Top 22 Most Fun and Engaging Group Games for Preschoolers

Preparation:

• Flat and spacious playing field.
• Draw two parallel lines about 8 to 10 meters apart and 3 to 4 meters long.
• Small sticks equal in number to the children on one side of the line (2, 3, or 4 sticks).

How to Play:

• Divide children into small groups and have them stand in rows on either side of the starting line (2, 3, or 4 rows). Each child in the first row on the left holds a small stick.
• When the signal is given, children holding the sticks in the left row run to pass the stick to the first child in the right row, then run to the end of the right row. The child receiving the stick then runs to pass it to the second child in the left row and runs to the back of that row. The game continues like this until all children have participated.

Rules:

• The team that finishes first and with neat rows wins.
• Let the children play for 10 to 15 minutes, with no limit on the number of rounds.

Rules: Anyone who drops the ball must step out for one round.

How to Play:

The teacher prepares 2 to 3 balls.

The children form a circle (if the class is large, they can be split into multiple circles).

Every 10 children will have one holding the ball.

When the teacher says “Start,” the child holding the ball will pass it to the person next to them, continuing clockwise around the circle.

While passing, the children sing this song:

No wings,

But the ball can fly,

No legs,

But the ball can run,

Quickly, come on!

Quickly, come on!

Let’s see who’s the best and most skillful,

Let’s race together!

Once the children become skilled at the game, they can be split into two or three teams and compete. The team that drops the fewest balls wins.

How to Play:

• Leader (L): Rabbit - Children (C): (repeat) Rabbit
• L: Eat grass - C: (repeat) Eat grass while bringing the right fingers together into the left palm
• L: Drink water - C: (repeat) Drink water while bringing the right fingers together to the mouth
• L: Go into the hole - C: (repeat) Go into the hole while bringing the right fingers to the ears

Note: Children must follow the leader's commands. Anyone who makes a mistake will be penalized.

How to Play:
The leader gives a command, and each child responds:

Leader: Sky - Children: Name a creature that flies in the sky (e.g., crane)

Leader: Earth - Children: Name a creature that lives on the ground (e.g., pig)

Leader: Water - Children: Name a creature that lives underwater (e.g., catfish)

Note: Anyone who names a creature incorrectly, repeats a previously mentioned animal, or gives an unclear answer will be penalized.

How to Play:

The leader gives commands and the children respond:

Leader: (shouts) Bằng (while pressing both hands together pointing at a child) - Children: (shout) Ah (while raising both hands to the sky)

Leader: (shouts) Ah (while raising both hands to the sky) - Children: (shout) Bằng (while pressing both hands together pointing at the leader)

Note: When the leader shouts 'Bằng,' the children must shout 'Ah,' and vice versa. The leader should speak quickly to trick the children.

How to Play:

Leader: (sings or chants) Forehead, chin, ear, forehead, chin, ear, forehead, ear, ear, chin, ear, forehead, ear, chin, ear.

Note: As the leader sings or chants, players must touch the corresponding body part (forehead, chin, ear) in the correct order. Start slowly and gradually increase the speed. Anyone who makes a mistake will be penalized. You can modify it by including other body parts like head, bottom, etc.

Rules: "Night" and "Day" are commands given by the leader for children to either sleep or wake up. When the command 'Night' is given, all children close their eyes, sit down, and rest their heads on one side to simulate sleep.

How to Play: Children pretend to be chicks walking around the playground looking for food. They raise their hands sideways and sway from side to side, flapping their arms while chirping 'chip, chip.' When the leader says 'Night,' the children must squat down, place their hands on their cheeks, close their eyes, and pretend to sleep for about 30 seconds.

When the leader says 'Day,' the children raise their hands in a cupped position and imitate the sound of a rooster crowing: 'Ó ó o o…'.

The game continues as children pretend to be kittens walking around the playground. They place their hands on their hips, squat, sway from side to side, and meow as they go 'meo, meo.' When 'Night' is called, they again squat, put their hands on their cheeks, and close their eyes for another 30 seconds.

