4 Simple Movement Games You Can Play with Your Kids
This is part 2 of a 3-part series on parent-kid play
In parkour, learning a new skill feels like playtime because of the curiosity and creativity involved. If you’re trying to get your kids to be more physically active, a playful perspective can get them hooked.
The best games are simple and easy to follow. Check out these 4 movement games to keep your kids active and support learning and development.
Use these games as a starting point. Feel free to make them your own! Change the name, change the rules, be inspired by everyday things—movies your family likes, animals you see outside, random objects in your everyday life.
Ground is Lava
How to play: Use painter’s tape on hardwood, or shirts on carpet (you can use anything that isn’t slippery), and create an obstacle course. Don’t touch the ground! Option to add complexity by using objects you have to carry—maybe you have to collect the gold from once side and bring it to you side!
Easier option for younger kids: Do the course together. Maybe hold hands during it.
More complex options for older kids:
Use a stopwatch to try to time how long it takes to complete the course. Try to improve your own score.
Play “lava tag” on the obstacle course. Just like regular tag, but you can’t touch the ground/lava. If you touch the lava then you’re it.
Lose a Limb
How to play: Similar to tag, but everyone playing is trying to tag each other’s arms and legs. If your limb gets tagged, you can’t use it anymore. You might have to hop on one leg, or put one arm behind your back not to use it. The person who keeps the most limbs wins!
Easier option for young kids: Parents try to “keep away”, and only parents lose their limbs while the kid tries to chase or avoid being chased.
More challenging option: Play the game on all-fours crawling, no standing up allowed.
Don’t Blink!
How to play: The goal is to sneak up behind the person who is the ‘it’ and tag their back without them noticing. The people who are sneaking start on one side of the room. The person who is ‘it’ sits on the other side of the room, looking away. When they turn around, everyone sneaking up on them freezes. If the person who is ‘it’ sees people moving, call their name they have to start over at the back of the room.
Easier options for younger kids:
Parent is exaggerating “where are you? I can’t see you!” walking around the room avoiding noticing the kiddo until the kiddo tags them!
More challenging option: Use areas indoors or outdoors that have places to climb or crawl under and over, and to hide behind.
Copycat
How to play: Take turns mirroring what the other person is doing. Try crawling, rolling, balancing on one foot.
Easier for younger kids: Parent follows the child only, chasing, copying, trying things out.
More complex options for older kids:
Can be turned into “follow the leader” if traveling over obstacles.
Play “Stick” with each challenge. Similar to playing “Horse” on a basketball court: one person shows a movement with a controlled landing, and the other must successfully land the same move. If they cannot successfully land the move, they get a letter (S-T-I-C-K). Each person takes turns showing a movement with a controlled landing. The first person to spell “Stick” loses.
Next week’s article will show the ‘behind the scenes’ of game creation, so you can become masterful at creating games out of any experience!
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About the Author
Cordelia started parkour during their adult years and has since taught workshops internationally and competed at obstacle course competitions on TV and internationally. Their real passion is for sharing the everyday benefits of movement and play. They’re a nerd and a self-proclaimed solarpunk! @cordeliajumps