like a pinecone, a leaf, or a flower. Let them explore and gather the items on their list.

4/ Water Balloon Toss: 

On hot days, have the children pair up and toss water balloons back and forth without popping them.

5/ Bubble Party: 

Blow bubbles and let the kids chase and pop them.

6/ Nature I-Spy: 

Encourage the kids to find and identify various natural items in the surroundings, like a bird, a butterfly, or a specific tree.

7/ Three-Legged Race: 

Pair the kids up and have them tie one leg together to race in pairs.

8/ Hula Hoop Ring Toss: 

Lay hula hoops on the ground and have the children toss beanbags or rings into them.

9/ Obstacle Course: 

Create a fun obstacle course using cones, ropes, hula hoops, and tunnels for the children to navigate.

10/ Tug of War: 

Divide the kids into two teams and have a friendly tug of war using a soft rope or a long scarf.

11/ Sack Races: 

Provide large burlap sacks or old pillowcases for the children to hop in a sack race.

12/ Nature Art: 

Encourage the kids to create art using natural materials they find, like making leaf rubbings or mud paintings.

13/ Ring-Around-the-Rosy: 

Gather the children in a circle and sing this classic song, adding a fun spin at the end by all falling together.

14/ Outdoor Picnic and Games: 

Combine physical play with a picnic in a park or backyard, where the kids can run, jump, and play after enjoying a tasty meal.

Remember to always prioritize safety and make sure the games are suitable for the age and abilities of the children involved. 

Physical games for preschoolers are not just a way to burn off energy; they are a gateway to joy, learning, and unforgettable experiences. Hopefully, with these 33 physical games for preschoolers, you can make every game a treasured memory your kids carry with them throughout their journey of growth and discovery.

Make sure not to miss out on the treasure trove of templates and interactive features offered by AhaSlides. Dive into this library of creativity and design the most amazing game nights for you and your family! Let the fun and laughter flow as you embark on exciting adventures together.

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What are examples of physical activity for preschoolers? 

Examples of physical activity for preschoolers: Balloon Volleyball, Simon Says, Animal Races, Mini-Olympics, and Indoor Bowling.

What are fun physical activities for kids? 

Here are some physical activities for kids: Nature Scavenger Hunt, Water Balloon Toss, Bubble Party, Three-Legged Race, and Hula Hoop Ring Toss.

Ref: Active For Life | The Little Tikes

A writer who wants to create practical and valuable content for the audience

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20 Creative Movement Activities for Preschoolers

When people hear the words “learning” and “education,” they usually think of schools, books, teachers, exams, scores, IQ, etc.—things that have to do with the academic definition of learning.

Because of this, people frequently overlook other aspects of development and place little to no value on learning to move and learn through physical means. Parents should give creative movement activities to their young children because they are still growing and trying to figure out how their bodies work. If they cannot grasp their full physical potential, it might also hinder their academic progress.

Movement or gross motor activities are fun action games that engage the body’s different parts and muscles. These activities help improve a child’s body coordination and, when done right, can help them discover different physical skills and talents that they can continue to develop throughout the years.

So, the next time you are thinking about doing something educational for your preschooler, give these creative movement activities for preschoolers a go and watch your child enjoy learning while building their physical and body strength.

Jumping Animals

Activities that help kids learn not only how to move but also how to talk and think are always a good idea. This activity is easy and can help your preschooler improve a lot of skills. By first showing your child how animals move, like jumping kangaroos, hopping rabbits, flying birds, swinging monkeys, and running tigers, they not only move their bodies and learn gross motor skills, coordination, and balance , but they also learn about different kinds of animals and improve their cognitive skills.

You can find out more about this activity at The Inspired Treehouse .

Get Up and Move Dice Game

By making this DIY dice game, you can add a little twist to your animal movement activities. On one side of the dice, write the typical moves that animals make, and on the other, write the names of different animals that your kids know or need to know. The rules of the game are easy: when the dice land on an action, they have to do it while pretending to be the animal that the dice showed.

The results of this little game are never the same. The little ones could be jumping around like monkeys one minute and hopping like frogs the next. They could also be put together in different ways, like having to act like a dog that slithers, which would also give your kids room to be creative.

