Healthy Kids: 5 Easy Running Games for Kids

This post is part of a Nuffnang native advertising series.

October is Doc-Tober for Disney Junior! Your preschooler can see Doc McStuffins and her toy friends in new episodes on the Disney Junior TV channel and enjoy brand new Doc games and activities on DisneyJunior.com.au.

“She never stops. She’s go, go, go from the moment she wakes up till she goes to bed. Even in her sleep, she talks.” A friend of mine, that I have not seen in months was sharing what life was like with her four year old daughter. Sure enough, we watch her daughter happily run and play in the playground. She wasn’t the only child running circles around the playground. Children can be wonderfully, sometimes challengingly physical. 

Kids will often run, dodge and jump when given the space and opportunity to. Encouraging regular physical activity is key to keeping kids healthy. To celebrate Doc-Tober, we’re learning to care for others and ourselves. To stay fit and healthy, here are my top 5 easy to play running games for large groups. 

Five Easy Running Games For Healthy Kids

You only need a large space and some very simple supplies, if any, for these easy running games. 

BULLRUSH
I remember the adrenaline pumping through my body whenever I played this as a child. I’m pretty sure my 6 year old twins love this game and will love it even more as they get bigger (and faster!). For this game, players stand side by side on one end of the play area. Choose one player to be IT, and stand in the middle of the play area. Whoever is IT shouts,  “BULLRUSH!”. On this signal, all players have to try and run to the opposite side of the play area without getting tagged by IT. Whoever gets tagged, joins the IT team to help catch other free players. Players can only run to the other side when the IT team shouts, “BULLRUSH!”. The game continues until only one player is left. That player becomes the new IT in the next game.

STUCK IN THE MUD
Set out a play area for this game. Select one player to be IT. Once play begins, IT has to tag other players. Once tagged, players are stuck in the mud. They have to stay where they are when they were tagged, with their legs apart. Players who aren’t stuck, can free people who are stuck in the mud, by crawling through their legs. Once players are freed, they can run around again. Depending on the number or children and the size of the play area, it may be more fun to have a few people to be IT.

STUCK IN THE MUD PARTNERS
All players have to find a partner. Choose one pair to be IT. The IT pair has to try and tag as many pairs as possible. A tagged pair stay where they are, face each other with arms raised to form an arch. You can only be freed when another pair runs through your arch.

TURTLE TAG
Choose one person to be IT. Play begins when IT yells, “GO!”. IT chases other players. When IT comes near, players can avoid being tagged by quickly lying on their backs with arms and legs raised in the air, like a turtle on its back. As soon as IT has gone by, they can keep running again. If you are tagged, you are the new IT.

BACK-TO-BACK TAG
This one is great for team building. On the signal “GO!”, IT chases the other players. Players are safe for five seconds only when they stand back-to-back, elbows linked, with another player. As soon as they feel safe, or their five seconds are up, separate and run in free space until IT comes near again. Then find a new partner and stand back-to-back. If you are tagged, you are the new IT. 

Running games like these are so simple and fun. Do you have a favourite running game for kids?

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