Relay games for kids

Exercise For Kids: 6 Indoor & Outdoor Relay games for kids

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A relay race is a racing competition in which members of a team take turns completing parts of the racecourse or doing a particular action.

Relay games are particularly fun for kids and help them learn about teamwork.

These games are also competitive, which can make kids and adults alike put forth their best effort.

In this article, For Kids will round up six of the funniest relay races and games for kids, which can be played both indoors and outdoors.

These races will make your kids happy and active, while training their muscles as well.

6 relay games for kids

1. Animal Relay

To start up this kind of indoor and outdoor funny relay race for kids, divide the players into two teams. The teams must form two lines with equal numbers of people in each.

Adults will assign players a type of animal to imitate.

Steps:

  1. Assign the first players on each team the same animal.
  2. Assign the second players the same animal, too, but one that’s different from the first players, and so on, until you reach the end of each line.
  3. On “Go,” the first player must act like their assigned animal by running, hopping, crawling, slithering and/or galloping to the goal line and back.
  4. When done, the first player must tag the next player.
  5. The next player then acts like their animal and so on, until one team is finished and sitting down.
  6. The first team with everyone sitting down wins this race.

2. Beanbag Race

Props: One beanbag for each participant

Designate a starting line, a finish line and a leader to call out directions.

Players will race to the finish line, following the directions they hear and carrying their beanbags.

This relay game doesn’t really need to have a winner. It’s just for fun! It can be played as an indoor and outdoor activity.

Steps:

  1. Place your beanbag either on your head or between your legs. The object of the game is to reach the finish line with your beanbag still in place.
  2. On “Go,” the leader will tell you to walk, run, hop, gallop, skip, crawl, walk backward or move in any other way they can imagine.
  3. Move towards the finish line, performing the assigned movements and carrying your beanbag in its original position.

3. Potato Sack Race

Props: One sack for each participant

Designate a starting line, a finish line and a leader to call out directions.

Steps:

  1. One person will say, “Go.”
  2. You must immediately step into your sack, and while holding onto it, hop as fast as you can to the finish line.

4. Wheelbarrow Race

Each team will consist of one player in the Wheelbarrow position (#10) and another player acting as the pusher, who will pick up the ankles of the wheelbarrow and support their body.

Steps:

  1. On “Go,” the wheelbarrow partner must move forward on their hands while you hold tightly onto their ankles.
  2. Race to the finish line.

This game will help kids strengthen their muscles and try new movements.

5. Egg-and-Spoon Relay

Props: An egg (hard-boiled) for each team; one spoon for each participant

Divide the players into two teams. Give every player a spoon and each team a hard-boiled egg.

Each teammate will run one leg of the race.

Steps:

  1. Each child must take a turn carrying their team’s egg on its spoon from the starting line to a turnaround point and back again.
  2. Once a player is finished, they must pass the egg to the next teammate in line. If you drop the egg, you must stop and retrieve it.
  3. The team that finishes the race first wins the game.

6. Hula Hoop Race

Props: A hula hoop for each team

Divide the group into two teams. Each team will join hands to form a circle.

Steps:

  1. Loop a hula hoop over your arm.
  2. Without letting go of hands of the players beside you, step into and through the hoop, so it rests on your other arm.
  3. Next, slide the hoop onto the next player’s arm, so they can repeat the maneuver.
  4. Whichever team can pass the hoop all the way around the circle first, without letting go of each others’ hands, is the winner.

Variation: If you have a large group of players, you can turn this game into a competition by forming two straight lines with the same amount of players.

The game is played the same as above, but the team that finishes first wins that round.

Regardless of the variation you choose, mix up the players and allow at least 15 minutes for this particular indoor and outdoor relay game for kids.