What are movement games?
Movement games are games in which physical activity is central and that can be played both indoors and outdoors can be played. They range from simple running and tag games to team games and are suitable for all age groups. Besides the fun, these games put emphasis on promotion of gross motor skills, coordination, and strength at the forefront. The whole body is used and the child learns to better assess their strengths and abilities.
Movement games are versatile and can be played anywhere - in kindergarten, at school or at home with parents or siblings. Often no equipment is even needed – the game can usually start immediately.
Whether indoors or outdoors: Through the playful component of sports games children gladly take on the challenge. So get started right away and lay the foundation with fun movement games for children the foundation for an improved overall body awareness and age-appropriate motor development.
These types of movement games
Ball games
Throwing games
Catching games
Running games
Jumping & hopping games
Circle games
Dance games
Sports games
Outdoor games
Indoor movement games
Indoor movement games provide a great way to keep children active even on rainy days. Whether fun tag games or creative dexterity games – it's guaranteed not to be boring indoors!
Indoor sports games for toddlers aged 3 and up
Bubble catching: Mom or Dad blow soap bubbles that the children catch and briefly hold on their hand. Who can manage that?
Clothespin thief: Each child gets three to five clothespins attached to their clothing. Now all children try to steal opponents' clothespins and protect their own. The child who has protected the most clothespins at the end of the game time wins the game.
Indoor movement games for (older) kindergarten children (4-5 years)
Balloon flight without hands: The aim is to keep the balloon in the air as long as possible – but without using hands. Legs, knees, elbows, or head come into play. Who can keep the balloon in the air the longest?
Hot potato: While music plays in the background, a light ball is quickly thrown back and forth. When the music ends, the child who is holding the ball is eliminated. The game is also great for the party for children's birthday. This pleases young and old alike.
Egg dance: In the \"Egg Dance\" children try, using various task cards, to balance or transport small wooden eggs without dropping them. The tasks vary and challenge dexterity and coordination. Whoever completes all their tasks first wins the lively dexterity game. \"Egg Dance\" provides fun and excitement!
Charades: In the game \"Charades\" a player draws a card and mimes the concept pictured on it while the others guess. The cards show different animals, professions, or objects. The player may not use words or make sounds and must pantomime the term within a set time. Whoever guesses the term receives the card. The player with the most cards at the end wins.
Indoor movement games for children aged 6 and up
The floor is lava: In this game everyone pretends the floor is made of lava – so it must not be stepped on. The children try to get from one side of the room to the other over boxes, chairs, and cushions without getting 'burned' by the lava.
Ball dance: The children play in pairs. Each pair gets a ball placed between their legs. It must not fall. The children now try, using controlled movements and without hands, to move the ball higher. The team that first brings the ball up to the head wins the game.
Outdoor movement games
Outdoor movement games are ideal to keep children active in the fresh air while also giving them lots of fun. With sports games for children like Ball rolling or Drop-the-handkerchief they can train their motor skills and playfully let off their energy.
Outdoor sports games for toddlers aged 3 and up
Ball rolling: The children line up one behind the other and spread their legs. The first child rolls the ball head-first backwards through the legs of all the players. If the ball reaches the very back, the last child runs to the front. If the ball does not reach the end, the child rolls the ball through the legs again. Who can do it?
Nature scavenger hunt:In this game, the aim is to hide objects in nature. The objects are shown beforehand and each child hides one object and remembers the hiding place. Then the 5-minute search time begins: each child searches for an object other than the one they hid themselves. At the end, have all hiding places been discovered?
Active outdoor games for (older) kindergarten children (4-5 years)
Drop-the-handkerchief:The children stand in a circle and look to the centre. One player is the 'Drop-the-handkerchief' at first. Holding an object (e.g., a scrunched paper, cuddly toy, etc.), they begin to walk around the outside of the players while the others sing the Drop-the-handkerchief song: 'Don't turn around, for the dropper goes around. Whoever turns around or laughs will have their hump blackened.' The child drops the object behind another player onto the ground as unnoticed as possible. If the player notices the object on the ground behind them, they must pick it up and chase the dropper around the outside of the circle. If the child does not manage to catch the dropper before the dropper has taken the former place in the circle, they are the new dropper.
Balloon popping:A balloon is tied to each child's foot with a string. Now the children run off and try to burst the opponents' balloons with their feet. Children whose balloons have popped are eliminated from the game. The child who is the last to still have a balloon wins.
