Tag Games

Tag is a great kids game for all ages of children.  Tag is simple and very easy to learn how to play.  How to play the traditional game of Tag and other fun versions of the tag game.

How To Play Tag

Traditional Tag Game

Tag is played very simply.  One person is chosen to be "it".  Then "it" runs around chasing the others players.  When "it" tags (touches) another player then the tagged player becomes "it". 

Fast paced and fun because the person who is "it" constantly changes. 

Tag Game Variations

Blob Tag or Amoeba Tag
One person is"it" or theblob.  When "it" tags someone they must join hands with the blob and try and tag people also.  They cannot let go of their hands as they are running after people.  Play continues until the blob has tagged everyone. 

Variation: If you have a lot of children playing the game set rules that as soon as the blob gets to be 6 people they must break off into 2 separate blobs of 3 people each. 



Freeze Tag
When "it" tags someone in the game the tagged player must freeze where they are and cannot move. 

The only way to be come unfrozen is to be tagged by another player. 

When"it" has tagged everyone and everyone is frozen "it" gets to choose who will be "it" for the next round. 



Hospital Tag or Body Part Tag
When tagged by "it" you cannot use the part of the body that you were tagged on.  If "it" tags your arms then you cannot use your arm ... if they tag you left leg then you cannot use your left leg (you can hop on your right leg).  If "it" tags both of your legs then you can crawl on your stomach or pull yourself with your arms - as long as your arms aren't frozen.   Other players can unfreeze (or heal) arms and legs if they tag you.  Play stops and "it" picks someone to replace them when no one can move.  

Octopus Game
Object of the Game: Stay away from the octopus and the seaweed.

 

Set Up Octopus Tag: Choose who will be “it” for the game.  Mark two lines on each end of a large play area or field. The octopus will stand in the middle of the two lines.

 

How To Play: The octopus calls out “ Come _____ in my ocean.” (The blank is filled in by what the players must do as they are crossing the ocean. Hop, twirl, swim, run, run backwards, etc.) Then the players must follow the command and try and make it to the other side of the ocean without being tagged by the octopus. Any player that is tagged becomes seaweed and has to stand in the spot where they were tagged. In the next round both the octopus and the seaweed try and tag players as they go by.

 

Game Variations:

Instead of becoming seaweed the tagged children hold hands with the octopus and help tag players.

The tagged players can catch players as they run by so the octopus can come by and tag them.

 

 

Pair Tag
Kids link arms with one other child and form a pair. "It" then tries to join one of the pairs by linking arms with one of the children.The other part of the pair that "it" didn't link to then becomes "it".  Children must always be in a pair.Having more then one person be it is a lot of fun too!  




Rainbow Tag
Object of the Game:To avoid being caught by the rainbow catcher.

Set Up the Rainbow Tag Game: Choose a “rainbow catcher”. They will stand in the middle of a large play area. Next assign all the remaining players different colors of the rainbow. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. (Don’t let the rainbow catcher hear what colors each person is assigned.)

 

How To Play:The rainbow catcher then calls out a color. All the players that have been assigned that color try and run past the catcher to the other side of the play area. The rainbow catcher tries to tag as many of children as they can before they reach the other side. The kids who are tagged become rainbow catchers and stand in the middle to help tag other players on the next round. Sometimes the rainbow catcher can yell “Rainbow!!” and all the players must try and reach the other side. The last person caught becomes the new rainbow catcher.

 

 

 

 

Rattlesnake Tag Game
Don’t let the head catch the tail of the rattlesnake.

 

Set Up Rattlesnake Tag: Choose who will be the the rattlesnake head and tail. Children then line up single file behind the head with their hands on the player in front of them’s hips - the tail will be the last in line.

 

How To Play: When the head says “go!” the snake begins to follow the head while the head tries to tag the tail. The players in the middle move around to keep the head from getting the tail. The rattlesnake can not come apart. If the head gets the tail then the head becomes the new tail and then person that was second in line behind the head becomes the new head.

 

 

 

Reverse Tag
Played like traditional tag, but reversed.   After "it" is chosen everyone else counts to 10 while "it" runs away.  Then all players try and tag "it".   When someone tags "it" then they become "it" and everyone then tries to tag them. 

 

TV Tag
When about to be tagged a player must sit down and yell out a TV character.  If they yell it out before "it" can tag them then they can't be tagged.  "It" must then run after another player.