Inclusive Playground Games
Children and young people with a visual impairment have the same needs as their sighted peers for activity but it is not easily accessible to them. Participating in playground games is enjoyable, builds self confidence, benefits health and promotes fitness. Below are some ideas for playground games using equipment that you should already have in school. Each page could be laminated and left outside for anybody to use. Please be aware that having a visual impairment can be extremely tiring. Remember to allow rest times, during playtimes, if required. Occasionally, a small box of toys, books, instruments, dressing up clothes etc that can be shared with friends are a good alternative to a game.
Squeak Piggy Squeak
To play the game, one player is chosen to be the “Farmer”; the others are the “Piggies”. (It will be useful for the children to say their names so that the visually impaired child knows who is playing.) The farmer sits in the middle of the circle with his/her head in his/her lap so he/she cannot see the others. The piggies then sit in a tight circle around the farmer. (All players could stand but the farmer must cover his/her eyes or put a jumper/coat over his/her head). In turn each child puts one hand on the farmer and the farmer says “Squeak piggy squeak”. The piggy then squeaks and the farmer has to guess the name of the player who squeaked. If the farmer guesses correctly then the farmer remains. If the farmer guesses incorrectly the piggy becomes the farmer and the circle reforms (so they are not sat in the same place.)
Radio
At least 6 children sit or stand in a circle. A leader is selected who must choose two numbers that will be repeated twice and start the game. If the leader chooses 2 and 9 then the leader must start the game by saying 2-2-9- 9 (said two, two, nine, nine). Then the person to the left of the leader will repeat the second number for his/her first number and pick his/her number, for example 9-9-4-4) The next player will then pick his/her number 4-4-7-7 and pass the combination on to the next player. A player is out when the player forgets the last number of the player before him/her.
Big Chief
The group (at least 10 children) choose one person to be “it” and one person to be the “Chief”. All players then stand in a circle, standing as far away as they can from each other but holding hands. The “it” has to sit in the middle of the circle with his head in his lap so he cannot see the others. The Chief then acts out 3 short audible movements. Examples are stomping feet three times or whistling 3 times etc. All players must then in turn do what the Chief has done. A person opposite the Chief in the circle indicates to “it” that they have finished the round and then “it” stands up and walks to whoever he thinks is Chief. If “it” guesses correctly then he gets to be “it” again but the Chief is changed. If “it” guesses incorrectly then the Chief gets to be “it” next.
Chicken’s got the measles
Children stand in a circle with their legs apart and sing the following rhyme: “Chicken’s got the measles, the measles, the measles. Chicken’s got the measles, inside out.” The children jump from legs apart to legs crossed along with the rhyme. Whoever has their legs uncrossed at the end of the rhyme has to leave the circle.
Memory game
Collect ten things found in the playground (Leaf, stone, twig, snack wrapper, small toy etc) and lay them in a line on the floor or a tray for all children to see or feel. Once all the children have identified all of the items, they walk away five paces. Cover the items with a coat so that they can no longer be seen. Call the children over individually and ask them to identify the objects in the correct order. The child that lists the most objects in order is the winner. You can break ties by asking the children to list them in reverse/alphabetical order. A variation of the game is to remove an object and ask the children to identify which object has been removed.
Ha Ha
Children lay down side by side on the ground. The first person lays his hand on the next person’s stomach and that person lays the back of their hand on the stomach of the child next to them and so on. The first person in the line to laugh is HA. The next person in line to laugh is HA HA. The third person is HA HA HA and so on. Any person that forgets how many HA HA’s he should be saying or anyone that breaks out into a giggle is out of the game ad must get up and the hole is filled in. The last one left in wins.
Back Tapper
The goal is for each participant to correctly guess the person who tapped his back. To start the game, line up along a wall then chose someone to be “it”. “It” breaks the group into two lines – the “tappers” and the “guessers”. “It” then instructs the guessers to face the wall, place both hands in front, touching the wall, and stamp their feet until they feel the hand of a tapper on their shoulder. Each tapper first puts a hand on to one of the guessers shoulder to indicate that the guesser can stop banging their feet. The tapper then taps out his own first name on to the back of their chosen guesser. The tappers then return to the line (make sure that the tappers don’t stand opposite the person they tapped). “It” then calls for the guessers to turn around and each, in turn, names the person they think tapped their back. If they are correct, the tapper stands by the wall, taking the place of the child who guessed his identity. The game then starts again.
Cat and Mouse
Children sit in a circle with two different shaped/textured objects (could even be a hat and a glove) which can then be called cat and mouse. Allow the visually impaired child time to determine which is which. The mouse is then passed around the circle and when halfway round the cat is sent round to catch the mouse. Cat can also change direction, in which case the mouse should try to stay opposite the cat in the circle. Each child should meow when he is passed the cat and squeak when he is passed the mouse. Whoever is holding the mouse when the cat catches it is out.
Elves, Wizards and Giants. (A variation of rock, paper, scissors)
Two children hold hands; the children squeeze hands together three times. On the third squeeze each child immediately makes a noise like an elf, wizard or giant. Be sure to demonstrate what each one sounds like before you begin. Elf – Make an eeking sound. Wizard – say alakazam Giant – make growling/roaring sounds. The giant beats elf, the wizard beats the giant, the elf beats the wizard.