For more ideas about this activity, check out the Growing A Jeweled Rose blog.

The Floor is Lava!

Everyone should know how to play this game. The rules are simple: don’t step on the lava!

Make it more creative and fun for your preschoolers by putting colorful papers all over the floor to make “safe areas.”

Your little ones will run, jump, hop, and laugh as they try to “survive” getting hit by the “lava” in this activity.

Check out more tips on this activity at Hands On As We Grow .

Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunting is another common game that parents should play with their kids more often. It’s fun and hard, and at the same time, it encourages kids to be more physically and mentally active.

First, hide the items or treasures. Then, give your child hints about what to look for and where to look. Clues could be a picture of the place, a hint about the color of the item, or anything else that helps your preschooler think creatively and think through problems.

For more ideas about this creative movement activity, check out Raising Children.

Tape Shape Fun

For this activity, all you need is tape and some floor space. You can play with your kids by taping different shapes, letters, and symbols all over the floor and giving them random instructions that require them to move and comprehend.

Give out movement challenges like “dance your way to the letter X,” or “hop to square,” or “walk backward to A,” and so on. Be creative and make this activity hard, but make sure you do it in a safe place so your child can move around and play without worrying.

For more information about this movement activity idea, visit Toddler Approved .

Don’t Let the Balloon Touch the Ground

We often see this activity during children’s parties and special occasions like birthdays and school fair events. But they are easy enough and fun enough that your kids can also play them at home.

You just need a balloon , and you’re good to go. The goal is easy: don’t let the balloon touch the ground. You can do this with a countdown or by having the kids hold up the balloon for the length of a nursery rhyme. You can change the way the game is played in a number of ways, such as by using paper plates as paddles or by assigning “it” players who can’t touch the balloon.

For more ideas on how to do this movement activity with your kids, check out Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, oh my!

Balloon Blow

This activity looks easy, but it is one of the many challenging yet fun games you can play with your preschooler to enhance their gross motor skills, control of their breath, and even math skills.

Your child’s job is to blow the balloon across a certain area. They count how many blows they have to make to get to the goal. This helps them learn to count while also learning to control their breath.

It will also keep them in a crawling position and help them find ways to make their bodies more comfortable and better at moving in limited ways.

Check out How Wee Learn to learn more about this craft.

Color Toss Activity

This activity requires a little DIY time. Cut holes in a piece of cardboard and write the colors on them. Use the colors of balls you have at home to paint them. You can decorate the entire board.

The goal of the game is easy: just shoot the colored balls into the holes on the cardboard that are the matching color. Give your kids points for each ball that goes through, and be ready to give them prizes when the game is over.

As they shoot the balls and run around to pick them up, they will burn off some energy. As they add up their scores, they will also learn about colors and how to count.

To check the details of this activity, visit Minne Mama .

DIY Hallway Laser Maze

A laser maze in your hallway? That could only mean fun! So go ahead and set one up for your kids.

They will try to get out of the maze while being careful not to touch the “lasers.” They will be twisting and bending their bodies, which is a great way to work out and improve their large motor skills.

Learn more about this activity at It’s Always Autumn .

DIY Bowling

Do you have some extra disposable cups at home? Then glue some together to create homemade bowling pins. Your children will have a great time knocking over these cups in the comfort of your home.

Check out Kids’ Bible Teacher to learn more about this activity.

Straw Javelin Throw

The point of this game is to throw a drinking straw and see who can get it to go the farthest. You can set up a point system and use bowls of different colors to keep track. The bowl closest to you might be worth 5 points, the next one 10 points, and so on. Your kids will compete to see who can throw the straw javelin the farthest and get the most points. Make sure to mark the area where they should stand.

Read more details about this creative movement activity at Toddler Approved .

Backyard Obstacle Course

Nothing spells movement activity better than a fantastic (and safe) obstacle course for your preschoolers! Simply create your course using items you already have in your yard, like planters, buckets, a garden hose, etc.

Your kids will be jumping, crawling, and weaving through the course. It could get messy, but that’s part of the fun, right?

