Games for grass and playgrounds
Play running, chasing, and jumping games on grass or other cushioned surfaces. You’ll bandage fewer scraped knees.

Cat and mouse
The object of this game is for the cat to catch the mouse.
Here’s what you need:
grassy playground
8 to 12 players

1. At the beginning of the game, one child is designated “cat” and another “mouse.”
2. All other players form a circle, holding hands. The mouse moves to the inside of the circle; the cat stays outside.
3. The mouse starts the game by dashing outside the circle and around the players. The cat tries to tag the mouse but must stay outside the circle. The mouse can move in and out of the circle to avoid being tagged.
4. When tagged, the mouse becomes the new cat, and another child becomes the new mouse.

Jump across the river
The object of this game is to cross the “river” without “wetting your feet.”
Here’s what you need:
two 10-foot-long ropes
grassy area
6 to 12 players

1. Place the two ropes in parallel lines about 6 inches apart. This is the “river.”
2. Encourage the children to jump over the river. Players who “fall in” are eliminated from the round.
3. After each round, separate the ropes slightly to 12 inches, then 18 inches, and so on.
4. The children continue to try to jump across the river without “falling in.”

Name ball
The object of this game is for the player whose name is called to catch the ball.
Here’s what you need:
grassy playground
rubber playground ball
2 to 8 players

1. Players make a circle around one person who holds the ball—the center.
2. The center tosses the ball straight up into the air and calls the name of one of the players in the circle.
3. The named player tries to catch the ball before it bounces.
4. If the named player catches the ball, that player becomes the center. If not, the original center begins again.

Frisbee® golf
The object of this game is to complete the course with the fewest “strokes.”
Here’s what you need:
grassy playground
2 to 4 players
Frisbees
6 large stones or bricks
6 designated pins (a cardboard box, a particular tree, an “X” marked on the sidewalk, for example)
score cards and pencils

1. Set up each “hole” with a stone starting mark about 30 to 50 feet from the pin.
2. Give each player a score card and pencil.
3. Taking turns, the children toss the Frisbee toward the pin, keeping track of the number of tosses it takes to reach the pin.
4. The player with the lowest total score wins.

Contrary Simon
The object of this game is to do the opposite of what Simon says.
Here’s what you need:
grassy playground
4 to 10 players

1. One child is designated “Simon.” The other children form a line facing him.
2. Simon calls a command, and the children respond by doing the opposite. Examples: a) “Take two hops toward me.” The children take two hops away from Simon. b) “Take three skips to the left.” The children take three skips to the right. c) “Sit with your hands in front of your body.” The children sit with their hands behind.
3. Simon continues giving commands, disqualifying players who fail to perform the contrary motion.
4. The last player who is left becomes the next Simon.

Relays and races
The object is to help your team reach the finish line while completing the designated task.
Here’s what you need:
large grassy playground
6 to 18 players
equipment indicated in each variation

Classic relay
1. Divide the players into teams of four children each.
2. Designate the start and finish line of a 100-yard race track. Mark the start point for each racer, the first at the start line and the others about 25 yards apart so that each player has to run about 25 yards.
3. Give the first runner on each team a baton (a soft ball, a water balloon, or a large stone, for example).
4. At the start signal, the first runners race to the second runners and pass the baton, who race to the third, and so forth. Different kinds of batons add interest and difficulty to the race.

Baseball relay
1. Set up the course with the start and finish lines about 25 yards apart.
2. Divide the players into equal teams lined up behind the start line.
3. Place a baseball (or other small ball) and a plastic spoon for each team at the start line.
4. At the start signal, the first player on each team scoops up a ball with a spoon, races to the finish line and back to the start—all using only one hand.
5. The first player then passes the ball and spoon to the second player. The relay continues until all team members have carried the ball.

Crab crawl relay
1. Set up the course with the start and finish lines about 25 yards apart.
2. Divide the players into equal teams, and have players line up behind the start line.
3. At the start signal the first players on each team bend forward, grasp their ankles, and walk sideways to the finish line. At the finish line they stand and run back to the start, tagging the second player.
4. The relay continues until all players have had a chance to race.

One-foot relay
1. Set up the course with the start and finish lines about 25 yards apart.
2. Divide the players into equal teams, and have players line up behind the start line.
3. At the start signal, the first players on each team hop on one foot to the finish line. They then turn and hop back to the start line on the other foot.
4. Racers tag the second players, and the relay continues until all children have a turn.
Variations: The children can hop on both feet (kangaroo hop) or with their legs crossed (right leg in front of left to the finish and left leg in front of right back to the start).

Water carry relay
1. Set up the course with the start and finish lines about 25 yards apart.
2. Divide the players into equal teams, and have players line up behind the start line.
3. Place a bucket of water and a cup for each team at the start line. Place an empty bucket of similar size at the finish line.
4. At the start signal the first player on each team fills the cup with water and runs to the finish, trying not to spill any. The player pours the water into the second bucket and runs back to the start, passing the cup to the second player.
5. The relay continues until the second bucket is filled and the first is empty.

Suitcase relay
1. Set up the course with the start and finish lines about 25 yards apart.
2. Gather similar clothing—socks, T shirts, shorts, hats, and gloves—for each team and place the clothing in suitcases or paper bags. Place a suitcase for each team on the start line and on the finish line.
3. Divide each team so that half stand behind the start line and the other half stand behind the finish.
4. At the start signal, the first players unpack the suitcase, put on the clothes, close the suitcase, and run to the finish line. There the player takes off the clothes and repacks them.
5. The second player unpacks, dresses, and runs back to the start line.
6. This continues until all the players have unpacked, dressed, run, and repacked the suitcase.

Whisper relay
1. Set up the course as in the classic relay.
2. Instruct the players that instead of passing a baton, they will pass a whispered phrase like “Snack today is rice cakes and orange juice” or “Kona, the grass snake, has green scales.”
3. At the start signal, the first player on each team runs and whispers the phrase to the second player. This continues with the third and fourth players.
4. Celebrate with the team that reaches the finish line and calls out the correct phrase.

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