Tag is a classic outdoor game for good reasons. It's simple, free, uses no equipment and burns off a lot of kid energy. If your kids love to play tag introduce them to one of these fun outdoor tag game variations!
Moreover, if you are conducting your own DIY summer camp at home, tag games and chase games are a great break for the kids, and all that running around will tire them out and help them stay more focused for the rest of the day (one hopes, anyway). These tag variations are great for neighborhood get-togethers, play dates, school recess... anytime a group of kids are outdoors!
TIP: Can't remember all the tag versions? Grab the printable instructions at the end of this post!
Freeze Tag
One player is It. When a player is tagged, he must remain frozen in place. He can be unfrozen if he is tagged by a non-It player. When all the players are frozen, a new It is chosen, and play begins again.
Tunnel Tag
One player is It. When a player is tagged, he must remain frozen in place, with his legs spread apart, creating a tunnel. He can be unfrozen if a non-It player crawls under the leg tunnel. When all the players are frozen, a new It is chosen, and play begins again.
Blob Tag
Two players are It. They hold hands and chase the other players. When they tag someone, that person joins hands with the pair. When a fourth player is tagged they join the group and they split into 2 “blobs” of 2 players. This goes on, with the “It” blobs splitting whenever they consist of 4 people, until all players have been tagged.
Alternative Blob Tag
Play as described above, except that It never splits off, but continues to grow larger as players are tagged. Only the players on the end of the It Blob can tag someone.
Band-Aid Tag
One player is It. When a player is tagged he puts a hand (as a "band-aid") over the spot where It touched him. When he is tagged a second time, he places the other hand on the new spot. When he is tagged a third time, he becomes It.
MORE: Outdoor Family Games
Elbow Tag
Everyone, except 2 players, links arms with another player. Of the remaining two players, one is It and the other is The Chased. Whenever The Chased links elbows with a pair of players, the person on the other side of the pair must break off from the group. This player now becomes The Chased. If The Chased gets tagged, they become It.
Turtle Tag
One person is It. If a chased player get tagged, she becomes frozen until she is tagged by another non-It player. To avoid being tagged, players can lay down on their backs with their hands and feet in the air. Players can only remain safe like this for 10 seconds but It must move on and cannot hover over the turtle until the 10 seconds are up.
Toilet Tag:
(You read that right: toilet tag)
One person is It. When a player is tagged, he must squat down, as if on a toilet, and hold one hand out to the side like a handle. He can become un-frozen when a non-It player flushes the "handle" while making a "wooosh" sound. When all the players are frozen, a new It is chosen, and play begins again. Expect a lot of giggling.
What Time Is It Mr. Fox?
(My kids love this and you can play with as few as three players.)
One player is Mr. Fox. The other players stand about 20-30 feet back from Mr. Fox in a straight line, facing Mr. Fox. The players call out, "What time is is Mr. Fox?" Mr. Fox answers with a time such as, "four o'clock!" (No fractions of the hour are allowed.) The players take the same number of steps towards Mr. Fox as the hours he called out (so in this case they would take four steps). If Mr. Fox calls out "Midnight!" all the players turn around to run back to the starting line without being tagged as Mr. Fox gives chase. If Mr. Fox tags someone, they become the Mr. Fox.
Shipwrecked
One player is It. Before playing, designate safe zone circles. You could use sidewalk chalk on pavement (as in a school yard), or hula hoops or lengths of string on grass. The number of safe zones is one fewer than the number of non-It players. When a player is in a safe zone, they cannot be tagged. Only one player is allowed in a safe zone at a time. Tip: determine how long a player can stay in a safe zone at any given time, such as 10 seconds. When a player is tagged, they becomes It.
Tips for Playing Tag Games
- If the players skills are uneven, set a time limit for how long someone can be it.
- These games don't really require any adult interference, but it is never a bad thing to make sure all the kids understand the rules ahead of time.
- Encourage kids to invent their own tag games!
There are so many fun ways to play tag games for kids. Happy running!
More outdoor fun:
Lise McGuinness says
There are no other tag games.... there is only toilet tag. At least, according to the kids around here. They play it all the time!!!
Erica says
Hahahahahaah! Whoooooosh! 🙂
Lise McGuinness says
p.s....glad for some alternatives. Thanks!
Erica says
Hope they help!
Maggie says
Duck, duck, goose is still a favorite
Doggi,doggie, where's your bone?
A tisket, a tasket, a green and yellow basket
( I wrote a letter to my love and on the way I dropped it)
Red rover
Mother may I?
Sheila says
Banana Tag. One person is it. When they tag you, you freeze with your arms together above your head. To be unfrozen, someone must come and peel you by grasping both arms and pulling down. This is a favourite for our group.
Angie Giselle Flores says
Playing freeze tag
Bryce C. Dunn says
Red bird blue bird- 1 Student will be it And the remaning players will be divided into two teams and one half will be red birds and the othe will be blue birds and the tagger will call out red bird or blue bird and witchever he/she calls will run to the other side of the court tring not to be tagged and if they get tagged they join the taggers