Tag is pretty much running around chasing your friends, and that’s all there is to it, right?
Wrong!
There are a huge number of variations of tag. There are games that involve contact, non-contact, one person ‘tag’ games, team games, ones that involve dinosaurs, cops and robbers, and so much more!
In ten years of teaching children aged 3 to 5, I have always been amazed by the number of variations of this simple concept. And all of them – children love!
I’ve come up with ultimate list of tag games. Many of these you will find nowhere else (like Elsa Tag), as well as I’ve thrown in a few of the all-time classics as well.
Some of these I have invented myself, but they are all tried and tested on real children.
The 22 fantastic tag games you’ll find in this article are:
- Magic Tag
- Cats and Dogs Tag
- Laser Tag
- One Is ‘It’ Tag
- Tag Team Builder
- Spider Tag
- Snails V Slugs
- Stuck In The Mud
- Elsa Tag
- Sheep Tag
- Jail Tag
- Blocko
- Code Tag
- Zombie Tag
- Different Kinds Of Movement Tag
- Shadow Tag
- What’s The Time, Mr Wolf?
- Jurassic Park
- Hot Chocolate
- Chain Tag
- Duck Duck Goose
- British Bulldog
Tag is one of the ultimate games in early childhood. Children love the chasing element, and there is a kind of undertone of hunting and being the hunted.
It is great for all the following things:
- Physical and mental health
- Bonding and teamwork
- Tactics
- Problem solving
- Communication
- And many more skills…
There has been research done into the many benefits of playing tag. (Source)
I have tried to offer a good range of both contact and non-contact tag games in this article. There’s even a game where you tag others by blinking at them!
Right, let’s dive into all the juicy goodness of the games themselves…
1. Magic Tag
At least one child is going to be ‘it’, although it could be several children.
They are going to have a pretend wand (something like a pointy finger is perfect for this).
They run round after the others, and when they get reasonably close to another child they ‘fire’ their magic at them through their finger, and possibly shout some kind of spell.
The spell could be pretty much anything, but some examples include:
i) Abracadabra!
ii) Hocus Pocus
iii) Alakazam!
iv) Shazam!
You get the idea. These are just a selection of magic phrases that have been used down the ages.
When a child has been fired at, they freeze.
You can play the version where all the children keep on running until there is just one left that is not frozen. They are the champion.
The other way of doing it is that the children that are running around are allowed to free the frozen people in some way. You could have a remedy or a counter spell. Some simple ideas, are the children do some of these:
i) Point your own finger at a frozen child and shout ‘free’
ii) Shout ‘Black Magic’
iii) Run in a circle around them once
This game can definitely be jazzed up in different ways. For example, the magician could be Harry Potter, for example.
You could free people by shouting ‘Gryffindor’ or some other word like that. The magicians/wizards could also be:
i) Merlin
ii) Gandalf
iii) Yoda!
2. Cats And Dogs Tag
This is a more structured tag game, that is good for organised adult-led sessions.
This games is also best done outside, as you need some shadows on the ground.
It works well if half the children wear some kind of band, or bib, or something that is visible throughout the game.
The children with the bands (or similar) on are going to be the dogs. The children without are the cats.
Shout out which animal is going to chase the other. So, for example, ‘Dogs chase cats’.
This means that the children who have the bands on are going to chase the others. They try to tag them on the back (not too hard!).
If you are tagged then you freeze.
You can leave the children frozen, or the others could try to un-freeze them by tagging them and shouting ‘free.’
After half a minute or so, the roles are reversed. Call out ‘Cats chase dogs’. Everyone is instantly free, and the cats are tagging the dogs.
The children find this transition quite amusing, and the general concept of cats scaring the dogs is one they really like.
Keep going like this, switching from one to the other.
When they understand what to do, you can have a child that is giving the instructions about whether it is the cats or the dogs that is chasing the other.
This can also be played as a partners game, where one child is against the other. (For lots more brilliant partners games for kids, take a look at this).
3. Laser Tag
This is a tag version of the classic game ‘blink murder’ (or ‘wink murder’ if you are feeling very ambitious, and have children that are able to wink – definitely not as easy as it sounds).
This is another that is best done adult-led to start with, though they can probably play it by themselves with a bit of practice.
One child stands in the middle of the group of children. They are the ‘detective’, and they close their eyes.
Silently pick a ‘murderer’, probably by pointing (whatever method your choose, just make sure the ‘detective’ doesn’t know who it is).
Then the children are going to start walking round (or running slowly). It’s best not to run fast for this game, as there is quite a lot of looking at others, not always where you are going.
The idea is that the ‘murderer’ is going to fire their ‘eye lasers’ by blinking at others. If you are blinked at, you are going to freeze where you are. (It’s best not to lie down like blink murder to avoid getting trodden on)
The children keep walking round, and freezing if they are blinked at.
The ‘detective’ is trying to work out who is doing the blinking.
This is a spectacular game for eye contact.
When they’ve worked it out, let another child have a go of being the ‘detective’.
This activity is one of the ultimate eye contact games (check out 10 more here).
