English for kids: Idees per jugar al pati de l'escola en anglès

By ASCIS, Agora Patufet Infant School & Àgora Sant Cugat International School

Playground games are a great way for children to be active and entertained for hours. Play is an essential part of the development of all children and traditional playground games have been played for hundreds of years all over the world. Once a child reaches school age and begins to play with other children, play becomes a social occasion and games become elaborate rituals.

1. Grandmother’s Footsteps

Players stand at a “home” base in a line. “Grandmother” stands with his/her back to them about ten metres away.The players creep forward, but whenever “Grandmother” turns round they must stop advancing and “freeze”. If “Grandmother” sees any of them moving, s/he sends them back to the starting line again. The child who is the first to touch “Grandmother” becomes the next “Grandmother”.

2. What’s The Time, Mr. Wolf?

One player is chosen to be Mr. Wolf. The other players stand in a line on the opposite end of the playground about 10-12 metres away from Mr. Wolf.

This line is referred to as “Home”. Mr. Wolf stands with his/her back to them. The players chant, “What’s the time Mr. Wolf?” Mr. Wolf replies (for example), “3 o’clock.”

The players advance the same number of steps, that is, 3 steps for 3 o’clock. The game continues until Mr. Wolf thinks the players are close enough to catch and after being asked the time again s/he replies, ‘Dinner Time,’ then turns and chases the players.

The first child caught becomes Mr. Wolf. If Mr. Wolf does not catch anyone, s/he has to be Mr. Wolf again.
If a player reaches Mr. Wolf before “Dinner Time”, they tap Mr. Wolf on the shoulder and run for home.
If the player gets home then s/he is safe. If s/he is caught then s/he becomes Mr. Wolf.

3. IT

Someone is called “IT” and they have to chase everyone else and try and catch them. When they touch someone, they say “IT” and then that person becomes “IT”. The game keeps on going until everybody is really tired or the bell or whistle goes for the end of playtime!