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Games!
Types of Games
Preprogram Games
When the kids register, they have aprox. 15 minutes until the program part actually begins. During this time, latecomers are still registering. These games need to be games that kids can join in on if they arrive late. Right now, the facilities we have our program in include pool tables, ping pong tables, foose ball tables, a chalkboard and a basketball net. We allow kids to have free time when they come in because there is plenty to keep them occupied. If such facilities were not available, other games could be played.
- Duck Duck Goose - Players sit in a circle. One player is "it". He or she must walk around the circle tapping each player on the head and saying "duck" each time. As they walk, they select one player to chase them. They say "goose" when they tap this person on the head. The "goose" jumps up, and runs around the circle in the opposite direction and trys to return to their spot before the "it" person does. Who ever gets to the empty spot last is the next "it".
- Doggy, Doggy, Who has your bone? - Players sit in a circle with their hands behind their back. Select one player to be "it". They sit in the centre of the circle with their eyes closed. The leader places a small object (e.g. paper cup) in the hands of one of the players in the circle. (all players will have their hands behind their back) When the leader says "ready", the person in the centre looks at the people in the circle and has 3 chances to guess who has the object in their hands. Take turns having people be "it".
- Wink - Divide the group in half. Have half of the players sit on chairs, in a circle. The other half stands behind each chair. One of the sitting players is "it". The other sitting players are watching him or her. If "it" winks at one of them, they must try to "escape" from their seat. The standing players can only look down at the top of the head of the person sitting in front of them. They are trying to keep their partner from leaving the chair. It the standing person notices their partner moving to get up, they quickly put their hands on the shoulders of the escaping partner to keep them in their chair. If the standing player catches their partner in time, they are not allowed to leave their chair, and have succeeded! If their player escapes, then they must sit in the chair, and be "it", and their partner stands behind them. Any new players may join in, as long as they have a partner.
- Guess Who? - Players sit in a circle. Before the game begins, the leader selects someone to be "it", while no one is looking. The person who is "it" trys to get all the players to be "out" by winking at them, but does not want the other players to see them winking. They must do this carefully! When a player is winked at, they show that they are "out" by lying down, or falling over, and saying "I'm out!". The key is to fall over a few seconds after they are winked at, so it is more difficult to guess who did the winking. Each player must look at all the players, as they do not know who the winker is. Anyone can make a guess as to who they think is it. If they are wrong, they are out. If they are right, they get to be "it" in the next game.
Large Group Games
For a change in the regular program, a large group game could be played. We can no longer do this option because our group has grown too large to have any organization to the game. Kids would get trampled, and it just wouldn't work. We have 150 kids that we keep nicely organized only using small group games in our program. But......other events may be a great opportunity for Large Group games. Here are some ideas. I have listed the source of the game in brackets behind the title if I know where it came from.
- Dodge Ball
- Crab Soccer
- Spider Game
- Red Light Green Light
- Fruit Basket - sitting in a circle pick {three} (depending on the #) fruits and assign the participants one; then one gets to stand and try to sit down by calling one of the fruits. Then the participant whose fruit has been called has to move at least two chairs down, quickly before the person standing gets there. If
attained in several tries the person can call "Fruit Basket" then everybody
has to change sits (at least two chairs down). - Many thanks to "Chipoco" for submitting this game!
- more creative ones yet to come! I need to look up the page numbers!
Small Group Games
During each program at least one, if not two of these games are included. They are great for small rooms, with little "stage" space. Also they work great for groups that are too large for everyone to play a game. Even though everyone is not playing, the kids love to watch their friends act silly in these games.
Here are a few ideas: (descriptions are coming!)
- Drink the pop Game - Choose 5 volunteers for each team. I do one team each, boys vs. girls. Give each player a straw. Pour a 2L bottle of pop into a clear bowl. Each team needs their own 2L pop in a bowl. The first team to drink everything in the bowl wins. No hands are allowed! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Marshmellow Game - Choose 5 girls and 5 boys. Give each kid a large marshmellow. The first player must lick the marshmellow, stick it to their forhead, and run to the finish line and back, to tag the next person. The next player does the same, until each player has had a turn. If the marshmellow falls off, they have to stop, sitck it back on, and continue. The first team to be sitting in a straight line wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Little Marshmellow Game
- Cracker Race
- Shoe Race - Select 5 girls and 5 boys. The players need to take off their shoes. All the shoes are placed in a big pile at the finish line, The players run to the finish line, find their shoes, put them on, and run back. The next person in line repeats the process. The first team to each have a turn, and be sitting in a straight line, wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Candle on the Hat - You will need one plastic hat for every 2 players. We used 4 hats. I went to a garage sale and got 2 plastic fireman hats, and 2 plastic construction hats. Using duct tape, attach a candle to the top of each hat. You will also need 4 squirt bottles, or good water guns. Choose 2 girls and 2 boys who don't mind getting soaked! Sit these players on chairs facing the audience. Put garbage bags over them, to protect their clothes. Have them each put on a hat with a candle attached. Choose 2 more girls and 2 more boys. Give them each a squirt bottle. They should stand aprox. 10 feet from the people with the hats on. Light the candles. Warn the players with the hats on, that they must sit very still. On "Go", the people with the squirt bottles start to shoot. The first person to get the candle out with the water squirter wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while the game is being played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when someone wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to hand out incentives!