4. One Is ‘It’ Tag
Just for the record, I though I better include the standard tag in this list (it didn’t seem right to leave it out!).
I’m sure you know this one – but basically one child is ‘it’. They run around after the others trying to ‘tag’ them. Whoever is tagged becomes ‘it’. So simple, but a game played the world over.
5. Tag Team Builder
This is a slightly different way of playing it that they really love.
In this you start with one child as ‘it’, but every time they tag someone, then that child becomes a chaser as well.
In the end you will have one child fleeing for their life, chased by a gang of others.
You could have this child as the champion, or just carry on until everyone is tagged.
6. Spider Tag
Now back to some more unusual ideas.
Spider Tag is a great way of getting different types of movement into the tag structure.
Have a few children that are ‘it’. They are the spiders. They have to walk around on all fours, with their bellies facing up.
The other children are the flies. They walk on all fours with their bellies pointing down.
When the ‘spiders’ get near to the ‘flies’ they fire a ‘web’ at them from their hand.
The ‘flies’ are then stuck in the web, and sit down.
Once again, you can do the version where the others free them, or just play it till all the flies are stuck.
Then swap roles.
7. Snails V Slugs
The idea of this is similar to the cats and dogs tag from before, but instead with the children moving like snails and slugs. It combines moving in different ways with the fun tag element.
Half the children will be slugs, and will be slithering on their bellies. The other half of the children will be snails, and they will be crawling.
Shout out which animal is chasing the other. For example, say ‘Slugs chase snails’ and off they go!
Tag other children by some kind of agreed method that doesn’t involve touching. It could simply by pointing and shouting ‘tag’.
When they are tagged, they freeze, or sit up.
Then after about thirty seconds, switch places, so the snails will be after the slugs.
8.Stuck In The Mud
Another absolute classic now for you.
9. Elsa Tag
From the last game which you almost certainly will have heard of, let’s go on to one that you definitely won’t have (because I made it up). Elsa Tag!
This is a great one for tapping into one of the greatest child interests know to mankind – Frozen.
Either one child is ‘Elsa’, or you could have several ‘Elsas’ all working as a team.
It’s very simple – the ‘Elsas’ run after the others, and fire their hand towards them when they get close enough and shout ‘frozen!’
The others can free their friends by running near them and shouting ‘Arendelle’ (or something else like that). Great fun for all the Frozen enthusiasts, of which there are many.
10. Sheep Tag
In this game there are some children that are ‘shepherds’. They are basically ‘it’ and are going to be doing the chasing.
The other children are the sheep.
The sheep all have a tail. This could be anything like a band, bib, or scarf, that they have sticking out of the back of their trousers or shorts.
The idea is that the shepherds are going to chase around after the sheep, and try to pull out their tails. When they grab a tail, then that sheep is out. They either sit down, or go and stand in a ‘pen’ somewhere.
Keep going until there is either one sheep that is the champion, or until all the sheep are caught.
11. Jail Tag
This game contains the fantastic theme of cops and robbers, and what child doesn’t love a bit of that.
The children that are ‘it’ are all now the cops. You could have one or lots of cops (depending on how many children are playing).
The other children are the robbers. Have a designated area that is the ‘jail’. It could be a circle of cones, for example.
The cops chase the robbers, and if they ‘tag’ them, then the robbers have to go and stand in the jail.
However, the other robbers, can run over to the jail, tag the robbers, and then they are free again. Keep going like this.
12. Blocko
This was the tag game that I played myself the most when I was a child.
It starts off as a hide and seek game, but then develops into a tag game. So, the best of both worlds you could say.
One child is ‘it’, and they close their eyes in a designated spot. There is something that is going to be the agreed point that everyone tries to get back to. It could be a tree, for example, or it could be a fence.
Everyone else goes away to hide.
Then the seeker goes to find them. All the children are going to try to get back to the tree or fence, touch it and say ‘blocko!’
The person that is ‘it’ is going to try to tag them before they get back to the ‘blocko’ spot. If they are tagged they are ‘out’. If you touch the ‘blocko’ you are safe.
It is a game of sneaking, tactics, and staying undercover before breaking for freedom.
To find out a whole load more of fantastic hide and seek games, then take a look at this article that I wrote.
13. Code Tag
This is a harder version of hide and seek for children from about 6 upwards.
One child is ‘it’, and you probably want about three other children that are going to be running away. Any more makes it trickier – it is not impossible with more, but I would start with the easier version first.
The idea is that the three children who are going to be running away decide together what their ‘code’ is.
The three children pick a word with three letters in, or they could pick a number with three numerals. You basically just need one letter or number per child.
For example, the word cat be ‘hat’. Alternatively, the number code could be ‘648’.
They each take one letter or number from the ‘code’.
Start the game. If a child is tagged, then they have to say their letter or number.
The child tagging tries to remember, and when they are all tagged, then the secret code is revealed.
If children can’t work out what the secret word is then this is not a disaster. The main emphasis is revealing the ‘code’. However, if they can work it out, then so much the better (and certainly some will be able to).
The number code can be found in any order.
14. Zombie Tag
This is a bit of a silly game, that I would probably play at the end of an organised movement session before a warm-down.
