This game is an age-old favorite among children. It provides physical activity through running and also helps children develop their listening skills. To play this game, a large, open area is required. One child is selected to be the "stoplight." This child stands with his back to the rest of the children, and the remaining children stand about 15 or 20 feet away from the "stoplight." While the child playing the stoplight has his back turned, he yells "green light." During this time, the remaining children run toward him. When he turns around and faces the children, he yells "red light" and the children must freeze. Any child caught moving has to sit out. The goal is for children to reach the "stoplight" and touch him. The child who touches him first wins and gets to take over the position.
To play this game, you will need different colored hula hoops, one for each child. Lay the hula hoops on the floor. Children jump from hoop to hoop, pushing off with both feet and landing on both feet. Cover the sides of a dice with pieces of construction paper that mimic the colors of the hula hoops. Allow children to jump from hoop to hoop. After a few seconds, roll the dice. Whichever color the dice lands on becomes the hot hoop color. For example, if the dice lands on green, yell out "green hoops are hot." Children standing in green hoops have to sit out. The last child standing is the winner.
For this game, a rubber ball, such as a kick ball, is used as the "hot potato." Children sit in a circle, and the "hot potato" is placed in the middle. One child is chosen to be "it." This child uses his feet to try to kick the ball out of the circle. The other children use their feet to block the ball and keep it in the circle. Once the "hot potato" has been kicked out of the circle, the child who was "it" sits down and another child is selected to be "it" for the next round.