How to Play Different types of Tag

"You're it!" How many times did you play tag when you were a kid? I couldn't count the number of times I played. Over time we created or discovered variations of the game.

Today children don't spend as much time playing, running and jumping as they used to and it shows in the fact that there are way too many of them are overweight and out of shape. It's time for us parents to get them up away from the computers, out of the house.

Exercise should be fun. Let's take the work back out of workout and get our children playing tag like we played as children.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Three or more children
• A spacious yard or room to play.

1. For those who might have forgotten how to play tag or maybe never knew how to play tag, here is a recap of the game. First you have someone who is IT. The object of the game is for the person who is IT to tag (touch) another person. The others try to keep away from the person who is IT When another person is tagged, that person becomes IT and the game continues with that person being It.

2. One variation of the game is flag tag. In flag tag Everyone has an easily detached flag (handkerchief, ribbon, etc.)attached to the back of their pants. When the person who is IT removes it, the person who lost his flag is it. A variation of flag tag is for everyone to be it and to try to get each other's flags. Whoever gets the most flags wins.

3. We used to play freeze tag a lot when we were kids. In freeze tag, the person who is IT would run around tag a person and whatever way he was tagged, he froze in that position that he was in when he was tagged. The person that is it would tag everyone and whoever was last to be touched became it.

4. We also played cartoon tag. In cartoon tag, if the person who was tagged could name a cartoon that hadn't been said already, they were safe but if they named one that had already been named or couldn't think of one, they were then IT. Variations of this type of tag are: Ice Cream Flavor Tag, car model tag, actor tag, (make up your own category tag)

5. If your kids are tired of learning and studying and they want to get out and do something, there's multiplication tag. This is one where IT asks the person they've tagged a multiplication question. If they get it right, they are not IT. If they get it wrong, they are it and remain it until someone can't answer the question correctly. Variations of this are, of course: Addition, Subtraction and division tag. But also think about other school subjects like spelling tag or history tag or science tag. Whatever the subject, this is a great way to review but keep learning fun at the same time.

Tips & Warnings

• Always have a designated area to play tag. Don't allow the children to run outside of this designated area. You don't want children running into the street and getting injured.
• Always keep children under close supervision.

[jenng]

on 11/13/2009 great article on How to Play Different types of Tag 5*

[jeni10]

on 11/6/2009 Terrific article on how to play different types of tag. I like the way you suggest incorporating learning into the play. Thanks for sharing your insights. 5*

[redar]

on 10/25/2009 You are just so fun of fun ideas, I love your advise for all these games for children. Fantastic 5* article

[godfather25]

on 10/24/2009 Nice article on playing different types of tag. Brings memories back.

[nancycarol]

on 10/22/2009 Ahhh, those were the days! How to Play Different Types of Tag sure made me remember those carefree days as a kid. Thanks and a 5*