15 Classic Outdoor Games for Kids: Teacher Resources for Creative Learning

Jul 30, 2024 | Education, Health and Wellness, Teacher Resources

Outdoor play is essential for a child’s development, providing opportunities for creative learning and physical activity. Here are 15 classic outdoor games for kids, perfect for childcare centers, schools, and playgrounds.

These games come with brief instructions, making it easy for teachers and caregivers to facilitate them:

Hide and Seek: One player closes their eyes and counts while others hide. The seeker then tries to find all hidden players.

Tag: One player is “it” and tries to tag others. Variations like Freeze Tag (tagged players freeze until freed by another player) and Shadow Tag (tagging shadows instead of bodies) add variety.

Red Light, Green Light: One player is the “traffic light” and calls out “Green Light” (players move) or “Red Light” (players stop). The first to reach the traffic light wins.

Duck, Duck, Goose: Players sit in a circle. One walks around tapping others saying “Duck” until choosing “Goose.” The chosen player chases the tapper around the circle, trying to tag them before they sit in the Goose’s spot.

Hopscotch: Draw a hopscotch grid with numbered squares. Players throw a small object onto a square and hop through the grid, skipping the square with the object. Retrieve the object on the way back.

Simon Says: One player, “Simon,” gives commands prefaced by “Simon says.” Players must follow only these commands. If “Simon” gives a command without saying “Simon says,” players should not follow it.

Capture the Flag: Divide players into two teams, each with a flag. Teams try to capture the opponent’s flag and bring it to their own base without being tagged.

Four Square: Draw a large square divided into four smaller squares. Players bounce a ball between squares, aiming to eliminate others by making them miss or incorrectly hit the ball.

Mother May I?: One player is “Mother.” Players ask “Mother, may I…?” to perform actions. “Mother” approves or modifies the request. The first to reach “Mother” wins.

Red Rover: Divide players into two teams. Teams hold hands and call a player from the other team to run and break through their chain. Successful players bring a player back to their team; unsuccessful players join the calling team.

Jump Rope: Players jump over a spinning rope, either solo or in groups. Rhymes and tricks add to the fun.

Kickball: Similar to baseball, but with a rubber ball. Players kick the ball instead of hitting it with a bat and run bases to score.

Sardines: A reverse hide and seek where one person hides and others seek. When a seeker finds the hider, they join in hiding. The last seeker to find the group becomes the next hider.

Tug of War: Two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, aiming to drag the other team across a designated line.

Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items for players to find within a set area. The first to find all items wins, fostering creativity and observation.

These 15 classic outdoor games for kids are more than just fun; they are valuable teacher resources for creative learning. They help develop physical, social, and cognitive skills in children, making them ideal for childcare owners, operators, supervisors, teachers, and school principals. Integrating these activities into your curriculum can enhance the learning experience and provide a well-rounded education.

At Playocity, we believe in the power of play as a tool for learning. Our programs are designed to integrate play and education seamlessly, providing a holistic approach to child development. Explore more resources and ideas on our website to make learning fun and effective.

By including these 15 classic outdoor games for kids in your curriculum, you can enhance your childcare or school program, providing children with a balanced mix of physical activity and creative learning. These activities are not only enjoyable but also promote essential developmental skills, making them a valuable addition to any educational setting.

Insights from Playocity: Five Essential Steps to Foster a Positive Learning Environment

Apr 4, 2024 | Health and Wellness, Teacher Resources

In the dynamic world of education, where each day brings new challenges and learning opportunities, the importance of a positive learning environment cannot be overstressed. At Playocity, we believe that the foundation of effective education lies in nurturing spaces where students feel safe, valued, and inspired to explore their potential. Drawing from our extensive experience and conversations with educational leaders, we’ve identified five essential steps that exceptional educators take to create and maintain such environments.

1. Establish Clear Expectations

Effective teachers know that a well-ordered environment starts with clear, consistent expectations. From the first day, they communicate their rules and routines in a language that is accessible to all students, ensuring that these guidelines are understood and internalized. This clarity not only helps minimize behavioural issues but also fosters a sense of security among students, as they know what is expected of them and what they can expect in return.

2. Cultivate a Culture of Respect and Empathy

A positive learning environment thrives on mutual respect and empathy. Educators set the tone by modeling respectful behaviour, treating each student as an individual with unique thoughts and feelings. This approach extends beyond teacher-student interactions, as educators encourage students to listen to and respect each other’s perspectives. Activities that promote social-emotional learning, such as collaborative projects and reflective discussions, are integral in nurturing empathetic relationships within the classroom.

3. Foster a Growth Mindset

One of the hallmarks of an inspiring classroom is the promotion of a growth mindset – the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Teachers who embrace this philosophy celebrate effort over innate talent, encourage risk-taking, and view failures as opportunities for growth. This mindset helps students to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and view criticism as a valuable tool for learning.