Everyone is basically transformed into zombies! They put their arms out in front of them, and the really tricky bit is that you can’t bend your legs.
Play tag, where the zombies are trying to tag the others and freeze them.
15. Different Kinds Of Movement Tag
This is a more open-ended version of zombie tag.
Basically, all players are going to be moving in a specified way whether they are chasing or being hunted.
A simple example could be jumping.
Everyone is going to jump, and you can’t move any other way.
Then play tag as you would normally (only with everyone jumping).
Other good ways to move are:
i) Moving like animals – monkeys, elephants, snakes, mice etc
ii) Moving in different ways – hopping, jumping, skipping
16. Shadow Tag
This is one of the best non-contact tag games. It is best done on a sunny day to get the best shadows possible.
It’s a very simple concept – one person is ‘it’ and chases the others. The way to ‘tag’ someone is to stamp on their shadow. If your shadow is stood on then you are now ‘it’.
There are different versions you can play (like almost all of these games)…
For example, you can do it where you start with a few children being ‘it’.
Another way is that you start with either one or several children as ‘it’ and then every time they stand on someone’s shadow, that person joins the ‘it’ team. In the end you will have just a couple of children running for their lives against a whole team. This way, you can also have a ‘winner’ at the end.
One thing to look out for in this game is disputes! (Just to warn you) It is not always as clear cut as normal tag when you actually have been ‘tagged’ and some children will bend the rules slightly.
Conflict resolution, however, is a critical part of play and of life in general.
17. What’s The Time, Mr Wolf?
This is a well known game, that contains an element of tag.
One child is ‘Mr Wolf’. They close their eyes and stand with their back to the other children.
The others line up at a designated point (such as a line on the ground, or a line of cones).
They call out, ‘What’s the time, Mr Wolf?’
Mr Wolf turns round, opens their eyes, and calls out a time – such as, ‘Seven o’clock.’ This means that the children all take seven big steps towards them.
When they are doing the steps, the wolf once again closes their eyes and looks away.
The children get closer and closer.
At any point, Mr Wolf can call out, ‘It’s dinner time!’
The wolf will then chase the others back to the safety line where they started. They try to tag one of the others, who will then become the new wolf.
18. Jurassic Park
This is a brilliant game for all lovers of dinosaurs (which is usually a huge percentage of children.)
Have wide circle of cones for this game, probably about twenty yards across. In the middle of this there will be one child that is ‘it’. ‘It’ is actually a T-Rex in this game (super exciting).
All the other children are going to start at a spot on the outer circle of cones (wherever they like).
The idea is that the T-Rex is going to close their eyes. All the other children are going to start sneaking up towards the T-Rex.
At any moment the T-Rex will open their eyes. They can spin round (if they like). If they see anyone moving, they will tell them to go back to the outer circle and start again.
One child will try to tag the R-Rex, and as soon as that happens, it’s a race to get back to the safety of the outer circle. This is the force-field that the T-Rex can’t get past.
The children run, and the T-Rex tries to tag them. If you are tagged you are out.
19. Chain Tag
This is best done on grass, because there is a high chance children will fall over when they try this. That could be pretty painful on concrete, but hopefully not too bad on grass.
Start with one person as ‘it’. They are going to chase everyone else. When they ‘tag’ anyone, that person is going to hold hands with the original tagger, and then they run together trying to tag people.
When they tag someone else, they also join the ‘chain’, and the line of children grow longer and longer.
This game is a really great team-builder, and fantastic for team bonding.
20. Hot Chocolate
I have only heard of this game recently, but I’m told it is a real classic.
One child is ‘it’, and closes their eyes. The other children line up somewhere, such as next to a fence.
The idea is that the others now start sneaking towards the person that is ‘it’.
‘It’ can spin around at any point, and open their eyes. If they see anyone moving, then that person has to go back to the start.
The winner is the person that gets to the person that is ‘it’ and tags them, saying, ‘Hot chocolate!’
21. Duck Duck Goose
This is a beautiful circle game, that has been played for generations.
The children sit in a circle. One child is in the middle. They go around, pointing at each child, and saying, ‘Duck, duck, duck…’ You say ‘duck’ each time you point at an individual child.
However, at any moment, the child can tag someone and shout, ‘Goose!’
Now it’s a game of chase.
The person that is ‘it’ will round once around the outside of the circle, and back to the place where the other child was sat. That child will try to tag them. Either they get tagged and they are ‘out’, or they don’t get tagged and they are safe.
This is one of the all-time great circle games. Find out the ultimate list of 21 circle time games here.
22. British Bulldog
Here’s another absolute classic from the repertoire to finish off with.
It’s good to have a kind of box to play this in. You have one line on one side of the box where the children are going to start, and opposite that you have another line where they are trying to get to.
However, in between those two points, there are going to be the team of ‘taggers.’
Start with just one or two taggers. The children are trying to run from the first point to the second point without being tagged. If anyone is tagged, then they join the tagging team for the next round.
Wait till everyone has got to the end (or been tagged), and then everyone tries to make it back across the box to the other side again.
Keep going like this until there is one champion.