Check out My Four Ps for more ideas on how to build your backyard obstacle course for your kids. Check out these outdoor activities for more ideas.

Hopscotch is an old game that all kids should learn to play at some point. It is fun and a whole lot of physical movement is involved. It teaches kids the value of hand-eye coordination as well as improves motor skills.

Check out Empowered Parents if you need more ideas on how to do this activity with your preschoolers.

Tin Can Golf

If you want an easy indoor activity that helps your kids improve their motor skills, this is the one for you.

Create a mini golf course inside your home using tin cans. Make sure you clear the cans of sharp edges so that your little ones do not get hurt when they take out the balls when playing. Children will love being able to putt into tin cans and improve their motor skills.

For more details about this craft, check out The Craft Train .

Laundry Basket Ball

This activity is a makeshift version of a normal basketball game that also includes some crossover from soccer. But you use a laundry basket instead of a hoop. This is a fun way to get your kids moving, especially when you just want to do something unique with your kids.

Check Imaginative Homeschool for more details about this DIY kids’ game.

Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

This is a twist on the usual scavenger hunt. This time, each item on the list that your kids need to find starts with a letter of the alphabet. They will be running around your house looking for these things. In one version, there is a list of things to find. In the other version, there is a space next to each letter, so your kids can find anything at home that starts with that letter. It gives your kids the perfect mix of physical and mental activity they need!

See more ideas for this activity at Play Party Plan .

This is another classic game that your kids can easily play with their siblings or friends when they want to learn something new while having fun.

Sneak a lot of physical movements into what “Simon says” so that you can help your kids start learning gross motor skills.

For more ideas, visit Homeschool Preschool .

Musical Hide and Seek

This is an excellent activity for kids who are still learning the concept of hiding and seeking. You will need a toy that plays music or can be wound up. You turn on the music, hide the toy, and let your child follow the sound to find it.

It encourages movement and enhances auditory skills as well as cognitive skills. This is an activity that can help to enhance your child’s motor skills and improve his memory.

The Animal Tag

Kids love the game “tag” because it brings them together to collaborate and win. It is also full of challenges for motor planning, agility, coordination, balance, endurance, and ways to improve general gross motor skills. In this game of tag, your kids will pretend to be their favorite zoo animals, like kangaroos, monkeys, cheetahs, or zebras! There must also be two players who play the monkey , who will free the other players if they get locked up, and the zookeeper, or “IT,” who will tag the players.

The only way for a player to move is as the animal they are given at the beginning of the game. So expect to see the kids galloping like zebras or jumping like kangaroos.

The Inspired Treehouse has more details about this unique game of tag.

Brain breaks are fun when you use Mimic Me movement cards. You can buy cards already made online, or you can make your own. This fun, interactive movement game or brain break is great for preschoolers who need to get up and move around. During the game, you just show your kids a card, and they act out what it says. Once a player is out, they can’t join again until the end of the round. In each round, the winner is the last player still in the game.

You can see Teachers Pay Teachers’ blog post to learn more!

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30 Best Energetic PE and Gym Games for Kids

1.  Bean Bag Balance

2.  bean bag toss, 3.  balloon drop, 4.  animal jumping tracks , 5.  animal yoga , 6.  drop, catch, throw and tag, 7.  simon says, 8.  hopscotch , 9.  move it or lose it, 10.  red rover rollover.

Phone screens shrinks your kids’ daily physical activity requirements, which may hurt their physical motor skill development. However, recess and gym games for kids are a great stimulus to develop their motor ability. A great idea would be to engage them with age-appropriate yet fun games. If you are looking for such exciting games for your gym class, here are 30 games that will make your job easier.

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List of 30 Best Gym Games for Kids

With different types of games available in the market, we have classified our list in categories to help you to find the best PE games for kids:

Exciting Gym Games For Kindergartners

Preschoolers are full of energy and excitement, and physical activity boosts this trait. Physical exercises also improve their balance, reflex, flexibility and other motor skills crucial for their holistic development. Here are some amazing gym activities and workouts for kids to boost their fitness as well as their overall well-being:

A good game to start with, it’s all about challenging the little ones to balance the bean bag on different parts of their body. Ask kids to walk or crawl with balancing bean bags on the shoulders, between the knees, on the back, etc.

