Top 10 Group Games for Kids in Mid-Autumn Festival

The tradition of Lion Dance during Mid-Autumn or Lunar New Year is believed to originate from the legend of Buddha transforming into a character who subdued a lion to protect the people. In a typical lion dance performance, you often see Mr. Dia, a plump man with colorful attire, holding a mock-up lion head, a fan, and wearing a laughing mask, playfully following the lion and entertaining the audience. Legend has it that during the creation of the earth, lions were ferocious creatures causing havoc during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Buddha transformed into Mr. Dia, feeding the monster with magical grass and taming it, turning it into a gentle vegetarian creature. Since then, every year Mr. Dia leads the lion to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with people, bringing blessings. Wherever the lion appears, evil spirits are dispelled, and the land prospers. The imagery of Mr. Dia and the lion represents the harmony between humans and animals in nature.

Due to its positive significance, lion dance has become an indispensable activity every Mid-Autumn. With wishes and prayers for good, luck, and prosperity. Especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival, lion dance has become an eagerly awaited performance for children. Mid-Autumn for children is not just about feasting and mooncakes but also about lion dance. Creating a lively, excited atmosphere, joining together in the community. For children, lion dance is a game always anticipated whenever Mid-Autumn arrives. It's a perfect start to the moonlit night before the beginning of games and cultural performances. To help children perform beautiful lion dances, in the right rhythm and form, parents/teachers need to prepare the following: A medium-sized drum, lion masks, Mr. Dia, God of Wealth masks. At the same time, guide the children into their roles and run around to the drumbeat to create the most lively atmosphere possible.

For kids in rural areas, simple games are always close and familiar. One of the popular games is undoubtedly Jump Rope. About ten children divide into two teams. The teams play rock-paper-scissors to determine the team that jumps first. One team becomes a human barrier. The other team has to overcome the thorny challenge of the human barrier. The game is simple but fosters team spirit and entertainment for children on every festive occasion. Jump Rope is a highly enjoyable group game for children every Mid-Autumn. It not only creates a joyful atmosphere but is also a physical activity that excites and enhances agility. The number of players includes: 10 children or more, divided into 2 teams.

How to play:

• Rock-paper-scissors to determine which team jumps first (A), the remaining team (B) holds hands and squats, creating a 'fence' in a circle. Each pair of 'linked hands' places them on the ground, forming a 'trap door,' ready to lift when the B team jumps over...
• Team A members move around the outside circle, choosing the moment when the B team's trap door loses vigilance to jump inside the circle. If they succeed, Team B must 'open the door' at the right position for Team A to enter. Team A wins the round, continues to find other opportunities to jump out, and Team B in...
• In case the trap door of Team B is timely lifted, creating an obstacle and touching the feet of Team A's jumper, even causing the opponent to fall, Team A considers losing and must sit down to create a jumping circle for Team B to compete...

Note: The pair of 'linked hands' can lift the obstacle at any height, but the players in the B team, who create the jumping circle, must always maintain the 'squatting' position. If a pair stands up to lift it, it violates the playing rules, and the team is considered to have lost that round.

Nowadays, whether in urban or rural areas, every mid-autumn season, children gather to parade lanterns throughout the villages, neighborhoods, and streets. This is an indispensable performance on the Mid-Autumn night. The lantern parade festival can be initiated by local authorities or groups of young people in the community. They assign each other to make large or beautiful star-shaped lanterns to compete with each other in the lantern parade. 'Parading star lanterns, bright five-pointed stars' is surely the song that every child knows. It will be truly enjoyable if the children can both hold star lanterns and sing lyrics that carry the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Handcrafted with meticulous care from familiar materials such as bamboo and colored paper, creating beautiful five-pointed star shapes, star lanterns are a meaningful gift that adults can give and are loved by young children. Let the children gather, line up, and parade star lanterns through the streets. The children will be very happy and feel that the Mid-Autumn Festival is truly a festival!

In addition to traditional star lanterns, there are many other types of lanterns. The designs of Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns are diverse, with different shapes and colors. Besides the star lanterns, there are also cute animals: rabbits, fish, lions... with playful sounds. Therefore, Mid-Autumn Festival night is always lively and adorable. While parading lanterns, the children also sing joyfully, making the atmosphere more vibrant than ever. Along with that are the innocent and fresh lyrics, making the festive atmosphere even more lively. It can be said that parading lanterns has become one of the collective games that children always look forward to on Mid-Autumn night.

Cat and Mouse is a game that has been closely associated with the childhood of many people. The game creates a lively, cheerful atmosphere, especially for the little ones during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Agility and cleverness are the qualities required when participating in this game. Number of players: 6 - 7 children or more.

How to play:

• Select one child as the mouse, and the remaining children will be cats, sitting in a circle facing the center, arms extended behind their backs to catch the prey. The child playing as the mouse holds a cloth (prey) and runs around outside the circle, discreetly dropping the cloth behind the back of a cat, trying not to let that cat know...
• After completing one round, if the child playing as the mouse discovers that a cat doesn't know there is prey behind their back, the mouse has the right to pick up the prey and hit the back or shoulder of that unsuspecting cat. The ''cat'' who gets hit stands up, runs around to avoid being hit, then returns to the original sitting position to continue playing.
• If a cunning cat discovers the prey behind its back, it stands up and chases the mouse around the circle. The mouse must run fast around the circle and sit in the vacant spot of the cat left behind to escape.

For a long time, ''Orange, Sapodilla, Mango'' has been considered a familiar game for children in the Northern region and is often organized every Mid-Autumn Festival. This game is quite fun and suitable for all ages. The game has about eight players. One person is specially designated to stand outside the game. The remaining people line up in order of the types of fruits: Orange, Sapodilla, Mango, Dưa, Hồng, Cậy. The person outside the line will hold a surprise object and give it to one of the seven remaining people. The recipient must be careful and secretive. Then run quickly to the finish line. The mission is to avoid being kicked by two people next to them. If they reach the finish line without being kicked, they are the winner.