- Bubble Gum Tape Race
- Shoe String Licorice Race
- Egg and Spoon Race - Select 5 players for each team. The first player is given a spoon and a plastic egg. We didn't use real ones, because they would have been a real mess to clean up. On "Go", the first player runs to the finish line and back, holding the handle of the spoon. Kids are not allowed to hold the egg on the spoon! The next player does the same thing when the first player returns. The first time to complete the process, and is sitting in a straight line, wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Dress up Relay - You will need some dress-up clothes. I used 2 each of a wig, a hat, a housecoat and a pair of large oversized shoes.Select 5 girls and 5 boys. The players need to put on all the clothes, run to the finish line and back. Then they take off their outfit, and the next person in line repeats the process. The first team to each have a turn, and be sitting in a straight line, wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Obstacle Course Relay
- Drawing Relay - Put up a large piece of paper on each side of the room. (One for the boys side, and one for the girls side.) Place several crayola markers beside it. Place a "drawing list" beside each sheet of paper. The drawing list includes 5 different things to draw to make a picture. We used, 1) A man in blue jeans. 2) In a sailboat. 3) Drinking Coke. 4) Reading a book. 5) In a wavy ocean.
Choose 5 girls and 5 boys. On "Go" the first person runs to the large piece of paper, and draws item #1. Then, they run back and tag person #2. They run to the paper, draw item #2, and so on. The first team to draw each of the objects listed, and is sitting in a straight line wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- newspaper crumple
- Drinking cup relay
- Balloon in the Hoop - You will need 2 hoola hoops, and 2 balloons.
Select 5 girls and 5 boys. The first player must take the balloon, put it between their knees, and run towards the hoola hoop that is being help by another leader at the finish line. They must get the balloon in the hoop, without using their hands. If they drop the balloon on the way to the hoop, they must stop, pick it up, and go back to the spot where they dropped it from. Once they get it in the hoop, they pick up the balloon in their hands, and run back to their line, giving the balloon to the next player who will follow the same proceedure. The first team to have everyone complete the process, and are sitting in a straight line wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Sit On the Balloon Race - You will need one blown up balloon for each player. Choose 5 girls and 5 boys. The first person runs to the finish line, sits on their balloon until it pops, then runs back to tag the next person. The next player does the same thing, until all players have had a turn. The first team to be sitting in a straight line wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Ping Pong Ball Race - You will need 2 ping pong balls and one straw for each player. Choose 5 girls and 5 boys. On "Go" the first player uses their straw to blow the ping pong ball across the floor, to the finish line. Then they can pick up the ball, and run back and give it to the next player, who will do the same thing. The first team to be sitting in a straight line after everyone's had a turn wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while the game is being played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when someone wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to hand out incentives!
- Spit Wad Contest
- Indoor Snowball Fight
- Popcorn Race - You will need buckets full of popped popcorn, and two empty buckets. Also, you will need a dessert size paper plate for each player. Select 5 boys and 5 girls. The first player scoops their plate into the full bucket of popcorn. Then they hop on one foot to the finish line and pour what ever is left on their plate into their empty bucket. Then they run back & tag the next person in line, who does the same process. The team who has the most popcorn in their bucket at the finish line wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too! This game is a lot of fun, and your custodian will really love ya!
- Toilet Paper Wrap - 5 players stand in a huddle. Player #6 has a roll of toilet paper. Player #6 has to run around the group of 5, wrapping them in toilet paper. The first team to finish the roll of toilet paper wins! Game is played boys vs. girls. Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Basketball Shoot - You will need a basket ball net and 3 basket balls. Choose 3 girls and 3 boys to be the shooters for their team. Then choose 2 girls and 2 boys to be the retreevers for their team. Each team has 60 seconds to get the most baskets in the hoop. Let one team go at a time. Then, let the other team have their turn. Have a leader keep track of time. Have another leader count how many basket balls get into the hoop. Play upbeat, energetic music while the game is being played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when 60 seconds is up. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to hand out incentives!