Name that tune in three
One child starts by choosing a genre e.g. pop song, film, advert, cartoon etc. The child then hums or taps out the tune. The other children get three guesses each and if it is not guessed correctly, the child gets to choose another tune. If the tune is guessed correctly then that child has a go. Each child has a limit of performing three tunes in a row.
Red Letter
Choose one person in the group to be the letter picker. This child will shout out all the letters during the game. The letter picker stands near a wall. The other children stand in a horizontal line opposite, at least 6 metres away. The letter picker chooses one letter from the alphabet to be the Red Letter. They then let the other children know what it is. The letter picker then calls out a letter of the alphabet. This can be any letter including the Red Letter. If the letter is NOT the Red Letter the children take X paces forward dependant on how many of that letter are in their full name. For example if the letter called was “E” and the child had four E’s in their name, they would move forward four paces. If the “Red” letter is called and the child starts to move forward, they have to return to the beginning. The objective of the game is to get to the wall with the letter picker and remember not to move when the “Red” letter is called. The first person to get to the letter picker wins and becomes the next letter picker. Other twists on the game could be: • Doing a forfeit if you move forward when the Red letter is called. • Instead of stepping forward, hop, skip or jump. • Barring middle names from the game.
Mother/Father May I
A child is chosen to be Mother or Father. The object of the game is for the children to get to the Mother/Father. The Mother/Father stands facing a wall so that they cannot see the other children. The other children stand behind them, at least 6 metres away. The first child in the line shouts “Mother/Father May I” and the leader says “Yes, do a” and then chooses one of these moves for the child to do: • A tomato (1 step backwards) • Rabbit (1 hop forwards) • Giant step (1 big step forward) • Baby step (1 small step) • Train (child steps forward saying choo choo until the leader says stop) • Kangaroo (1 jump forward) When the child has done their move, the next child shouts “Mother May I”. The winner is the child that reaches Mother/Father first.
Hot Potato
This game really keeps things moving. The players form a circle and sit with the leader sitting in the middle. The leader tosses a ball/beanbag with a bell (the Hot Potato!) to one of the players. The leader is blindfolded and the players pass the Hot Potato quickly. The leader calls out “Hot Potato” at random and the player holding the ball/beanbag is out. The game continues until only one person is left.
Parachute Games: Rollerball
Everyone holds the chute taut. Place a football (one that contrast well with the parachute) or a bell ball near the edge. Try to make the ball roll around the edge of the chute. To do this, someone starts the ball rolling. As it comes towards you, you lower the edge you are holding, and as it goes pass you raise your edge. Try changing the direction or speeding up.
All Change
All children hold the edge of the parachute and gently move it up and down. Encourage the children to swap places, under the chute, before it falls to earth, by suggesting ideas such as: all those with a ponytail, born in November, wearing red socks etc. Make sure that those who remain around the edge allow the canopy to fall rather than pulling it down hard.
Merry go Round
Turn the body so that the chute is held with only one hand, walk, hop, jump, skip around holding the chute. It looks like a merry-go-round.
Popcorn
Place a number of beanbags on the chute. Children shake the chute to make them rise like popcorn. A variation of this game is to select two colours of bean bags, divide the children into teams and the first team to bounce off their colour wins.
Stepping Stone Pick-Up
This can be a challenge for one child with 2 spot markers or even 2 halves of a sheet of newspaper. You have to travel over a given distance (between 2 lines or cones) always being on one of the markers or sheets of newspaper. Stand on one marker (piece of paper) put the other one down in front of you, step onto it, pick up the piece you have just left and place that in front of you. Step onto that piece and so on…. to complete the course. N.B. This could also be played as a race between 2 teams as in a relay.
Hoop Circle
Stand in a circle holding hands (at least 4 children). Place a hoop over someone’s arm before they hold onto the next player’s hand. The object of the game is to pass the hoop around the circle without breaking hands. If you can do this easily, can you change to a smaller hoop? If you have six or more players, can you try passing two hoops around at the same time (Start with the hoops on opposite sides of the circle). Can one hoop catch the other one up?
Relays
Two teams of equal numbers are needed. The player at the front passes a bell ball or bean bag (with bell attached) through the open legs of the players behind him until it reaches the back player. He then picks up the ball/bean bag, runs to the front of the line and repeats the process. This continues until the original starter is at the front again. The first team to achieve this is the winner. Another relay game is for each child in turn to place the ball between his knees and run or jump round his team until he reaches his original position.
Other playground activities
- Walk in a variety of ways along a rope
- Play catch with Velcro mitts
- Bean Bag toss into a hoop (that contrasts well with the ground – no green hoops on grass etc!)
- Throw beanbags at plastic bottles filled with sound making materials such as rice, lentils, gravel etc.
- Texture balloons. Do not inflate balloons! Fill balloons with different textures such as flour, beans, washing up liquid etc, and place in a tray and see if you can guess what is inside
- Play games and sing songs such as “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and toes”. This helps children identify different parts of the body. Body awareness is vital for the development of self-image and identity
- Skipping Challenge. How many skips can you do without stopping – turning the rope forward or turning the rope backwards. How fast can you skip?
- Head or tails. Children select a caller. The rest of the children have to make a choice to place their hands on either their head or their hips (tail). The caller flips a coin and calls out what it lands on. If it lands on heads all children with their hands on their “tails” sit down or vice versa. Rounds continue until one child is left.