This game will enhance their fine motor development as it involves walking, running, hopping, and maintaining momentary stillness- all by striking the right balance.  

  Tip : Get creative! Engage with them by visualizing funny scenarios, like asking them to imagine the bean bag as an egg that will fall and crack if the balance goes off.

This is another game where bean bag just serves the purpose. Bean bags are easy to grip and cause no injury even in accidental hits. To play the game, you can draw the targets on the floor and have kids throw the bean bags into targets. This will develop their accuracy, throwing and coordination skills. 

Tip: To make the game livelier, you can put down hula hoops or baskets instead of drawing targets manually. 

Volleying the balloon up high for as long and not letting it drop is the essence of the game. Allow kids to use their hands to keep the balloon off the ground, as this will enhance their flexibility and striking abilities.

Tip: As an add-on in the game, a teacher can ask students to call out a fellow student’s name while volleying up the balloon. This way, students can learn each other’s names and coordinate.

For little ones, this outdoor game can prove to be engaging. The idea is to draw different colored tracks and ask the kids to jump by chanting the color names. This game will foster color recognition and gross motor skills in kids. 

Tips: Do not use more than four colors for preschool kids otherwise they will feel burnout switching colors and will /eventually lose interest.

It’s time to get some yoga poses for kids to get them moving. For this game, you can use cards with animal yoga poses on them. Simply ask the kids to pull out a card from the deck and imitate the yoga pose shown on the card. Playing such games regularly can improve their overall flexibility. 

Tip: You can make the game more interesting by playing it in groups with half the class strength. Make a group of four students each and assign a card to them. Let the other half of the class decide on the best performers!

Preschool years are the best when it comes to firming the hand grip of kids. You can play this Drop and Catch game in groups but with a twist. Ask the kid in the middle to tag another kid and throw the ball to him while the latter will have to catch the ball before it bounces twice. This is a fun ball game for kids .

Tip: If the ball is too challenging to catch for kids, use a balloon.

Wanna know how to get your students hooked to giggles on Wednesdays? Well, Simone says ‘play’! Simon Says is one of the best games to achieve fun and physical movement at the same time. You can use all the exercises to get the kids moving such as touching toes, side bends to touch the ground, hopping forward and backward, flamingo legs, jumping in one place, etc.

Tip : To add a more exciting touch to the game, you can incorporate dance songs for kids and get them grooving.

Gym Class Games for Lower Elementary Kids

Gym games for kids are a fun way to make your classroom fun along with encouraging kids to stay fit. Here are some of the most exciting gym class activities for lower elementary kids:

Hopscotch is a classic, loved game among children and adults alike. It not only contributes to developing gross motor skills, but also coordination and numeracy skills. Draw numbers from 1 to 10 with some boxes and you are good to go! 

Tip: Bring a fun twist in the game by making new rules such as ‘low feet jump to 10’, ‘hope like a frog as you count’, etc.   

Incorporating movement in the classroom routine using visual cues card can do wonders for the overall development of kids. You can make a set of visual cue cards and mention different actions on them such as jumping high, marching around, running in place, etc. Have your kids pull out a card and mimic the action. This will help improve their gross motor skills, receptive language, and motor imitations.

Tip : Attach the visual cards to popsicle sticks to make them easy to carry and increase their mean life.

Every so often, schools have either limited budgets or are unable to get supplies when needed. In such cases, gym games for kids that can be played without any equipment come to the rescue and RRRO is one of them. Teachers should challenge the students to roll sideways from their position until they reach the finish line and touch one member of another team. It’s a great game for pleasant weather days and gives good exercise to little ones. 

Tip: The bigger the team, the better the game.

11.  Shark and Minnows

This one is another great game that doesn’t require any equipment or setup but will surely bring up some cute giggles. It’s a tag game where one student i.e., the shark chases the rest of the students i.e., minnows. Consequently, every tagged student becomes a shark until there is a single minnow left- the winner of the game. 