4. Integrate Interactive and Inclusive Learning Experiences

To cater to diverse learning styles and interests, outstanding educators incorporate a variety of teaching strategies, including hands-on activities, technology integration, and collaborative work. These approaches not only make learning more engaging but also ensure that all students feel included and valued. Inclusivity extends to embracing cultural diversity, where lessons reflect and celebrate the backgrounds of all students, fostering a global perspective and mutual understanding.

5. Prioritize Emotional and Physical Safety

Lastly, a conducive learning environment is one where students feel both emotionally and physically safe. This involves proactive measures to prevent bullying and harassment, alongside strategies to support students facing emotional challenges. Physical safety is equally prioritized, with educators ensuring a clean, well-maintained, and hazard-free classroom. When students feel safe, their readiness to learn and participate significantly increases.

At Playocity, we are committed to supporting educators in their mission to create nurturing and effective learning environments. By implementing these five steps, teachers can significantly enhance the educational experience, paving the way for their students’ success both in and out of the classroom. Together, let’s inspire a generation of learners who are not only knowledgeable but also compassionate, resilient, and prepared to make a difference in the world.

8 Ways to Teach Self-Calming Skills to Young Learners

Nov 14, 2023 | Education, Health and Wellness, Teacher Resources

In today’s fast-paced world, young learners often face challenges that can provoke anxiety, stress, and emotional turmoil. As educators, it’s crucial to equip them with the tools to navigate these challenges effectively. Self-calming skills, essential components of self-regulation, empower young learners to manage their emotions and behaviours in a healthy manner. This article explores practical strategies to teach self-calming and mindfulness to young learners, tailored for school teachers, principals, daycare operators, and educators.

1. Understanding the Importance of Self-Calming Skills

Self-calming skills are vital for young learners to develop emotional intelligence and resilience. These skills not only help in managing immediate emotional responses but also lay the foundation for long-term mental health and well-being. By mastering self-calming techniques, children can navigate social interactions more effectively and cope with academic pressures in a healthier way.

2. Implementing Mindfulness Practices

Mindfulness for young learners is about teaching them to be present and aware of their thoughts and feelings without judgment. Simple mindfulness activities can be incorporated into the daily routine, such as:

Mindful Breathing: Guide children to focus on their breath, noticing the rise and fall of their chest, to center their thoughts.
Mindful Listening: Encourage listening to sounds in their environment, which can help bring their focus to the present moment.
3. Creating a Calming Corner

A calming corner in the classroom or daycare can be a safe space for children to retreat and practice self-regulating. This area can be equipped with comforting items like soft pillows, stress balls, and visual calm-down prompts.

4. Teaching Emotional Recognition

Helping children recognize and name their emotions is a critical step in self-regulating. Use visual aids like emotion charts and engage in regular discussions about feelings. This awareness is the first step towards managing emotions effectively.

5. Encouraging Physical Activity

Physical activity is a powerful tool for managing stress and anxiety. Incorporating regular movement, whether through dance, yoga, or simple stretching exercises, can significantly aid in calming the mind and body.

6. Practicing Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Teach young learners progressive muscle relaxation by guiding them to tense and then relax different muscle groups. This technique is particularly effective in reducing physical symptoms of stress.

7. Storytelling and Role-Playing

Use storytelling and role-playing to demonstrate self-calming techniques. Stories that incorporate characters dealing with emotions can be powerful teaching tools.

8. Engaging Parents and Caregivers

Educators should partner with parents and caregivers to reinforce self-calming skills at home. Share resources and strategies that can be used outside the classroom.

Teaching self-calming skills and mindfulness to young learners is an investment in their future well-being. By incorporating these strategies into the educational environment, educators can provide children with the tools they need to navigate their emotions and the world around them. Remember, the goal is not to eliminate emotions but to equip young learners with the skills to manage them effectively.

10 Fun Games and Activities For Your Kids This Summer

Jun 7, 2023 | Health and Wellness, Parent Resources, Teacher Resources

With summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to engage your kids in outdoor activities that promote movement, play, and overall physical well-being. Encouraging your children to be active not only keeps them fit but also helps develop their motor skills, coordination, and social interactions. In this article, we’ll explore ten exciting games and activities that will keep your kids entertained, active, and happy all summer long.

1. Backyard Olympics:

Create your own mini Olympic games in your backyard. Set up various stations with activities like sprint races, long jumps, hula hoop challenges, and sack races. Keep score and award medals to add a competitive element and make it even more fun for the kids.

2. Water Balloon Toss:

On a hot summer day, there’s nothing better than a water balloon toss. Fill several balloons with water and form two teams. Have the teams stand apart and toss the balloons to each other, taking a step back after each successful catch. The team with the last unburst balloon wins.

