Games for Groups of Children: Ideas for Indoors & Outdoors (With and Without Materials)

Whether it’s a children’s birthday party, after-school care or a class trip: when lots of children come together, you need the right group games to channel energy and create real fun. Games with large foam blocks, which combine movement, creativity and safe play perfectly, are especially popular. In this guide you will find proven game ideas for groups of children of any size that can be put into practice with little preparation and work both indoors in the group room and outdoors on the lawn.

What you can expect in this post:

• Why structured group games are so important for children
• Movement games for large groups of children outdoors (10-30 children)
• Circle and sitting games for the group room when it rains or in the hall
• Classic games with everyday materials (hit the pot, egg-and-spoon race & co.)
• Creative building and movement games with XXL foam building blocks
• Age-appropriate game selection from 3 to 12 years
• Practical tips on organisation and safety
• Answers to common questions about group games

Introduction: why games for groups of children are so important

When 8 to 25 children come together, whether at a children’s birthday party, in holiday care or on a school trip, a special dynamic quickly arises. Structured group games help steer this energy into positive channels. They create community, reduce conflicts and give children a clear framework in which they can try things out.

Typical goals of group games:

• Strengthen the sense of community and bring group members together
• Promote motor skills and coordination
• Learn rules and practise fairness
• “Channel” excess energy and prevent restlessness
• Build self-confidence through experiences of success

The nice thing: most games can be flexibly adapted to age (3-6, 6-9, 9-12 years), group size and available space. A game that works in the schoolyard with 20 children can often also be played in the classroom with 10 players, with small adjustments.

Open play materials such as large foam building blocks additionally encourage children to come up with ideas of their own. Instead of rigid rules, room for creativity and cooperation arises. In the rest of the article you will find various game categories, from tag games to circle games to building and movement games, with concrete examples and age recommendations.

Movement games for large groups of children outdoors

This section is your collection of running and tag games for about 10-30 children. Ideally suited for garden, schoolyard or sports field from spring to autumn, when the air is mild and the sun is shining. These movement game variations hardly require any material but need clear rules and unmistakable start/stop signals such as a whistle or loud clapping.

The Emperor Sends Out Soldiers

A classic among German children’s games that combines team spirit and dexterity.

Aspect	Details
Age	From about 5 years
Group size	10-30 players
Duration	10-20 minutes
Material	None
Space	Large open area

How it works:

• Two teams line up facing each other in a row and hold hands (human chain)
• Each team has an emperor who calls out in turn: “The emperor sends out soldiers!”
• The opposing team answers: “Which ones?”
• The emperor names a name, and that child runs off to break through the other team’s chain
• If it succeeds, the child may take one player along; if not, the child stays with the other team

Owls and Crows

A reaction game that combines quick thinking and running.

Aspect	Details
Age	From about 6 years
Group size	12-30 players
Duration	10-15 minutes
Material	None
Space	Large, open area with a marked centre

How it works:

• Two groups (owls and crows) face each other at a centre line about 2 metres apart
• The game leader calls out statements (true or false)
• For a true statement the owls catch the crows, for a false one the other way round
• Anyone who is caught switches teams
• The team with the most group members at the end wins

Colour hunt (our own tag game)

A new, dynamic game that promotes reaction and orientation.

How it works:

• All children run around freely on the lawn or in the garden
• The game leader calls out a colour or shape (e.g. “Blue!” or “Something round!”)
• Anyone who touches something in that colour or shape is safe
• The last three children who find nothing briefly become taggers in the next round

Tip: With skittles, cones or foam building blocks from RIWI®, you can mark start lines, “islands” or obstacles. The soft building blocks are safer than hard objects and can be set up by the children themselves. You will find more ideas for active movement activities in our separate guide.

Games for groups of children in the group room (sitting and circle games)

When water is falling from the sky outside or there is simply not enough space, circle games and sitting games are the perfect solution. They work in the group room, classroom or living room and usually need nothing but a circle of chairs or seat cushions on the floor.

Winking

An exciting concentration game in which secret signals make the difference.

Aspect	Details
Age	From about 6 years
Group size	9-17 people
Duration	10-15 minutes
Material	Chairs

How it works:

• Half of the children sit on chairs in a circle, and behind each person stands a “guard”
• One chair stays empty, and a guard stands behind it too
• The guard at the empty chair secretly winks at a seated child
• The child tries to switch quickly to the empty chair
• Their guard has to stop them by gently holding them by the shoulders
• If the switch succeeds, the new guard becomes the winker

Funny face memory

A funny game that calls for powers of observation and acting talent, ideal for older children.

Aspect	Details
Age	From about 8 years
Group size	8-20 people
Duration	15-20 minutes
Material	None

How it works:

• Every two children are secretly assigned the same funny face (pairing the faces)
• Everyone spreads out across the room
• Two “players” (as in classic memory) take turns turning over by pointing at people
• The chosen children show their funny face
• If a pair matches, both sit down; if not, the search goes on
• This funny face memory is especially fun in larger groups

Who clapped? (quiet circle game)

A simple game that trains hearing and attention.

