Keeping large classroom full of non stop energy children can be hard to control. Games that promote learning is a great way to get some of the wiggles out and get them organized and listening.
- Broken Telephone: An old favorite, Broken Telephone or The Telephone Game is a good way to teach listening skills. One child whispers a message to another child next to them and the message is passed along until it reaches the last child who says it out loud. The fun part is seeing how much the message has changed along the way.
- Would You Rather?: This game will develop kids’ critical thinking skills. One child asks another child a question that gives them two choices, such as “Would you rather be a cat or a dog?” The other child has to answer and explain why they chose that option. Then they ask another child a different question and so on.
- Pass the Parcel: This game requires some preparation beforehand. Wrap a small prize in several layers of paper and put a sticker or a clue on each layer. Have the children sit in a circle and pass the parcel around while playing some music. When the music stops, whoever has the parcel gets to unwrap one layer and follow the clue or sticker. The game continues until someone unwraps the final layer and gets the prize.
- I Spy With My Little Eye: This game will test kids’ observation skills and vocabulary. One child chooses an object that they can see on or around the rug and says “I spy with my little eye something that begins with (letter)”. The other children have to guess what it is by asking yes or no questions. The child who guesses correctly gets to choose the next object.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors: This game is a classic way to settle disputes or make decisions among kids. Two children face each other and make one of three hand gestures: rock (fist), paper (flat hand), or scissors (two fingers). Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, and paper beats rock. The child who wins gets to play again with another child until there is one winner left.
- Musical Statues: This game will get kids moving and laughing. Play some music and have the children dance around on the rug. When you stop the music, everyone has to freeze like statues. Anyone who moves or giggles is out of the game. The last one standing is the winner.
- Categories Game: This game will challenge kids’ memory and knowledge of different topics. Choose a category such as animals, colors, fruits, etc., and have each child name something that belongs to that category in turn without repeating what someone else has said before them. If they can’t think of anything or repeat something, they are out of the game.
- Animal Charades: This game will stimulate kids’ imagination and creativity skills One child goes to the front of the rug and acts out an animal without making any sounds while the rest try to guess what it is You can use cards with animal names or pictures for inspiration
- Hot Potato: This game will keep kids on their toes and practice their reflexes. Use a ball or a stuffed toy as the potato and have the children sit in a circle. Play some music and have them pass the potato around quickly. When you stop the music, whoever has the potato is out of the game.
- Bingo: This game will help kids learn numbers, letters, shapes, colors, etc., depending on what you use for bingo cards. You can make your own cards or use printable ones from online sources. Give each child a bingo card and some markers (such as beans, coins, or stickers). Call out random items from a list that match the cards and have them mark them off if they have them on their card. The first one to get five in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) shouts “Bingo!” and wins.
