Age guide: 3 to 9 years. Best with three or more children.
New playmates, sleepovers and the first day at a club can bring out shyness. These three games help children learn each other’s names, notice what they like, and share space without anyone needing to be an expert.
1. Visiting houses
Time: 10 minutes. You need: one hoop or chalk circle per child, and a few cushions or cones to act as obstacles.
Scatter the hoops on the floor, each one a “house”, and put cushions between them. Each child stands in a hoop. Call one child’s name and a house to visit: “Ravi, hop to Ella’s house.” Ravi hops around the obstacles, steps into Ella’s hoop and shakes her hand or waves. Then it is Ella’s turn to visit someone else. Change the way they travel each round: march, skip, tiptoe or crab walk.
2. One thing I like about you
Time: 5 to 10 minutes. You need: a ball and a circle of players.
Roll the ball to someone and say one thing you like about them: “I like how you laugh.” “I like that you share your crayons.” “I like how you run.” The receiver says thank you and rolls to someone else. If children say only “you are nice”, ask for something they have noticed. Skip comments about appearance. Stick to what people do and how they treat others.
3. Fewer mats than people
Time: 10 minutes. You need: mats, cushions or hoops, one fewer than the number of players, and music.
Spread the mats out. While the music plays, children move around the room. When it stops, everyone finds a mat to stand on. There are not enough for everyone, so they have to share. Remove one mat each round until children are standing closely together and nobody can fit.
Nobody is out. The challenge is making room, and children often work this out themselves. Watch for toes and elbows, and keep the space clear of hard objects.
Afterwards
Ask: “How did it feel when someone made room for you?” Children often love the answer. If you want ideas for when sharing breaks down, try sharing without the tug-of-war.
