Top 20 Best Outdoor Free Play Games for Preschoolers

Materials Needed:

• A 6-meter long rope
• Mark a straight line to divide the two teams

Game Rules: The team that steps on the line first loses

How to Play: Divide the children into two teams with similar strength and line them up facing each other. Each team selects the strongest child to stand at the front of their line at the starting point, holding the rope, with the rest of the team holding the rope as well. When the teacher gives the signal, all players pull the rope towards themselves. The team whose front player steps on the line first loses.

Note: Instead of using a rope, the two children at the front can hold hands and pull while the others hug each other around the waist.

How to Play:

1 child plays the 'owner' and sits in one place. The remaining children form a line, walking around the yard while reciting:

‘Dragon snake climbs up the clouds

There’s a swaying tree

There’s a guardhouse

Is the owner at home?’

• When they ask, 'Is the owner at home?', the child playing the owner may answer 'yes or no'. If the owner answers 'no', they continue walking while reciting the previous lines. If the owner answers 'yes', the whole group answers the owner's questions.
• Owner: Give me the beginning part? The group: Old bones and broken ones. Owner: Give me the middle part? The group: Nothing tasty. Owner: Give me the end part? The group: Run and escape.
• After saying 'Run and escape', the owner tries to catch the 'end' (the last person), and the rest of the group tries to avoid being caught. The person at the front of the group spreads their arms to protect everyone from being caught. If the owner catches the 'end', they switch roles and play again from the beginning.

Note: Let the children play for 10 – 15 minutes continuously, without limiting the number of rounds.

How to Play:

A grown-up stands in the center while the children stand on either side, holding hands. All move forward and backward in rhythm while chanting the following nursery rhyme:

"Dung dang dung de

Taking the children out to play

To the door of heaven

Bow to uncle, bow to aunt

Let us return to the countryside

Let the goat go to school

Let the frog stay home

Let the chicken scratch the kitchen

Uh ah uh ah

Squat down here."

When chanting 'Squat down here,' everyone squats for a moment, then stands up and continues walking while singing.

Objective: Help children develop dexterity in performing body rotations and learn traditional folk rhymes.

How to Play: Two children face each other and hold hands. Together, they shake their hands in rhythm with the following rhyme:

"Rainbow flip

Rainbow flip

Clear flowing water

With sister thirteen

Both of us

Flip the rainbow together"

When reaching the line 'flip the rainbow together,' the two children spin and flip their heads through their partner's hands. After the rhyme, the children stand with their backs to each other. They continue singing the rhyme and return to their original position.

Preparation:

• Lottery for various types of vegetables, fruits, and tubers.
• 3-5 gym rings (50cm-70cm in size, if available).

Procedure:

The teacher places 3 or 5 rings in different positions in the room, each with a label for different types of vegetables, fruits, and tubers. Children are given a lottery basket containing different vegetables, fruits, tubers, and wood-bearing plants (each basket should have no more than 2 items of vegetables, fruits, or tubers). The teacher instructs: "The children should bring home a leafy vegetable." The child with the corresponding lottery item for a leafy vegetable will race to the ring labeled with it. The same applies to other types of vegetables. When children get proficient, the teacher can say: "Bring home 3 types of leafy vegetables, 5 root vegetables, and 3 fruits..." The child who responds correctly and reaches the ring fastest wins. The children count the items correctly as instructed. If anyone is slow, they will hop on one foot or try again later.

Preparation: 2 flags, 2 student chairs.

Game Rules: The objective is to grab the flag and run around the chair.

How to Play:

Divide the children into two equal teams.

The children line up in a row. The first two children at the front hold the flag. Place the chairs 2 meters away from where they are standing. When the teacher calls out: "One, two," the children must quickly run towards the chairs, circle around the chair, then return and pass the flag to the next child in line. The second child must immediately run to the chair, circle around it, and then return to pass the flag to the third child. This continues until one team completes the relay. Anyone who doesn’t run around the chair or runs without the flag must return to the starting point and try again.

Rules: Anyone who drops the ball must leave the game for one round.