How it works:

• All children sit in a circle
• One child stands in the middle with eyes closed
• The game leader quietly points at someone in the circle, who claps their hands once
• The child in the middle has to guess who clapped
• Guessed right? Then swap places

Who am I?

The classic for stimulating imagination and guessing skills.

Aspect	Details
Age	From about 6 years
Group size	5-15 people
Duration	5-10 minutes per round

How it works:

• Everyone gets a slip of paper with a name (animal, film character, person) stuck to their forehead
• By asking yes/no questions, everyone has to guess who they are
• The circle answers together

Practical note: With younger children, it is advisable to switch games more often and to plan clear time frames of 5-15 minutes per game. That way concentration is kept up. We have put together even more inspiration for games in the group room in a post of its own.

Games with simple materials: using everyday objects creatively

For many great group games you need nothing special. A wooden spoon, a pot, a few chairs, a cup or a die, often nothing more is needed. These games are perfect for birthdays, daycare afternoons or spontaneous rounds of play.

Hit the Pot

The birthday classic par excellence.

Aspect	Details
Age	From about 5 years
Group size	4-15 players
Duration	5-10 minutes
Material	Pot, wooden spoon, blindfold cloth, small sweet

How it works:

• One child is blindfolded and given a wooden spoon

• Something tasty lies under the upturned pot

• The child crawls on the floor and taps while the others call “warm” or “cold”

• If the spoon hits the pot, the contents belong to the child

Musical Chairs

Movement and music in one, a guarantee of fun.

Aspect	Details
Age	From about 4 years
Group size	6+ players
Duration	10-15 minutes
Material	Chairs, music source

How it works:

• Chairs are set up back to back in a row, always one fewer than players
• While the music plays, all children walk around the chairs
• When the music stops, everyone has to sit down quickly
• Anyone who can’t find a chair is out
• After each round, one chair is removed

Egg-and-Spoon Race

A dexterity game that brings plenty of laughter.

Aspect	Details
Age	From about 4 years
Group size	4-20 players
Duration	10-15 minutes
Material	Spoons, (hard-boiled!) eggs

How it works:

• Children balance an egg on a spoon through an obstacle course
• Depending on age, obstacles can be adapted
• Anyone who drops the egg starts again or is out
• The fastest player with intact cargo wins

Chocolate Game

Pure suspense, for slightly older kids.

Aspect	Details
Age	From about 8 years
Group size	5-12 players
Duration	15-20 minutes
Material	Chocolate (wrapped), blunt knife, fork, hat, scarf, gloves, die

How it works:

• Everyone sits in a circle, with everything ready in the middle
• The die is rolled in turn
• On a 6: quickly put on hat, scarf and gloves and unwrap and eat chocolate with knife and fork
• The next player carries on rolling, and on a 6 you have to switch

Paper spinners (quiet alternative)

For phases after wild games, creative craft games are a good fit.

• Small spinners or propellers are folded from paper
• Whose spinner stays in the air longest wins
• Promotes fine motor skills and brings calm to the group

You will find more ideas for indoor activities in our comprehensive guide to indoor games.

Safety tips for games with materials:

• Only use pre-boiled eggs
• Replace sharp knives with blunt children’s knives
• Keep chocolate wrapped until it is cut
• Use a non-slip mat for running games

Creative building and movement games with XXL foam building blocks

Large foam building blocks open up a whole new dimension for group games. They combine movement with creativity and make games safer because soft materials are used instead of hard objects. Especially for children aged 3-12, they offer endless possibilities.

Obstacle course

A movement game that combines cooperation and action.

How it works:

• The children build an obstacle course together from XXL building blocks: balance paths, tunnels, small walls
• Then relay races or “over hill and dale” rounds are held
• The team that gets through the self-built course fastest wins
• Afterwards the winning team may rebuild the course

Team building site (cooperation game)

For bigger projects that go beyond one play session.

How it works:

• The group receives an assignment: e.g. “Build a knight’s castle by the summer party!”
• Roles are assigned: architect (plans), master builder (builds), tester (checks stability)
• Over several sessions, a joint structure is created
• Promotes making agreements, patience and goal orientation

City of quiet islands

For calmer phases and role play in larger groups.

How it works:

• Children use building blocks to create different “islands” in the room
• A reading corner, den, lookout post or “shop” emerge
• Ideal for free role play and retreat
• Especially valuable in mixed groups, where everyone finds their place

Why RIWI® is ideal for groups of children

RIWI® XXL foam building blocks were developed specifically for creative, safe play:

• Soft but stable: No risk of injury when falling over or colliding
• Wipeable: Perfect for daycare centres and facilities with many children
• Different set sizes: From sets of 12 to sets of 48 for groups of 4 to 20+ children
• Open play concept: No fixed rules, endless possibilities

For educators and teachers, the building blocks offer additional educational possibilities: sorting colours, naming shapes, training coordination or practising rules for joint building projects.