- Bump Relay - You will need 10 chairs for each team. Choose 10 girls and 10 guys. If you have a group of about 30 kids, divide the group in half, and allow everyone to play. Put the 10 chairs side by side in a line. Each player sits on a chair. On "Go", the first player jumps up, runs behind the row of chairs, and sits on the last seat. Everyone must bump over one seat in order for the last one to become vacant. Then the next person does the same thing, until everyone is in their original seat that they started in. Play upbeat, energetic music while the game is being played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when someone wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to hand out incentives!
- Kool Aid Eating Contest - You will need 4 packs of unsweetened Kool-aid. Flavours like lemon or lime are best! Choose 2 girls and 2 boys. On "Go", the players must eat all the Kool-aid in their package. They can only use one finger to dip in the package and get the Kool-aid out. They must try not to spill any of it! (The expression on their faces is usually comical. The Kool-aid is VERY sour!) The first person to eat all of their kool-aid wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while the game is being played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when someone wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to hand out incentives!
- Bubble Gum Contest - You will need 2 packs hubba bubba gum, or other type of bubble gum. Each pack usually contains 6 pieces. Choose 3 girls and 3 boys. Give each player 2 pieces of gum. On "Go", they must unwrap the gum, chew it, and make a large bubble. The team who has the player with the largest bubble wins. Give them 60 seconds to blow their best bubble. (Two pieces of gum is a lot for a kids mouth, so it will be a challenge to get it chewed and make a bubble with it. Play upbeat, energetic music as the game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when 60 seconds is up. Encourage the audience to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to give out incentives.
- Straw and Paper Race - You will need 1 piece of paper (aprox. 4 inch. square) for each team, and a straw for each player. Select 5 girls and 5 boys. The first player must use the straw to pick up the paper, by sucking in through the straw. Then, they must carry the paper to the finish line and back, but they must have the paper stuck to the end of the straw while they run. If the paper falls off, they must get it back on the straw, by sucking in through the straw, and continue on. Each player takes their turn until all players have had a chance. The first team to be sitting in a straight line wins! Play upbeat, energetic music as the game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when someone wins. Encourage the audience to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to give out incentives.
- Donut Eating Contest - You will need one dozen donuts with a hole in the centre. Tie each donut with a long string. Tie each of the donuts to a long stick, so that the donuts dangle down. You may want to put 6 donuts on one stick and 6 on a separate stick. (one for the boys and one for the girls.) Choose 6 girls and 6 boys. Have the players kneel on the floor, facing the audience. Choose 2 helpers for each team to hold up the stick. The team to have everyone eat the entire donut is the winner. Their hands MUST be behind their backs. Play upbeat, energetic music as the game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when one team wins. Encourage the audience to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to give out incentives.
- Pass the Donut - You will need one donut with a hole in the middle for each team. You will also need plastic drinking straws, one for each player. Choose 5 boys and 5 girls. Each player must put the straw in their mouth. On "Go", the first person puts the donut on their straw. From now on, no one is allowed to use their hands. The first person must pass the donut to the second person's straw that is in their mouth. Once the donut is successfully passed, the second person must pass the donut to the third person's straw. Continue until the last person has the donut on their straw. The first team to pass the donut to all their players wins! If the donut falls off, the donut goes to the person who is passing the donut to the next person. They must try again to pass it without it falling off. Play upbeat, energetic music as the game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when someone wins. Encourage the audience to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to give out incentives.
- Pyramid Race - Select 10 players for each team. If you have a group of about 30 kids, divide your group in half, and let all the kids play. The first team to build a pyramid using all their players, (without falling over) wins. Start with the first four or five players on their hands and knees. Put the next three or four in the same position, only on the first layer of people. Continue until all the players are in the pyramid. Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Tricycle Race - Borrow some old tricycles from families in your church. You will need 2. Choose 5 girls and 5 boys. The first player gets on the tricycle and rides it to the finish line and back. Then the next player does the same, until all players have had a turn. The first team to be sitting in a straight line wins! It's usually quite comical, as the kids are too big for the tricycles. Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Stepping Stones - You will need 2 pieces of paper for each team. Cut a regular size piece of paper in half, and that should do it. Select 5 girls and 5 boys. The first player must get to the finish line and back, but they can only step on the pieces of paper! If they step off them they have to go back. Each step, they have to bend over, and move their paper in order to take another step. Each player takes their turn until all players have had a chance. The first team to be sitting in a straight line wins! Play upbeat, energetic music as the game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when someone wins. Encourage the audience to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to give out incentives.
Messy Games
These games are great to watch! The kids get very messy, and they are well warned before they are chosen to play. These are similar to small group games, but they are much messier!
