Duck, duck, goose is generally an outside activity for toddlers to participate in. This game incorporates exercise, maneuvering challenging moves, and it teaches young children about building suspense. It also teaches toddlers the difference between animals. Other variations of the game can teach colors and shapes. The objective of this game is to have toddlers sit in an inward-facing circle. One child is picked to stand on the outside of the circle and walk around and touch the other children and say the word "duck." At even given moment the picker can touch a child and say "goose." The player walking around the circle attempts to get the goose's spot. The goose must chase the walking player. If the walking player makes it to the goose's spot, the old goose must now take the place of the walking player. If not, the present walking player must walk the circle again and start the process over again.
Musical chairs teaches toddlers how to maneuver challenging moves and use perception and forethought. The game is played by counting the number of children and lining up chairs minus one from the amount of children. Teachers may choose not to eliminate the one chair when toddlers are just learning the game. The teacher turns on the music and children start walking around the chairs. Once the music stops, the kids must hurry up and find a seat. The child left standing is out of the game. One chair is reduced each time after the music stops until there is one chair and two children left standing. The last child to sit in the last chair is the winner.
Two little blackbirds teaches opposites and imitation. Children sit in a circle for this game as well. The teacher leads the children in singing, "Two little blackbirds sitting on the hill. One named Jack. One named Jill. Fly away, Jack! Fly away Jill! Come back Jack! Come back Jill!" The teacher guides the children to start the song with their hands behind their backs. When the name Jack is called, one hand with the index finger pointing comes out and is repeated for the name Jill with the other hand. When Jack flies away, one hand goes back behind and back, and this is repeated for Jill with the other hand. At the end Jack and Jill come back again one at a time.
Walking, walking teaches children different types of gross motor skill movement and how to be still. This song is sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques." Toddlers move according to the words the teacher sings. The teacher sings: "Walking, walking, walking, walking. Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! Running, running, running. Running, running, running. Now we stop. Now we stop."