For centuries, simple outdoor games have been a staple of children's play. Using only the most basic of resources, these games provide children with endless opportunities to throw, hop, skip, run and jump, and the atmosphere they generate positively encourages children to shout and move freely.
An enormous amount of learning can develop through such games. First, and very importantly, children often learn to do two things at once. Skipping and singing in unison, for example, requires the brain to move the body rhythmically while singing to the same rhythm.
Aiming at a target requires good hand-eye co-ordination and the ability to throw. In chase games, children are expected to run forwards while glancing backwards occasionally to keep an eye on the chaser.
Outdoor games also help develop children's social skills, concentration, ability to listen and follow instructions, mathematical development (as so many of the games involve number recognition, counting and matching), and language skills (many games incorporate songs or refrains).
Current concerns about children's safety, however, means that we can no longer assume they will learn these outdoor games in their home life. So we need to have our own repertoire of games that we can build into planning. Choose games that:
- incorporate all the basic equipment (see box)
- are age appropriate, and
- are suitable for the space available (though it would be good to organise games sessions in a local park if space is tight at your setting).
ADULT ROLE
When playing games with young children:
- Make sure the children have all the skills required such as skipping or, in the case of very young children, the ability to jump over a rope on the ground. Where appropriate, teach the skills beforehand.
- Explain the game and how to play it by modelling it.
- Play alongside the children after introducing the games and continue to offer support to very young children.
- Consider the impact of the weather and position the children accordingly. Where can you play to avoid the wind buffeting the ball? Where should the children stand to avoid the glare of the sun? These are important skills in themselves, so encourage older children to start anticipating possible problems and suggesting solutions.
- Adapt games to suit any age of child - common games should be easy to modify and remember. The more games you play with young children, the more able they will be as they grow.
- Involve babies and toddlers by carrying them as you play the game. Pairs of adults holding babies could play simple mimicking games, where one adult jumps, skips and zig-zags across the space and the follower copies.
- Revisit the games regularly so children become more confident in playing them.
EXAMPLES OF GAMES
Don't forget old favourites such as Simon Says, Follow the Leader, What's the Time Mr Wolf? and Ring a Ring O'Roses. Other games include:
Jumping Jack Flash Chalk - draw two parallel lines on the ground for the children to jump over. Vary the width of the gap between the lines according to the age of the children.
Snakes Two - adults (or older children) hold the ends of a long skipping rope and wriggle it from side to side very close to the ground. The children have to jump across the rope without touching it.
Stepping Stones - place carpet squares or chalked circles around the outdoor area with a number in each. Children can then run in order, from one to six or from six down to zero. Or an adult carrying the child can do it.
Hula Hoop Toss - lay three hoops on the ground in the shape of a triangle. Have the children take turns to throw a beanbag into each hoop. Make it more challenging for older children by numbering the hoops and awarding corresponding points.
Spiders and Flies - one child (the spider) tries to catch the flies (the other children). When caught, a fly becomes part of the spider's web and, while holding hands with the spider, helps to catch the other flies. The last fly to become part of the chain is the new spider.
Helen Bilton is author of Outdoor Play in the Early Years: Management and innovation; Playing Outside: Activities, ideas and inspiration for the early years; and Outdoor Play in the Early Years: Management and Innovation (all published by David Fulton)
RESOURCES
For outdoor games, be sure you use good quality resources, including:
- balls of various sizes and weights, but not too heavy. Don't expect
young children to be able to hold a ball that you think is light
- ropes without hard ends
- hoops
- parachutes
- bean bags
- games songs and rhymes in words and/or pictures
- tape recordings of rhymes so children can learn them.
Suppliers
Games equipment is available from all the leading early years suppliers,
including:
- Asco, www.ascoeducational.co.uk
- The Consortium, www.earlyyears.co.uk
- Eduzone, www.eduzone.co.uk
- Galt, www.galt-educational.co.uk
- Hope, www.hope-education.co.uk
- NES Arnold, www.nesarnold.co.uk
- Step by Step, www.sbs-educational.co.uk
- TTS, www.tts-group.co.uk
- Wesco, www.wesco-group.com
PARACHUTE PLAY
Parachute play is a favourite with children of all ages at Alford Day Nursery, Aberdeenshire (pictured below). 'It's a wonderful resource and we use it all the time, not just for physical development,' says deputy manager, Claire Walker. 'We use it for everything.'
The parachute is used inside and out and incorporated into the children's imaginative play, singing sessions and storytime. The children have used it as a den and dived inside to explore light and shadow using torches and to share stories about space.
Parachute play also forms part of storytelling at Martley and District Pre-school in Worcestershire.
'We've been shipwrecked twice,' says manager Kathryn Smith, explaining how the setting now incorporates its parachute into story-making sessions.
'Everyone sits on the floor and we shake the parachute to show how we're travelling across the sea. Then, when there's a storm, we wave it harder and harder,' she explains.
Once shipwrecked, the parachute becomes a desert island and when rescued, the process is repeated as the children's story develops and they return home safely.
Parachute play with very young children needn't be confined to storytime, however. Babies and toddlers enjoy feeling the parachute and love to sit on it or run over it as adults shake it to create ripples underneath. At Martley, says Ms Smith, children as young as two are happy to be involved in parachute games.
Favourites are 'the mushroom' and placing Tigger in the middle of the parachute, then seeing how high in the air he will 'bounce'.
The 'mushroom' is a basic parachute game and provides the basis for all sorts of other games. To create the mushroom, adults and children each take a handle, pull the parachute taut and lower it to the floor. On a count of three, they stand up, raising their arms to full stretch.
The action is repeated until the parachute is filled with air. Adults can then offer challenges, such as getting children to run and swap places before the parachute deflates.
As with other outdoor games, parachute play can help develop many skills and abilities in young children (see left).
INTRODUCING PARACHUTES
Parachutes are available from a wide variety of companies, including all the major early years suppliers (see left). Sizes range from about 3.5m to 12.5m, though the 3.5m to 5m range is most suitable for use with young children, say Sally Wilkins and Penny Stragnell of supplier SeamStress.
A two-in-one option is the award-winning Playmat from Play to Z Ltd (www.playtoz.co.uk). The waterproof-backed mat is ideal for taking play outdoors and its ribbon fringeing means it can double as a small parachute.
Ideas and advice
Sally Wilkins and Penny Stragnell are also authors of Playchute Games for the Early Years, a booklet full of ideas on using parachutes with babies and young children and advice on how to organise a session. Priced £4, it can be ordered at: www.playchutes.com
By Ruth Thomson
MORE INFORMATION
For more games, visit:
- www.activityvillage.co.uk/outdoor_games_and_activities.htm
- www.indianchild.com/outdoor_games.htm
- www.nurseryworld.com - search under 'Bilton' to access more of Helen's
outdoor games ideas
