Classic Games Reborn

Get your kids outside and active with variations on familiar games, like playing hockey with spoons.

Shadow Tag

This variation on the old favorite has the child who is "it" tagging others by stepping on their shadow rather than touching their body. If played at noon, shadows will be very short. This variation avoids rough play and pushing while still getting the kids active.

Amoeba Tag

Two people start out as "it," linking arms. When they tag someone, that person joins the "it" amoeba. When there an even number of amoeba links have been accumulated, the amoeba can split into pairs and the game continues.

Spoon Hockey

Use long wooden spoons for hockey sticks and orange cones for the goal.

Pop a Talent

Have each child write down a talent (for example, four cartwheels and a hula hula, or whistle while marching) on a slip of paper. Roll up the paper into a tight cigar and stick it into a deflated balloon. Blow up the balloon and tie a knot. Mix up the balloons. Each person selects a balloon (not his or her own) and pops it. Taking turns, each child reads aloud the talent in the balloon and has to guess to whom it belongs. When the correct person finally is revealed, they must perform their talent.