Tip: Don’t forget to set some ground rules else the kids may run hither and thither, eventually increasing the risk of getting hurt.

12.  Beach Ball Blanket Toss

Make groups of four and ask kids to hold all four corners each of a big cloth or bedsheet. Throw a beach ball on the blanket and watch the excitement of the other kids as they try to catch the bouncing ball. In all, a good game to build grip and patience.

Tip: Instead of using a big cotton cloth piece, you can use a quilt as it will give a good bounce, adding more thrill to the game.

13.  See if You Can

Activity card games are a brilliant educational resource to teach kids, be it academics or movement skills. You can use such cards conveniently to teach kids about body composition and get them on a moving spree. The cards have instructions that go around movements like jumping, skipping, sprinting, balancing, leaping, etc. 

Tip: Challenge kids to attempt 3 activities each within a set time.

14.  Make an 8

This game will prove to be an excellent physical activity for teachers, let alone students. All you have to do is arrange for two tall cones and place them 3-4 meters apart. Now ask your students to face forward and move side-to-side in and out of the cone making a figure 8.

Tip: Once the students form an 8, ask them to repeat the activity while holding a basketball.

15.  Catch the Cones 

Teachers can stand on a box with 10 colored cones in her hand while the students stand all around the box. The game begins when the teacher throws the cones in the air all around and the students will have to catch the cones before they hit the ground. The student with a maximum number of cones at the end will be the winner. Playing this game repeatedly will enhance the catching and coordination skills of the students.

Tip: You can add a fun element to the game by giving points for different colored cones. 

16.  Obstacle Course 

This is a fun indoor game for kids , Obstacle Course improves agility, balance, and coordination in young kids. Place obstacles such as hula hoops, chairs, or ropes on the floor and ask kids to move swiftly as they dodge them.

Fun PE Games for Upper Elementary Kids  

Physical activity games for kids are crucial for their growth. Let’s have a look at some fun PE activities for upper elementary kids!

17.  Egg and Spoon 

You cannot deny playing this ultimate hand-eye coordination game in your childhood. Simply give your students a spoon and ask them to balance the egg as they move from one point to another. The one who reaches the finishing line first wins the game. 

Tip: Dancing or singing while balancing the egg on the spoon will make it all the more challenging and fun. 

18.  Follow the Pattern 

Get set for an energetic and entertaining game that encompasses balancing activities with moving in patterns. The teacher will give calls throughout the game that will have instructions about the movement such as jumping and landing on two feet, galloping, hopping on one foot, etc. The students who follow all the patterns without fail will win the game.

Tip: You can level up the game by giving out calls every 20 seconds.

19.  Tail Tag

Students aged 9-12 years can be taught skills such as teamwork, healthy competition, strategy, and other physical skills through such games. As the name suggests, Tail Tag is all about grabbing as many tails as possible. Here tails are nothing but a piece of cloth that will be tied to a belt. Students have to grab and collect these tails as they chase each other.

Tip: Do not tuck or tie the cloth too tightly for kids as unmindful grabbing might lead to subtle hurt.

20.  Bounce the Bucket 

Another game that will surely make a PE class exciting! You will require 8 cones, 3 buckets, and 4 balls. Arrange the cones on the sidelines and buckets in the middle, and Tada! your setup is ready. The students will have to bounce the ball on the ground once and then throw it into the bucket from a distance. Bounce the Bucket will help motor skill-building in upper elementary kids. 

Tip: Use a basketball for a great bounce!

21.  Jump the Noodle 

In this game of two, you will just need a foam noodle. The idea is to jump over the noodle without touching it as the other player swipes it left, right and center. A pair that can finish 10 jumps each without any interruption receives the prize.

Tip: Allow the students to pair up themselves with their choice as it will help them coordinate and play.

22.  Rob the Nest

All the basketball lovers, assemble! The students will love the thrill and competition that this game offers. A large square is to be made using 4 hoops with many basketballs in the middle. Each team member will come forth and dribble the basketballs from the middle to their team’s spot. Once no ball remains in the ball, know that it’s time to run around and steal the balls from each other.