How to Play: The teacher prepares 2 to 3 balls. Children form a circle (if the class is large, divide into multiple circles). Every 10 children, one holds the ball. When the teacher says 'start', the first player passes the ball to the next child, and the ball is passed in a clockwise direction. While passing, they sing to the rhythm:

"No wings

But the ball knows how to fly

No legs

But the ball knows how to run

Quickly, my friend

Quickly, my friend

Let’s see who’s talented, who’s skillful

Let’s compete together."

Once the children become proficient, they can be split into two or three teams and compete. The team that drops the least balls wins.

Rules: Toss the ball into the basket. The team with the most balls remaining inside wins.

How to Play: The teacher prepares 2 baskets, 6 balls, and marks a starting line at a distance from the baskets. Place the baskets 1.5–2 meters from the line, with 1 meter between them. Divide the children into 2 teams, lining them up behind the starting line. Each child takes a turn to toss the ball 3 times as directed by the instructor. The teacher suggests strategies to help the children avoid bouncing the balls out of the baskets. After tossing, the child retrieves the balls and places them back at the starting line for the next player before joining the end of the line. The game continues until all players have had their turn.

Luật chơi:

• Khi có hiệu lệnh “trời mưa”, mỗi trẻ phải trốn vào một nơi trú mưa. Trẻ nào không tìm được nơi trú phải ra ngoài một lần chơi.Cách chơi: Cô giáo chuẩn bị vẽ những vòng tròn trên sân. Sao cho vòng này cách vòng kia từ 30 - 40cm để làm nơi trú mưa. Số vòng ít hơn số trẻ chơi từ 3 - 4 vòng.
• Trẻ đóng vai học trò đi học, vừa đi vừa hát theo nhịp phách của cô giáo. Khi nghe hiệu lệnh của cô nói: “Trời mưa” thì tự mỗi trẻ phải tìm một nơi trú mưa nấp cho khỏi bị ướt (có nghĩa là chạy vào vòng tròn). Trẻ nào chạy chậm không tìm được nơi để nấp thì sẽ bị ướt và phải chạy ra ngoài một lần chơi.
• Trò chơi tiếp tục, cô giáo ra lệnh “trời nắng” thì các trẻ đi ra xa vòng tròn. Hiệu lệnh “trời mưa” lại được hô lên thì trẻ phải tìm đường trú mưa.

Preparation:

• Tunnel or cardboard box.
• Chalk for marking lines.
• Hula hoops: either plastic or made from sturdy cardboard.
• Plastic bottles with a neck shaped like a duck’s or other suitable shape.

• The teacher divides the children into groups (maximum of 5 children per group).
• The children line up behind the starting line. When the teacher signals, each child will run forward, jump (both feet together) over a “stream,” run, crawl through the tunnel, and then run to the hoop station. They will jump to catch a hoop with both hands and throw it onto the bottle neck before running back to the end of the line.

• The child who is ahead must reach the tunnel and crawl through it before the next child can begin, without waiting for further instructions from the teacher.
• The game lasts for 15 minutes, and there is no limit to how many times each child can play.

Rules: Children must start and stop according to the teacher's signal. Anyone who does not follow the instructions will be removed from the game for one round.

How to Play:

• The teacher marks two parallel lines on the ground or uses a row of tiles to create the track.
• Children line up in a straight line, placing their hands on each other’s shoulders to form a train traveling along the two parallel lines (or along the tiles).
• When the teacher raises the green flag, the children move forward, chanting: “chug-chug” like a train.
• When the teacher says, “Train uphill,” all children must walk on their heels, chanting: “toot toot.”
• When the teacher says, “Train downhill,” the children must walk on their toes, chanting: “toot toot.”

• To make the game more enjoyable, the teacher should frequently change the signals.
• When the children are walking on their heels (train uphill), the teacher should avoid immediately signaling “train downhill.”
• If the teacher gives signals too slowly, the game may become boring. If the pace is too fast, the line will become disorganized. Therefore, the teacher should adjust the rhythm of the signals accordingly.
• When the children are familiar with the game, the teacher can invite one of them to act as the conductor.