Outdoor movement games for children aged 6 and up
Piggy in the middle:At least three players play together, with one child as the 'piggy' standing in the middle. The other children throw the ball to each other. The piggy must try to catch the ball. If they succeed, the child who last had the ball becomes the new piggy.
Dodgeball:Two teams are formed. Each team chooses a king or queen who acts in the outer field. With a ball, the players try to hit each other out. If a child is hit and the ball touches the ground, they are out and must go to the outer field. Only when they themselves or the king/queen hits an opponent from the outer field can they return to the playing field. If all infield players of a team have been hit out, that team's king or queen must enter the infield and receives the ball. The opposing team now tries to hit them. If someone from the king's or queen's team hits a child from the other team from the outer field in the meantime, they may return to the infield and the king or queen then may leave again. The game ends when the king or queen in the infield is hit.
Movement games for children without materials & accessories
Movement games without materials are a great way to keep children creative and active without relying on special equipment. Games like Little Bunny in the Pit or Animal Imitation promote children's imagination and motor skills while also being great fun. These games can be played anywhere and offer a simple but effective way to boost children's enthusiasm for movement.
Movement games for toddlers aged 3 and up
Little Bunny in the Pit: All children are initially sleeping bunnies and crouch down in a squat. Together the song is sung "Little bunny in the pit sat and slept. Poor little bunny, are you sick that you can no longer hop? Bunny hop, bunny hop, bunny hop!" On the line "Bunny hop" all children wake up and hop as long and as far as they can.
Animal Imitation: All children run around wildly. The leader calls out the name of an animal, for example "elephant". Now all the children mimic the elephant's gait.
Games for (older) kindergarten children (4-5 years)
Chain Tag: One child starts as the "catcher", the other players are the "chased". When a child is caught, the catcher and the captured hold hands. This continues until a long chain of children is formed. The child who is last free wins the game.
Freeze Dance: Music plays in the background and all children dance wildly. At some point the leader stops the music and all children "freeze". If a child wiggles or doesn't stop in time, they are out. The child who is last remaining is the freeze-dance champion.
Movement games for school-age children (from 6 years)
Fire, Water, Lightning: The game is best played in a large room. All children run off and the leader calls "Fire", "Water" or "Lightning" alternately. On "Fire" all children immediately run to a corner. When "Water" is called, all children hold hands as quickly as possible. On "Lightning" the children lie flat on the ground.
Witch, what are you cooking today?: One child is the witch, the others stand on the opposite side of the room. Now the children ask the witch "Witch, witch, what are you cooking today?" The witch names a dish. Depending on the number of syllables the children take large steps toward the witch (e.g. To-ma-to soup = 5 steps, Nood-le-in-a-pot = 4 steps). If the witch names a dish that cannot be cooked, such as "pants pudding", all the children run quickly back to the start and the witch tries to catch them. If a child is caught, they become the new witch.
We have put together a PDF with selected instructions for sports games. In it you'll find a collection of the best movement games for children to make everyday life active and varied.
How sports games for children support development
Children develop quickly. If it were up to your children, they'd want to belong to the grown-ups as early as tomorrow. But how do you best support healthy development? Of course with lots of fun. And here movement games - especially sports games - and other active games for children offer a wide range of possibilities and ideas. But which skills are actually promoted? Let's take a look at the positive effects of movement games and Sports with children.
Dexterity & coordination improve playfully
Movement games are ideal for promoting dexterity and coordination in children. If a child is physically skillful and can perform exercises in a coordinated way, they can master all of life's challenges well. A good dose of dexterity helps to control movements with concentration. That way the the frisbee for example with the person opposite (and not in the bushes) or walking on stilts succeeds without major wobbling.
Strengthen muscles & strength through movement
A straight back and well-developed muscles not only ensure good posture, but have also been proven to help children concentrate better in kindergarten and school. Movement games bring lots of joy and at the same time train your children's most important muscle groups. So, pick a suitable sport game and onto the gym mat - the action begins!
Tip: Make yourselves comfortable with our play cushions - ideal for creative movement games.
Promote gross & fine motor skills with active games
The Promote fine motor skills means improving the control of the smallest muscle groups. It is especially important for activities such as buttoning jackets or tying shoes. The Promote gross motor skills on the other hand targets overall movement, like walking, running or hopping. With targeted movement games you can strengthen both your children's gross and fine motor skills already in toddlerhood and thus support their healthy motor development in a playful way.