Tip: Make 4 teams with no more than 2 players to avoid complexity and confusion.

23.  Cat’s Corner 

Similar to dodgeball, the throwers in the game are cats who try to hit the runners i.e., mice using the ball. If the mouse gets hit by the ball before landing in the corner safe space, he is considered out.

Tip: To keep the game interesting, there must be an equal number of cats and mice.

24.  Shadow Tag

Tag games are a great way to engage the students . They aid in the development of skills like gross motor, endurance, and social and cognitive skills. Unlike other tag games, here students have to tag a runner’s shadow. A perfect time to play this game is during mid-day.

Tip: Set a rule where the player has to call out ‘SHADOW’ as soon as they hit a runner’s shadow, else they’ll be out of the game.

Top Gym Games for Middle Schoolers

PE games that incorporate empathy and teamwork are very important for middle schoolers ranging between fifth grade and eighth grade. Here are some of our favorites: 

25.  Backward Soccer 

Where are all the soccer lovers? This game is soccer but with a backward twist. Players are not allowed to use their feet to advance the ball; their hands are the action weapons now. They must use only their hands to shoot, pass or dribble. Even goalies will only be allowed to use their hands in defense. 

Tip:   Keep a guide ready in case the students get all mixed up with the rules.

26.  Yoga Cards

Yoga is a good option for middle schoolers. Keep some yoga cards ready for your next PE class and ask them to hold each yoga pose for not less than 10 seconds.

Tip: If some students repel the idea of yoga, don’t worry. They will surely appreciate how relaxed they feel after some meditation treat. You can also show them some meditation videos for added engagement.

27.  Noodle Archery 

This is a classic archery game but with some fun modifications. Hang one hula hoop or have someone hold for you at some distance. Set up three lines at a different distance from the hula hoop which will act as the shooting positions. Ask each student to throw the pool into the hoop once from each line. 

Tip: Assign points to each line- highest to the farthest line and lowest to the closest one. This will make the game more competitive. 

28.  Relay Race 

Relays are the real ‘old is gold’. This game has been there for ages and never fails to excite the players and spectators. Relay Race not only enhances the natural competitive side of children but also encourages the development of gross motor, teamwork, and empathy skills. One high-five between players and you know it’s time to take over the race.

Tip: The tip here is that there is no need for any tip. The game in itself is sufficient to keep you on your toes.

29.  Pole Weave 

This is a great exercise to do twice or thrice a week. Place three straight poles and three crossed poles diagonally on the ground. To win the game, students will have to jump over the cross poles and sprint to weave in and out of the straight poles without touching any of them. 

Tip : You can make the game more challenging by asking students to jump over the crossed poles and back at least 3 times.

30.  Speed Ball

A mix of basketball and soccer, this is a challenging brain game for kids . It is played in two groups where both teams have access to a basketball net and goals each on their side. A team player passes the ball in the air like a basketball, but if it falls on the ground, the game switches to soccer. It’s all hands now!

Tip: Keep negative marking when the ball falls on the ground to make the game competitive.

Let’s Make Fitness Fun for Kids!

PE classes can be very fulfilling if the games are both exciting and physically challenging at the same time. Instead of forcing them for boring squats and push-ups, you can engage them in such games. Motivation is necessary but how it is conveyed also plays a central role. And, it’s all up to PE teachers to how tactfully they face this challenge. Moreover, the list of the gym games for kids is not exhaustive. There’s always room for tailoring a game to your student’s needs and skill requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can i motivate students to be physically active.

It’s a challenging task, but you do not need to worry! Apart from engaging them in group gym games for kids, you can allow them to groove to some dance and music, with activities like Zumba and Dance Aerobics. However, you must be vigilant about the kind of music being played on the speakers. A smart move would be to decide student-friendly music playlist well in advance. Secondly, you must highlight the difference between being a fitness freak and being physically active.

How often can I let students play these games?

It depends on the schedule of PE classes provided by the school authorities. For preschool kids, the gym games for kids could be played once every day. However, for upper elementary and middle schoolers, twice or thrice a week would be enough.

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