Age-appropriate selection & practical tips for group leaders

The right choice of game depends on several factors: the children’s age group, group size and how they are feeling that day. What works well in the morning can be too much by the afternoon. Here are some proven suggestions for organisation.

Which types of game for which age?

Age group	Suitable games	Themes
3-5 years	Simple tag and running games, hit the pot, building with large building blocks	Simple rules, lots of movement
6-8 years	Winking, Owls and Crows, egg-and-spoon race, musical chairs	More rules, competition
9-12 years	Funny face memory, chocolate game, more complex team games	Strategy, division of roles

Planning games per session

For a 60-minute programme, the following is recommended:

• 2-3 movement games (10-15 minutes each)
• 1 quiet game for recovery (5-10 minutes)
• Buffer for explanations and transitions

Especially for children’s birthday parties with several guests, we have put together a guide of our own with proven game ideas for birthday parties.

Tips for organisation

• Explain rules briefly and clearly: Three sentences at most, then a trial run
• Switch roles regularly: The emperor, tagger or game leader should rotate
• Define stop signals: Whistle, clapping or a code word such as “Polar bear!”
• With younger children: Switch games more often, more movement elements

Keeping safety in mind

• Check smooth surfaces and secure them with mats if necessary
• Pad furniture edges with cushions or blankets
• Allow enough distance between players
• Instead of hard obstacles: use soft XXL building blocks from RIWI®

For daycare centres, schools and clubs

• Collect the children’s favourite games in a list
• Set up a “play box” with basic materials (ball, spoon, die, scarves, building blocks)
• After each session, briefly note what worked well
• Try out new ideas regularly and expand the stock of known games

FAQ on games in groups of children

From how many children do you speak of a “group of children”, and which games suit then?

You usually speak of a group of children from 5-6 children. However, many of the games mentioned only become really dynamic from about 8-10 players. With 3-5 children, cooperative games such as a small building block obstacle course, “Who am I?” or board games are more suitable. From 10+ children, running and tag games such as “Owls and Crows” or “The Emperor Sends Out Soldiers” come into their own. Most rules can easily be adapted: shorter distances and fewer role changes for smaller groups.

Which games are particularly good for mixed age groups (e.g. 4-10 years)?

Simple tag games, egg-and-spoon race with a large spoon, hit the pot or building block obstacle courses work excellently, because older children can support younger ones well. More complex games such as funny face memory or the chocolate game should rather be optional or offered in separate rounds for the older ones. Open building and role-play games with XXL building blocks in particular are suitable for mixed groups, as every child can join in at their own level, from the kindergarten child building towers to the school child creating a whole figure or a penguin as a sculpture.

How can I sensibly combine quiet and wild games in a group session?

A proven structure: start with a medium-intensity movement game, then a quiet circle or guessing game, then a more movement-intensive game and finally something quiet again to finish. Watch the children’s signals; if they seem exhausted, it is better to switch to a sitting game or creative building with soft building blocks. For a 60-minute programme, three blocks of 15-20 minutes each with a mixture of movement and calm are recommended. Short drink breaks on an “ice floe” made of building blocks can also serve as a transition element.

Which materials should I have ready as basic equipment for games in groups of children?

Practical basic equipment includes: 1-2 balls (one ball for indoors, one for outdoors), ropes, tape or cones for marking, spoons, dice, cloths for blindfolding, paper and pens. Optional but highly recommended: XXL foam building blocks for safe obstacle courses and creative building. Set up a fixed “play box” that is quickly at hand in daycare, school or club. Many games also work completely without additional material; nothing but space and clear rules is needed. For downloads of game instructions or pictures for explaining, you will find many free resources online.

How can I involve children in choosing and shaping the games?

Before you start, you can briefly name 3 game ideas and let the children vote democratically. In building and movement games with building blocks, children may invent their own obstacle courses and “rule extensions”. That creates something that really suits their group. Having a say clearly increases acceptance of rules and helps reserved children take part more readily. Older children can even act as game leaders or rule masters; this strengthens a sense of responsibility and gives the whole group a positive feeling. By the way, some grandparents who come to visit bring along the best old game ideas, so do ask them about the games of their childhood from the past!

With these game ideas you are very well equipped for any situation with groups of children, whether a spontaneous rainy afternoon in the group room, planned holiday care or a big children’s birthday party in the garden. Try out the games, adapt them to your group and leave the children room for ideas of their own. And if you are looking for safe, creative play materials that encourage movement and imagination: RIWI® XXL foam building blocks bring even more joy to every play session!