3. Nature Scavenger Hunt:

Take your kids on a nature scavenger hunt to explore the outdoors. Create a list of items they need to find, such as specific flowers, leaves, rocks, or insects. This activity not only promotes movement but also encourages your children to connect with nature and learn about the environment.

4. Obstacle Course:

Design a backyard obstacle course using everyday objects like hula hoops, cones, jump ropes, and cushions. Set up challenges such as crawling under a table, hopping through hoops, and balancing on a beam. Time each participant and let them compete to beat their own records.

5. Bicycle Adventures:

Plan a family bike ride to a nearby park or trail. Biking is a fantastic way to get moving, explore new areas, and enjoy quality time together. Encourage your kids to learn new bike skills like riding with one hand or standing up while pedaling, making it both fun and challenging.

6. DIY Mini Golf:

Create a mini-golf course in your backyard using simple household items. Set up obstacles using cardboard tubes, plastic cups, and ramps. Provide each child with a putter and a ball, and let them take turns navigating through the course. You can even keep score to add an element of friendly competition.

7. Dance Party:

Turn up the music and have a dance party right in your living room or backyard. Encourage your kids to freestyle and show off their best moves. Dancing is not only a fantastic way to promote movement but also boosts creativity, coordination, and self-expression.

8. Balloon Volleyball:

Set up a makeshift net using a string or a jump rope and blow up a balloon. Divide into teams and play a game of balloon volleyball, where the objective is to keep the balloon off the ground using any part of the body except hands. It’s a great way to improve hand-eye coordination and teamwork.

9. Sprinkler Fun:

On scorching summer days, set up a sprinkler in your backyard and let your kids run and play through the water jets. Jumping, dancing, and splashing around will not only keep them cool but also provide an excellent cardio workout.

10. Tug-of-War:

Gather the family and divide into two teams for a classic game of tug-of-war. Use a rope or an old towel and mark a line in the middle. Encourage your kids to give their best effort to pull the opposing team across the line. Tug-of-war promotes teamwork, strength, and friendly competition.

This summer, make it a priority to engage your kids in fun games and activities that promote movement and play. From backyard Olympics to nature scavenger hunts, these activities will keep your children active, entertained, and physically fit. Remember, the most important thing is to foster a love for movement and encourage your children to enjoy the great outdoors while spending quality time together as a family. So, get out there and create lifelong memories filled with laughter, play, and adventure!

The Benefits of Play as Part of the Daycare Curriculum

May 1, 2023 | Dance Classes, Education, Health and Wellness, Teacher Resources

As a daycare provider, it can be tough to decide how to craft the perfect curriculum for your kids. It’s important to remember that young children need plenty of opportunities to play, as they learn and develop important skills through play. Here are a few of the key benefits of including play in your daycare curriculum.

Play Builds Social Skills

Socialization is a crucial part of early childhood development. Through play, young children learn to interact with others, negotiate, share and take turns. In fact, when children are given opportunities to play in groups, they are more likely to develop meaningful relationships and a strong sense of community that can carry through into adulthood.

Play Enhances Language Development

There is a strong correlation between play and language skills. As children engage in imaginative play, they create stories, role-play conversations, and learn to express their thoughts and emotions through words. Play provides an organic and engaging way for children to practice language skills like grammar, vocabulary, and syntax.

Play Encourages Physical Development

Physical activity is essential for young children’s healthy development. Playtime provides a natural and fun way to develop gross and fine motor skills, improve coordination and balance, and enhance overall physical health. Activities like scavenger hunts, tag, and dancing are great ways to get kids up and moving.

Play Inspires Creativity and Imagination

Imaginative play allows children to create and manipulate their own worlds. Through this process, kids can express their individuality, and learn to think critically and solve problems in unique ways. Furthermore, imaginative play helps to nurture children’s creativity, which is essential to success in many areas of life.

Play Can Reduce Stress and Boost Mental Health

Just like adults, children can experience stress and anxiety. Play provides a healthy outlet for expressing and coping with different emotions. Creative activities like drawing and painting, building with blocks or playing with puppets can be especially effective at reducing stress and anxiety levels.

In conclusion, play is the foundation for early learning in daycare settings. By creating a curriculum that incorporates various forms of play, daycare providers can help to foster healthy development in children. From building social skills and enhancing language development to boosting creativity, play is an essential component of any successful daycare curriculum.

10 Mood-Boosting Activities You Can Introduce in the Classroom

Feb 28, 2023 | Education, Health and Wellness, Parent Resources, Teacher Resources, Uncategorized

10 Mood-Boosting Activities You and Your Students Can Enjoy

Mood-boosting activities can do wonders for you and your students’ overall well-being. Aside from elevating your mood, these activities offer plenty of other benefits, such as reducing stress, nurturing cognitive skills, and promoting values like responsibility and teamwork. We’re sharing our favourite 10 mood-boosting activities you can introduce in your classroom.