Testing limits with sports games
"To infinity and beyond" - this famous line from the film "Toy Story" perfectly describes the exploratory urge of many children. Movement games provide the ideal foundation to live out this urge to act and to playfully explore one's own limits. Whether a ride-on board, toy car or skateboard: children love fast movement and continuously test their limits anew.
Playful relief of stress & frustration
If the school day was exhausting or there was a fight in kindergarten, stress and anger can easily build up in children. So that the little ones don't bottle this up, they should be able to let off steam at home. Movement games and ideas for relieving stress and frustration are ideal for clearing their heads and regaining a good mood.
Time in the fresh air
The sun is shining and the temperatures invite a long session of outdoor play. So what are you waiting for? Get outside so your children can soak up their needed dose of vitamin D. You'll see: being active outdoors is twice as fun and there's something new to discover around every corner.
With Terra Kids' outdoor toys, time outside becomes even more exciting! Whether an explorer kit, tools or flying toys - Terra Kids offers everything little adventurers need to discover nature through play. Check out the full Terra Kids collection now and find the perfect outdoor toy for your children!
Physical activity with children: How do I motivate my child to be more active?
Most children love being active and really letting off steam in everyday life. But children can be as different as adults. If you have a little couch potato at home, you can use small tricks to create an incentive for more activity.
An active lifestyle is essential for the healthy development of children. Therefore they should learn as early as possible how important physical activity is for their health and well-being. As parents you play a crucial role: your example lays the foundation for an active life. Lack of physical activity can have serious long-term consequences, such as developmental delays or overweight, which can even lead to exclusion at school or kindergarten.
Integrate movement playfully into everyday life
To counteract lack of physical activity, you should consciously incorporate movement into your everyday routine. Here are some ideas:
Hiking trips: An exciting hike on Sunday is fun for the whole family. Hiking with children not only means spending time together outdoors, but also allows you to enjoy family time. And along the way you discover lovely spots in the area together.
Swimming pool visits: Even the nearest pool is an ideal destination for an active afternoon. While splashing around and learn to swim your children get plenty of exercise and strengthen their muscles naturally. In the evening they will probably fall into bed exhausted but happy and dream of your fun day in the cool water.
Motivation made easy: Sports day with medals
If you have a little couch potato at home, a sports day a great idea for more physical activity in everyday life. Whether knocking over cans in the garden, roughhousing on the playground or swimming in the indoor pool – come up with different activities that bring your children joy.
As additional motivation, promise your little ones a homemade medal when they have successfully mastered a discipline. This way you casually stimulate the natural urge to move and your little winners will surely be very proud when they have reached the goal they set.
This is how you find suitable and creative movement games for children
With movement games for toddlers, fun is the main focus. To make sure children enjoy moving, you should ideas appropriate to the age of your little ones choose.
Change the type of game now and then and, for example, sometimes choose sports games with a competitive element and sometimes for movement or circle games that focus on cooperation. When playing and moving together, children learn solidarity and develop their social skills.
Whether your children dance games or action-packed sports games or ball games like, you know that best. Try combining both sometimes and come up with something entirely new.
More sports exercises for children
Your children are not quite fully occupied and you want, in addition to great sporty children's games also targeted and child-friendly sports exercises tackle? Then take a look around HABA's relevant topic page and choose your next exercises. Let's get started!
DIY: Make movement games yourself
Play equipment for movement games or other children's sports games you can make yourselves in no time with a few simple steps. Whether for the classic Twister game outdoors or a marble maze indoors - there are countless ideas just waiting to be made by you.
And the best part: You probably already have most of the materials at home. You don't need any extensive crafting experience for that. With our simple instructions you'll have it done in no time, we promise. And then the fun of playing together can begin!
You don't have time to craft movement games? In our category active play toys you'll find a great selection of products to promote children's movement!
More freedom of movement with comfortable clothing
So that children can really let off steam during active play outdoors, comfortable, functional and robust clothing is essential. Here are some tips for different weather conditions:
Rain & Mud: Waterproof clothing protects from head to toe and allows fun play in any weather. Our Jako-O mud pants is dirt-repellent and quick-drying.
Wind & Weather: All-round outdoor clothing keeps children dry and warm, even in changeable weather.
Sunshine: Airy clothing with UV protection prevents sunburn and ensures comfortable temperatures.
Snow & Ice: Warm, windproof and water-repellent clothing is indispensable in winter. Layering provides optimal protection. Find out in our article how to best dress your children properly in winter.
Sporting activities: Durable, breathable clothing ensures freedom of movement and keeps children warm without making them sweat too much.
