4 Recess Games for Kids

Recess games for kids are ideal for sharing with friends and favor interaction, teamwork, and other important aspects of childhood. Find out everything you need to know about these kids' activities below, and don't wait to start using them!

Written and verified by the psychopedagogue María José Roldán.

Last update: 25 February, 2019

Recess games for kids are activities that involve one or more participants. Their main function is to provide players with fun and entertainment. These games also help children build focus and stimulate their social, emotional, and physical development.

Participating in recess games promotes and develops children’s knowledge, so we recommend doing this type of activity outside so that children can enjoy them in a healthy, social way.

4 recess games for kids

Below we’ll offer a few examples of recess games for kids:

1. The handkerchief game

The first option is the traditional handkerchief game. The rules are simple. All you need is a large group of kids and a handkerchief. 

To start, divide the players into two teams. Each team goes to one end of the field. Draw an imaginary line down the middle of the field. Each team then assigns a number to each of their players.

The referee stands between the two teams holding the handkerchief. The referee shouts a number to indicate who should come to try and get the handkerchief. The player who gets there first wins, and the other is disqualified. 

2. Sack races

Sack races are a perfect activity for kids to do outside, especially in the country. This is a competitive game that develops strength and agility.

To begin, the participants get inside potato sacks, trash bags, or pillow cases. The children have to follow a marked path. Depending on their age, you can adjust the distance and difficulty of the course.

—Loris Malaguzzi—

3. Hot potato

This game is about observation and reflexes. To play, the kids sit on the floor in a circle. The teacher puts on some music.

During the game, the children pass the ball around the circle as fast as possible, as long as the music is playing.

If you don’t have music, a child can sit in the middle of the circle and count. When the music stops, the player holding the ball is out.

The game continues until only one child is left. This child is the winner. To make the game more fun, you can add variations like passing the ball to whoever the teacher names.

Without a doubt, the objective is to improve speed and reaction times. It also works on cognitive development and cooperation.

4. The never-ending story

The last game is an ideal way to stimulate the imagination: the never-ending story. This is an oral game ideal for entertaining the minds of children. 

To play, one of the participants starts telling a story. The next player adds a sentence, but always starting again from the beginning and repeating what others have said. The game consists of repeating all the sentences one after another until one of the players makes a mistake.

In closing, remember that recess games for kids are fun activities that promote their physical, social, and mental development, as well as aspects of their personality. 

The previous examples are perfect ways to entertain kids and stimulate their development.

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