1. Play some music

Music can be used as a powerful tool to reinvigorate your students when they’re feeling a bit flat. It can also be a source of inspiration for them, as well as a tool for emotional support. Moreover, listening to music has a host of benefits. It can reduce stress and anxiety, improve your mood, and enhance mental alertness. Ask your students what songs they like listening to and use their suggestions to create a unique playlist for the classroom. You can also encourage your students to get up and dance, as movement can be one way for them to process what they’re feeling. If you’re feeling a bit low yourself, you may want to join in on the fun and experience the power of music.

2. Crack a few jokes

It might sound like a cliché, but laughter is indeed the best medicine and offers several short- and long-term benefits. A good laugh can help ease tension and stress as it can lower cortisol levels, helping you and your students feel more relaxed. Moreover, laughter improves your endorphin levels, giving your mood an instant boost.

You can start by cracking a joke or two to break the ice. You can give your students a heads-up that they’ll be asked to share their favourite jokes, or you can do it spontaneously to get the ball rolling.

10 Mood Boosting Activities for kids in the classroom - Cracking Jokes

3. Engage in physical activity

Engaging in physical activity promotes better physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can improve cognitive function and sleep, as well as reduce anxiety and depression. It can also help you and your students manage stress. The thing is everyone has different thresholds for physical activities. But there is some good news—you don’t need to engage in strenuous exercises to reap the benefits of physical activity. You can do something as simple as stretching, dancing, jumping, or playing indoor ball games.

4. Practice mindfulness exercises

Practicing mindfulness brings in a lot of benefits. It can improve not just your physical and mental health but also your overall well-being. Regular mindfulness practice can help reduce stress and hone our capacity to be aware and observant.

One of the most common myths about mindfulness and mindfulness exercises is that they’re only for adults. The good news is anyone can practice mindfulness, even kids. Plus, there are many ways to practice it. You can ask your students to sit down, stand, or move around. The key to mindfulness practice is paying attention and being present in the moment.

5. Go for a walk

If you can, schedule a regular nature walk for your class. Being in nature and breathing fresh air can elevate your mood and give your energy levels a boost. It can also help reduce stress and promote better sleep. Plus, you can do it for free. Check your local area to see if there are any parks that you and your class can visit.

6. Start a classroom garden

Gardening is a great mood-boosting activity that can easily be done in the classroom. It can reduce stress, help with fine motor development, especially if you’re with younger children, and it teaches them early on about responsibility and patience. It’s also a wonderful way for kids to use all their five senses. Plus, a classroom garden doubles as a teaching tool. As you plant, you can teach your students about how plants grow or what they need to thrive.

7. Introduce a classroom pet

Classroom pets not only promote curiosity and learning but also help improve children’s self-esteem and teach them about responsibility. Moreover, class pets can provide richer experiences in the classroom for young learners and gives them something to look forward to when they go to school. Lastly, having a classroom pet can help enhance the well-being of your students and become a great alternative to screen time. Pets can relieve stress, offer emotional support, and enable students to feel more at ease.

8. Encourage your students to read

Reading is always a welcome activity, whether it’s at home or in the classroom. It supports the development of students’ critical and analytical thinking skills, improves their self-esteem, and nurtures their imagination. Reading can also do wonders for your mental health. It can help reduce stress and give your students a way to cope with daily stressors, making reading an excellent mood-boosting activity.

Allot a specific schedule or time for reading, such as making it a weekly or monthly activity. Set up your classroom to make it more conducive for reading, like bringing pillows or blankets. You can also ask your students to bring some snacks.

10 mood boosting activities for kids in the classroom - reading

9. Initiate a group activity

Group activities like art projects give children the opportunity to learn about cooperation and teamwork. Moreover, art and art education are powerful tools for learning, self-expression, and creativity. It can relieve stress, keep students engaged, and make them feel excited. After all, isn’t it exciting to see your ideas come to life? Moreover, learning how to make or appreciate art can help young learners become happier.

10. Try unstructured play

Unstructured play allows your students to simply have fun while squeezing in some physical activity. In unstructured play, they can run around or dance to some of their favourite tunes. This not only gives them a sense of freedom, as structured play can feel a bit limiting sometimes, but it also helps elevate their mood.

Aside from introducing these activities, you can go a step further and create your own mood tracker for the classroom. Your students can select colours or icons like emojis that represent their mood. This way, you and your students can monitor the state of their mental health regularly. A mood tracker will also let you see any progress or fluctuations, allowing you to take the appropriate action to help your students effectively manage their moods.

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