Chuẩn bị: Có sân chơi rộng và bằng phẳng, đồng thời có ba tín hiệu của đèn giao thông là đèn đỏ, xanh và vàng.

Luật chơi: Trẻ cần mô phỏng đúng động tác của phương tiện giao thông, chạy và đừng theo đúng tín hiệu giao thông. Nếu ai sai thì phải chạy ra ngoài một lần chơi.

Cách chơi:

• Cô giáo nói "Ô tô xuất phát" thì trẻ làm động tác là lái xe ô tô và miệng kêu "Bim bim"
• Cô giơ tín hiệu đèn đỏ thì trẻ sẽ dừng lại.
• Cô chuyển sang tín hiệu đèn xanh thì trẻ tiếp tục đi.- Cô nói " Máy bay cất cánh" thì trẻ dang 2 tay và nghiêng người để làm chiếc máy bay và miệng kêu " ù ù ...".
• Cô giơ đèn xanh trẻ tiếp tục bay.
• Cô giơ đèn vàng, trẻ bay từ từ.
• Cô nói "Máy bay hạ cánh" và đưa tín hiệu đèn đỏ thì trẻ phải dừng lại.
• Cô nói "Thuyền ra khơi" thì trẻ ngồi xuống, hai tay làm động tác là chèo thuyền.
• Cô nói "Thuyền về bến" và giơ tín hiệu đèn đỏ, trẻ dừng lại rồi đứng dậy
• Cô giơ tín hiệu đèn xanh, trẻ sẽ tiếp tục chèo thuyền
• Cộ thay đổi tín hiệu liên tục để trẻ quan sát và thực hiện cho đúng.
• Khi trẻ nắm được luật và cách chơi, để cho trẻ tự điều khiển trò chơi.

Luật chơi: Nếu như nghe thấy tiềng còi, trẻ cần tránh sang hai bên kia của đường.

Cách chơi:

• Giáo viên cần chuẩn bị 1 hoặc 2 vòng nhỏ với đường kính là 20cm.
• Cô giáo hướng dẫn quy định chỗ chơi giữa sân chơi và vẽ hai vạch đường giới hạn làm đường của ô tô, còn hai bên chính là vỉa hè.
• Cô cầm vòng tròn xoay xoay để làm động tác lái xe, còn trẻ làm con chim sẻ
• Con chim sẻ đi kiếm ăn ở trên đường, vừa nhảy vừa ngồi xuống giả vờ mổ thóc
• Cô giả tiếng ô tô kêu "Bim bim"
• Chim sẻ cần nhanh chân chạy đi nhanh lên vòm cây ở bên đường (ra ngoài lằn kẻ đường ô tô chạy)
• Khi nào ô tô đi qua, chim sẻ sẽ xà xuống đường để ăn.
• Khi trẻ đã quen với trò chơi thì cô giáo chọn hai em để làm ô tô.

Để trẻ không bị cuống khi lần đầu chơi trò này thì bạn cần hướng dẫn cẩn thận và làm thật chậm để bé có thể bắt kịp.

Game Rules: Look for the dock that matches the color of the boat. When the signal is given, the boat must dock at the correct spot.

Preparation:

To help the children learn and recognize colors, the teacher needs to prepare:

• Create paper boats in different colors for the children.
• Create round markers or flags that match the boat colors and designate them as docks.
• The game can be played indoors or outdoors in a spacious area.

Preparation:

• Play outdoors on the schoolyard.
• Slides are available.
• Prepare 3-5 tunnels approximately 50cm high or use barrels with a 50cm diameter to create underground bunkers.

How to Play:

• Divide the children into groups of 3-5 kids.
• Have them line up behind the starting line.
• Each group should consist of 3-5 children.
• Those at the end of the line wait for their turn.

Requirements:

• Once the first child crawls through the tunnel, the second child begins crawling. When the first child climbs the hill, the third child starts crawling through the tunnel.
  As the slides are spaced out across the yard, the teacher can direct children to run to any slide. If the slide is behind a trench, the teacher can have the child jump over the trench and then run to the slide.
  If there are multiple slides in the yard, let the children run simultaneously. It's best to match the number of tunnels and slides.