Here are a few ideas you can try: (descriptions are coming)
- Pudding Drop - You will need to lay down a tarp, and players will need to wear garbage bag smocks to protect their clothes. Select 4 girls and 4 boys. Two players from each team lay on the ground. The other two players stand on chairs which are placed at their partner's head. Give each standing player a pudding cup and a spoon. On "Go", they open the pudding and drop puddiing into their partner's mouth. (Try at least) They must stay standing straight. (no leaning over) The player that has the most pudding in their mouth wins! This is judged by how much pudding is on their face, and around them. Have lots of paper towels handy, and help the players wash up in the washroom. Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Squirt the Beard - Select 4 girls and 4 boys. 2 boys and 2 girls sit in chairs with garbage bags over them. Put whip cream on their faces to look like a beard. The remaining 2 girls and 2 boys are given squirt bottles filled with water. On "Go" the players with the squirt bottles try to spray off all the whip cream. The first team to have all the whip cream sprayed off one of the pairs wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when a team wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team! This is a good time to hand out incentives too!
- Icing Sugar Game - You will need one plate for each player. I usually play with 3 girls and 3 boys. Before the program begins, place 5 lifesaver candies or other small hard candies on the plate. Cover with a generous amount of icing sugar. On "GO" each player must find all 5 candies on the plate, only using their mouth. Hands must be behind their back. Players can spit out the candies once they find them, so we can tell who is the winner! The first player to have all five candies spit out beside the plate wins! Play upbeat, energetic music during the game. Start the music on "Go" and stop it when someone wins the game. Encourage the kids to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to hand out incentives.
- Ice Cream Eating Contest
- Jello Eating Contest
- Pudding Eating Contest
- Melt the Ice
- The Ultimate Challenge
- Find the worms in the Pool of Jello
- Baby Food Eating Game
- Bean Eating Contest - You will need 2 cans of beans. Choose 2 girls and 2 guys. Warn them that they have to be willing to do anything to play this game! Heat the beans on the stove or in a microwave just prior to the program. By the time it's time to play the game, they should still be warm. Put 1/2 can of beans on each paper plate. On "Go" the players must eat all the beans on their plate with their hands behind their back. The first person to eat all the beans wins! Play upbeat, energetic music while the game is being played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when someone wins. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to hand out incentives!
- Frosty the Snowman - You will need one cup of icing for each pair of players. You will also need a small handful of coloured candies or smarties for each pair of players. We used 2 sets of girls and 2 sets of boys. Each player will need a partner. On "Go", one of the partners puts icing all over the face of the other partner. Then they can put smarties on to decorate. The object of the game is to see how nice they can make their snowman look, not how fast can they decorate them. The players have 60 seconds to decorate their snowman partner. When the time is up, have kids cheer for who they think is decorated the nicest. The winner is the team who gets the loudest cheers! Play upbeat, energetic music while the game is being played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when the time is up. Encourage kids to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to hand out incentives!
- Whip Cream on a Plate - You will need 2 packs of dream whip and enough milk to make the whip cream. Whip cream in a can usually turns to liquid by the time I'm ready for the game. Put a generous large spoonful of whip cream on a styrophome plate. Choose 2 girls and 2 boys. On "Go" the players eat the whip cream until it is all gone from their plate. They must keep their hands behind their back. (Put the plates of whip cream on a table.) The first person to finish all the whip cream wins! Play upbeat, energetic music as the game is played. The music starts on "Go" and stops when someone wins. Encourage the audience to cheer loudly for their team. This is a good time to give out incentives.
Life Size Games
The idea for these came from a kids camp I went to as a counsellor. Kids Evangelists Jamie and Laurie Smith were there that week. The idea for these games came from them.
Wheel of Truth - Similar to Wheel of Fortune on T.V.
Jeoprady Game - similar to the game show on T.V.
Concentratrion - the old time kids game made big!
Memory Verse Games
These can be found HERE!
Links to Game Pages
Through many hours of searching, I have found some pages that list games that they have played with their youth groups. These games are great for kids too! There are lots of games for small groups, and for large groups. Check them out!
Goofy Olympics - Silly Games - You can also sign your group up to compete in the olympics.
EGAD! Youth Group Ideas - LOTS of Info! A MUST VISIT! Games and other resources.
Youth Ministry Central - Lots of other ideas on their site too!
Student Ministry Resource Centre - Lots of free games and ideas!
The Games Archive - Lots of Great Games!
Mount Happy - Lots of Games!
For a list of Game Books, and how to play many of the games listed above, check out the Kids' Ministry Books Page
If you have any game ideas, Please let me know!
Please note my new email address!
kidsandstuff@hotmail.com
