Games
- Hide n Seek / Sardines – Sardines is a great twist on the familiar game of Hide n Seek. Only one person hides (the ‘hider’). Everyone else (the ‘seekers’) must try to find the ‘hider’. Once a ‘seeker’ finds the ‘hider’, they must join them in the hiding spot and become a ‘hider’ too! The active searching of the seekers is great because it gets everyone moving to try to quickly find the ‘hider’.
- Dodge ball – Using foam balls, try to hit the opposing team (below the shoulders). The team that lasts the longest wins! Dodging balls is a great all-over workout, and throwing balls to the other side will work those arm muscles. (Variations: Dr. Dodge ball, Prison Ball)
- Catch – Great way to get your arms working and your heart pumping if you are running to catch the ball! Try a tennis ball in the toe of a long sock – it will fly much further and you will cover a larger distance. (Variations: Jackpot)
- Frisbee – Set up a ‘frisbee golf’ course where the object is to catch the frisbee in a designated area (ie: the green/hole). Work as teams while you exercise your arms throwing, and your legs running to catch the frisbee. Check out Ultimate Frisbee for a variation!
- Grounders / Marco Polo – Tag where only the person who is ‘it’ can touch the ground. The ‘it’ person must keep their eyes closed at all times. They can call ‘Marco’ and anyone playing must answer ‘polo’ to let the ‘it’ person have an idea of their whereabouts. If the ‘it’ person hears someone touch the ground, they can call ‘grounders’ and anyone touching the ground is automatically ‘it’. This game will get every muscle working .... you’ll be running, chasing, and dodging!
- Kickball – Your lungs and heart will get a great workout with this baseball-like game. Score ‘runs’ by kicking a large bouncy ball out of reach of the other team and rounding all four bases.
- Tee-Ball – Great baseball-like game for those who need a bit of help connecting with the ball. Running to bases will get your heart pumping and your legs working hard. Check out Calgary West Little League
- Soccer – What a great all over sport! Soccer will work your legs, your heart and your lungs! Check out Calgary Minor Soccer Association
- Evolution – Uses the basic idea of rock paper scissors. Everyone starts as an amoeba and you must wiggle around on the ground. When you meet another amoeba, you play rock paper scissors. The winner goes on to become a dinosaur, where they must crawl on the ground. When they meet another dinosaur, they will play rock paper scissors. The winner will become a turkey and will hop around on both feet. When a turkey meets another turkey, rock paper scissors is played again. The winner becomes a superhero (the object of the game) and must run around in circles with arms outstretched (like Superman!). Anytime you don’t win at rock paper scissors, you must go back to the amoeba stage. This game is a great all-over workout for all your muscles!
- Elephant, Giant, Palm Tree – Stand in a circle with one person in the middle. The person in the middle points at a person in the circle and says either “Elephant” “Giraffe” or “Palm Tree”. If they say “Elephant”, the person pointed to will make the trunk (arms outstretched) and the two people on either side of the ‘trunk’ will make large ears with their arms. “Giraffe” means the middle person puts one arm up in the air to make the long ‘neck’ and the two flanking people bend down and touch their toes to make the ‘legs’. “Palm Tree” means the middle person puts both hands up to make the tree and the flanking people must use their arms and hands to make leaves. This is a great stretching game as you will be reaching up high and down low!
- Crows/ Cranes – Form two lines of people facing each other. One line is “crows” and the other line is “cranes”. One person is the caller and they stand in the middle. If the caller calls “crows”, the cranes must chase the crows. Any crows that cross the safe line without being tagged are safe. If a crow is tagged before they cross the line, they become a crane. Vice Versa when “cranes” is called. This game will work your heart and lungs as you try not to get caught by the other team! (Variation: Elves, Giants, Wizards)