Number of players: 8 people, ages around 8 - 13.

How to play:

• In the group, one child is selected to be the “holder” standing outside, and the other children are lined up horizontally and named in order of 7 fruit types: Orange - Sapodilla - Mango - Dưa - Hồng - Cậy. Each child stands independently, hands behind their back, intertwined to create a bowl shape. The horizontal line is about 10 - 15m away, draw a straight line to be the destination.
• The game starts when the holder holds a small ball or fruit, unexpectedly placing it in the bowl of one of the remaining 7 children. The child who receives it must quickly run to the finish line, while the two people on both sides try to block them. If the child reaches the finish line, they can call out the name of any fruit to be carried back. Once back to the starting position, the game will be repeated.

Note: The child must not drop the ball to the ground or be held back. If either of these happens, the child must return to the starting position.

How to play: Players stand in a vertical line. The person behind puts their hands on the shoulders of the person in front, forming a train. The leader runs and shouts commands like 'Train uphill' or 'Train downhill.' When hearing 'Train uphill,' everyone runs slowly, toes pointing up, running on the ball of the foot. When hearing 'Train downhill,' everyone runs slowly with heels. While running, everyone sings a folk song: 'Go to the bridge, go to the shop. Go sell the piglet. Buy a pot. Bring it home to cook. Buy a watermelon. Give it to grandparents. Buy a flock of chickens. Bring them home for rice. Buy a comb. Buy hairpins. Buy headbands. Go fast, come back fast. Before the sky gets dark.'

Rules: The entire train runs according to the leader's commands while singing the folk song. Anyone singing softly or not performing the correct running movement will be penalized by the entire train (a gentle penalty depending on the chosen train group).

If the Mid-Autumn Festival program is organized in a spacious area with many supervisors, ''Treasure Hunt is a team-building game'' worth organizing for the kids. Divide the kids into teams, each with a guide, plan a series of games, each hiding a message. After conquering all the games, the kids can string together these messages to create a common message, which is also the key to unlock the treasure.

The treasure here can be a box full of candies, toys, school supplies... inside. Note that the quantity of candies and toys must be sufficient for every child. Parents/teachers, divide the kids into teams, each with a guide, and have a clear plan. This is also the key to unlocking the treasure.

Note: When organizing this Mid-Autumn game, parents/teachers need to ensure there is always an adult supervising alongside the kids.

No need to wait for Halloween for the kids to dress up. During this occasion, you can also organize a costume festival with the colors of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Organizing a Mid-Autumn costume event allows kids to transform into their favorite characters such as princesses, princes, superheroes, Mr. Cuoi, Ms. Hang, white rabbit... This makes the kids feel like they are becoming the characters they love. Through this, kids can find confidence and make new friends.

This is a game that any child loves, especially girls. Moms can buy or sew costumes for their children to dress up as favorite fairy tale characters. Girls can dress up as Ms. Hang, jade rabbit, fairy, princess, Snow White... Boys can dress up as Mr. Cuoi, superheroes, Spiderman... And it will be even more fun if moms organize a contest to choose the most similar costume and award prizes to the kids during the Mid-Autumn feast. Moms can also plan a contest to choose the most beautiful costume and award prizes to the kids with toys or candies they love. Alternating with the contest are 'feast' sessions with sweets and fruits.

Aside from Cat and Mouse Chase, Dragon and Serpent Ascend to the Clouds is also a game that has been associated with countless childhoods from the past to the present, always bringing laughter and fun moments to the little ones. A playing group usually consists of 5 or more children, including one playing the role of the 'master' who sits in one place.

How to play:

• The remaining children join together, walking while chanting: 'Dragon and serpent ascend to the clouds. There's a swaying tree. There's a military checkpoint. Is the master at home?' and then stop in front of the master.
• The master answers 'yes' or 'no.' If the answer is 'no,' the children continue walking and reciting the phrases.
• If the answer is 'yes,' the child will ask: Which section does the master want? The master can say: 'Give me the middle section?' The whole group responds: 'Feel free to chase.'
• After this answer, the master runs to touch the 'section' (person) that they requested. The people at the front of the group use their hands to shield the person requested so that they won't be caught. If the master catches them, that person becomes the new master, and the game starts again.
• During the dialogue with the 'doctor,' the child may not necessarily have to answer sequentially from 1 to 10 but can answer intermittently like: 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 -... for a short conversation time. Alternatively, when the 'dragon and serpent' ask for the first time, the 'doctor' can answer that there is no house, and the mother and child serpent have to keep going until the doctor has a house, then they stop.

It would be a miss not to organize a lantern making contest for Mid-Autumn Festival with the kids. Moms can collaborate to invite an artisan to guide the children on making traditional paper lanterns or simple star lanterns that carry the essence of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Moms or teachers will prepare the necessary tools and materials in advance for making Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns. After that, they can divide the kids into small teams and organize a competition to see which team can make more beautiful, faster, and more lanterns. In the end, these products will be used to participate in the lantern parade. It may sound simple, but this game requires the little ones to work together, cut and assemble shapes to create a final product - beautiful and colorful lanterns or lanterns in various cute shapes, all made by the hands of the children themselves. Afterwards, moms or teachers will vote together to choose the team that made the most beautiful lanterns to receive prizes, such as toys or candies that the kids love. The final products, the lanterns, will be displayed in the most prominent place in the classroom or at home.

Note: Moms or teachers should prepare simple and easy-to-make materials in advance. Avoid situations where materials may cause harm to the children.