When 'Day' is called, they raise their hands to their mouth and imitate the sound of a kitten meowing: 'meo, meo…meo…'

The teacher can guide the children to imitate movements and sounds of other animals, helping them engage in physical activities that promote fun and creativity. These movements help the children develop coordination, and they enjoy mimicking the walk and sounds of familiar animals.

How to Play:

Gather all the children into a group and start playing music.

Pause the music intermittently, and when it stops, all players must remain perfectly still. If anyone moves, they will be eliminated from the group. The last person remaining motionless wins the game.

A variation of this game does not have a winner (and thus no tears or frustrations).

How to Play:
This game is played with chairs or cushions. You will need one less chair or cushion than the number of children participating.

Arrange the chairs or cushions in the center of the room.

Start playing music once the children have gathered in a circle around the arranged seats.

When the music stops, the children must quickly find a seat. The last child standing without a seat will be eliminated.

Remove one chair or cushion after each round.

The child who claims the last available seat will win the game.

In a variation of the game, no chairs are removed after each round, and the children continue to play until the music stops.

How to Play:

One child is chosen to be the wolf, and they stand near the center of the other children.

• The other children form a circle on the floor, with clock-like markers, and loudly ask: "Wolf, what time is it?"
• The wolf answers with a time, such as 04:00 (or any time they choose). The child corresponding to that time moves one step toward the wolf.
• The wolf and children continue this pattern until the wolf feels the children are close enough and then shouts: "It’s dinner time!" Afterward, the wolf chases the children and tries to tag one.
• Any child tagged by the wolf becomes the new wolf. The game continues in this way.

Note: This game is suitable for older children who understand how to read a clock. There is also an alternate version of the game called "Crocodile on the shore".

How to Play:

Take a long rope or fabric string and tie a knot at both ends. In the middle of the rope, attach a ribbon.

Divide the children into two teams of equal size, making sure the teams are also evenly matched in terms of physical build. Give each team one end of the rope, with the ribbon positioned at the center line.

When the referee calls "Pull!", the tugging battle begins. Both teams will use their collective strength to pull the rope towards their side. The team that manages to pull the ribbon past the center line, without the other team being able to pull it back, wins the round.

Objective: To improve movement skills and body coordination.

Preparation: No equipment needed. Have the children stand freely around the teacher.

Instructions:

• The teacher and children play together, performing actions while speaking:
• This is a small apple tree (Raise your right/left hand and spread your fingers).
• I look up at the tree and see (Look at your fingers).
• The apples are ripe, red, and sweet (Make a motion as if holding an apple).
• The ripe apples taste so good (Bring your hands to your mouth).
• Shake the apple tree (Shake your hands as if shaking the tree).
• The apples fall to me (Raise your hands up and lower them).
• This is a big round basket (Make a circle with your hands).
• Pick up apples from the ground (Bend down to pick them up and put them in the basket).
• Pick apples from the tree (Raise your hands high, look at your hands).
• I will eat the apple (Bring your hand to your mouth).

You can play this 2-3 times.

How to play:

Have the children sit in a circle. The teacher selects one child to be the cat and another to be the mouse. When the teacher gives the signal, the cat begins to chase the mouse (for about 3 minutes). If the cat catches the mouse, the teacher gives praise. If the cat doesn't catch the mouse, the teacher encourages the children and invites two other children to play the game in the same way.

How to play option 1:

After playing the "Black and White Hands" game to eliminate two players, these two will play "Rock, Paper, Scissors". The loser will have their eyes blindfolded and try to catch the goat, while the winner becomes the goat. The remaining players form a circle. The goat must constantly bleat "ba, ba" and avoid being caught by the blindfolded player. The goat cannot leave the circle; if they do, they will be blindfolded instead. When the blindfolded player catches the goat, the roles are swapped.

How to play option 2:

After the "Black and White Hands" and "Rock, Paper, Scissors" games, the loser will be blindfolded and try to catch the goats, while the others play the role of goats, running around. The goats must continuously bleat "ba, ba" or taunt the blindfolded player, avoiding being caught. When the blindfolded player touches a goat, that goat becomes the blindfolded player. Once the blindfold is in place, everyone will run around the blindfolded player, tapping their shoulders or stroking their face, then running away before the blindfolded player can catch them. When the blindfolded player catches someone, they must guess their name. If they guess correctly, the caught person becomes the blindfolded one; if wrong, the game continues as before. The caught player can trick the blindfolded one by crouching to appear shorter or standing on tiptoe to look taller, in order to confuse the guesser.