Preparation: Draw two areas on the ground representing two houses.

How to play:

• Can be played by the whole class or in groups.
• The teacher informs the children that there are two houses on the field, each designated for people with specific characteristics, like one house for those wearing short-sleeve shirts and another for those wearing long-sleeve shirts. When the teacher says "Rainstorm!" along with the signal, children must quickly run to their correct house. Those who go to the wrong house lose.

The game can also be organized using different signs, such as:

• One house for boys, one house for girls.
• One house for children wearing floral shirts, another for those who are not.
• One house for those wearing slippers, another for those wearing shoes.

How to play:

• Pair two children together, using their bellies to hold a ball, while their hands should be interlocked as if they are dancing. Hands should not be used to hold the ball.
• Play music with varying tempos, such as slow, normal, slow again, and fast, and ask the children to dance to the rhythm without dropping the ball.
• The pair that drops the ball will be eliminated.

This game helps improve listening skills, enhances physical coordination, and encourages teamwork as the children work together to complete the task.

Preparation: A clear area or empty classroom.

Game Rules: Each rabbit (one player) has a burrow (another player acts as the burrow). The rabbit must hide in its correct burrow. Any rabbit who is slow or runs to the wrong burrow will be caught by the fox or be eliminated from one round of play.

How to Play: Select one child to play the fox, who will hide in a corner of the room. The remaining children will be the rabbits and their burrows. Each rabbit is paired with a burrow. The child acting as the burrow will stand in position, extending their arms to welcome their rabbit when chased by the fox. Before the game begins, the teacher reminds the rabbits to remember the location of their burrow. When the game starts, the rabbits hop around looking for food while waving their hands over their heads like rabbit ears, and recite the following rhyme:

"On the meadow

The little rabbit

Looks for food

With great joy

Rabbit, remember

A sly fox

Is lurking there

Rabbit, remember

Run quickly

Or the sly fox

Will catch you."

When the rhyme ends, the fox appears, growling and chasing the rabbits. Upon hearing the fox’s growl, the rabbits quickly run to their burrows. Any rabbit caught by the fox must sit out for one round. Afterward, players switch roles and continue the game.

Note: The timing of the fox’s appearance may vary (sometimes the fox only appears after a few lines or halfway through the rhyme) to help children practice quick reflexes.

Rules: The mouse runs, and the cat chases. If the mouse completes two laps without being caught, the cat loses.

How to Play: The teacher instructs the children to form a large circle and raise their hands to create a den. Two players are selected, one as the cat and the other as the mouse. The cat and mouse start 2 meters apart. When the signal "chase" is given, the mouse quickly runs and dodges through the den to escape the cat. The cat must chase and tag the mouse to catch it.

Method 1:

• Game Features: Develops auditory skills and judgment. A spacious area is required for the players.
• Target Audience: Children and young kids.
• How to Play: After playing the "Black and White Hands" game to eliminate two players, the two will play rock-paper-scissors. The loser will be blindfolded and must find the goat, while the winner plays the role of the goat. The other players form a circle. The goat must continuously call "be, be" and avoid being caught by the blindfolded player. The goat cannot leave the circle; if this rule is broken, the goat will be blindfolded. When the blindfolded player catches the goat, roles are swapped.

Method 2:

• After playing the "Black and White Hands" and "Rock-Paper-Scissors" games, the loser must wear a blindfold and try to catch the goats, while the others play the goats and run around. The goats must continuously say "be, be" or tease the blindfolded person, and always avoid being caught. When the blindfolded person touches a goat, the goat is tagged. After the blindfold is applied, players will run around, tapping or brushing the blindfolded player’s shoulder or cheek, and then quickly running away. When the blindfolded player catches someone, they must guess the person's name. If correct, the caught person wears the blindfold; if incorrect, the game continues as usual. The caught player can trick the blindfolded person by crouching or standing on tiptoe to confuse them.