Children in preschool will have fun searching for the best hiding spots when they play Hide and Seek. Select a child to be the "Seeker." Cover his eyes and have him count to 10 or higher while the other children try to find hiding spots. After he finishes the count, have the Seeker search for the other children. The child found last can be the Seeker on the next turn. This game can be played indoors or outdoors and helps teach counting.
Hopscotch is a good game for preschoolers because it helps them become more balanced. Children can play this game indoors or outdoors. Use foam blocks, colored tape, or chalk to outline the course. Have the children line up and let the first child toss a marker (you can use a coin or beanbag) on the course. The child must hop through the course skipping the block with a marker and must not touch the lines of a block or miss any other blocks. Each child takes turns through the course. If a child touches the block with the marker, touches a line, or misses a block, his turn is over.
When playing I Spy, one child describes something he sees nearby and the other children try to guess the object being described. Let the children take turns being the person who gives an "I Spy" clue. The child who gives the clue can say that she spies something that is a certain color or starts with a particular letter. The other children try to guess what the child sees. The child who guesses correctly gets to give the next clue.
The object of Red Light/Green Light is to make it to the speaker first. Line the children up side-by-side and either the teacher or another child can be the speaker who calls out "red light" or "green light." The speaker should stand at least 20 feet away. Whenever the speaker calls out "green light" the children must race towards the speaker. When the speaker calls out "red light" the children must stop at once. Any child who moves after "red light" is called out must go back to the starting point. This game helps children learn to follow directions.
When you play Simon Says with your preschoolers, either the teacher or a selected student must be "Simon." The other students must stand in front of Simon and perform the directions they are given. For example, Simon may say, "Simon says touch your toes" and the children must touch their toes. The key to this game is that the children can only perform instructions when they are followed by "Simon says..." If a child performs an instruction that isn't followed by "Simon says..." or doesn't do something that Simon says to do, the child is out. The last child remaining is the winner.