How to play:

• It is a group activity for the whole class.
• The children stand freely in the room. The teacher says, "Hand in hand," and the children hold hands in pairs or groups of three, repeating the teacher's phrase. The teacher continues, "Head to head," and each group touches their heads together and repeats the phrase.
• At first, if the children don't understand, the teacher can guide them with the actions. The teacher can use other phrases like: "Nose to nose", "Shoulder to shoulder", "Arm in arm", "Leg to leg", "Back to back", "Palm to palm", etc., for the children to practice saying along with the teacher.

How to play:

Divide the children into two teams, each standing at the starting line. The first player from each team rolls the ball in a zigzag pattern towards the finish line, then hugs the ball and runs back to pass it to the next person in line, who repeats the process.

How to play:

Arrange the children into three rows, with a distance of 0.5 – 0.6 meters between each child. At the start signal, the first child uses their legs to hold the ball, lies down, and bends their front legs, passing the ball over their head to the next child. Each child in line uses their feet to hold and pass the ball. The last child picks up the ball with their hands, stands up, and runs to the front of the line. The team that finishes first wins.

How to play:

Organize the children into two straight lines. The child at the front reaches their left hand behind, while the child behind grabs their left foot. The child behind then places their right hand on the shoulder of the child ahead, while the child in front extends their left hand behind. This process continues down the line. When the race begins, both teams must jump quickly to the finish line. The team that reaches the finish line first wins.

How to play:

Divide the children into two equal teams. The first child of each team runs up, grabs the ball, and throws it into the basket. Afterward, they retrieve the ball, hand it to the next person in line, and go to the end of the line. The process repeats with each child taking turns to throw until their team is out. The team that scores the most baskets wins.

Objective: To help children develop their jumping ability and improve their agility and alertness.

Preparation: The children are divided into teams of equal size. They line up in rows on the playground. Each team selects one player to stand 5-10 meters away from the team, facing them while holding a stick with a ball or scarf attached. The height of the stick should be adjusted for the children’s age so they can reach it by jumping.

How to play: When the game begins, the first player from each team runs towards the player holding the stick with the ball or scarf. They jump and try to touch the ball or scarf. After touching it, they run around the player and return to their team’s position. They then slap the hand of the next player, who continues the process. The game continues until one team completes the task first.

Rules:

• Players must try to touch the ball or scarf when jumping. If they fail, they must try again until they succeed before returning to their spot.
• The player holding the stick must keep it at a fixed height (not too low or too high).
• Players must follow the game’s rules and take turns without hesitation.

Objective:

• To train children's memory.
• To develop children's teamwork and coordination skills.

Rules: You must whisper to the person next to you.

How to Play: Children form a circle (or 2-3 smaller groups). The competition is to see which group can pass the message quickly and accurately. The teacher picks one child from each group and whispers a sentence to them, such as "Today is the first day of school," or another memorable phrase. The child then returns to their group and whispers the same sentence to the next child. This continues until the last child in the group. The last child announces the message aloud so everyone can hear it. The team that passes the message correctly and the fastest wins.

Objective: To improve quick recognition of learned letters and develop agility and discipline.

Preparation:

• 5-6 flags, each attached to a different letter of the alphabet.
• 1 flagpole holder.

How to Play:

• The whole class plays outside. Divide into two equal teams. The teacher draws a circle with a 30cm diameter and places the flagpole holder in the center, attaching the flags with letters (the flags should be placed upright for visibility).
• Mark a starting line 3-4 meters from the flag holder on both ends of the field. Have the teams line up at the starting line, facing the flagpole holder.
• Upon hearing the teacher's command, e.g., "Prepare to grab the flag with the letter 'Ơ'", the children race to grab the flag with the correct letter. The first child to grab the correct flag and return to their team wins (without touching each other while retrieving the flag).
• The teacher calls two more children up to snatch another flag. The game continues until all flags are taken. The team that collects the most flags and correctly identifies the letters wins.