These are my favourite games to play with the kids. They are so simple and fun and all the children enjoy them (even the adults!)

1. Tickle Monster – We all gather in a room with a bit of space, and I close my eyes, spin around a few times and start reaching out to find the kids. The kids run around to try and avoid my clutches (usually screaming with delight)! When I find them I tickle them! TIP: I usually shuffle around on my knees, so I don’t walk straight into the wall or something. I also started wearing gloves so I wouldn’t accidently scratch any of the kids while I fling my hands around trying to find them.
2. Hide and Seek in the Dark - We turn off as many lights as the younger children are comfortable with. Then you play hide and seek like normal, except the person who is “it” has a torch or lantern that they use to find everyone with.
3. Red Light, Green Light  – Everyone lines up against the wall opposite to the person who is “it”. The person who is “it” faces away from everyone and yells “green light!”. Everyone starts moving towards the person who is “it” until the person who is “it” yells “red light!” and turns around to face everyone. At that moment, everyone has to freeze! Then the person who is “it” says “green light” and turns and faces away from everyone etc etc. Everyone tries to move during the “green light” to get to the person who is “it” first and win the game! If you move during a “red light” you have to return to the start.
4. What’s the time Mr Wolf? – The person who is “it” is the wolf. They stand at the opposite end of everyone else. Everyone yells “What’s the time Mr Wolf?” The wolf replies with a time eg “1 o’clock” – then everyone steps forward one step. It can be any time up to 12 o’clock eg “4 o’clock” – then everyone steps forward four steps. Once they finish stepping forward, they ask the wolf again “What’s the time Mr Wolf?” and the wolf will continue to say another time “3 o’clock” etc etc whatever he likes. At some point the wolf will say instead of a time, he will yell ”Dinner time!!” which means he starts chasing everyone to pretend to eat them, and everyone starts running away from the wolf. TIP: if your kids get scared at the idea of a wolf eating them, let them know that if they get back to the wall before the wolf gets them, they are safe.
5. Musical Statues - Pretty easy. Just turn up the music and dance when the music is on, and freeze when the music stops. We sometimes dance different styles of dancing, like ballet, or crazy dances etc.  The kids love being in charge of stopping and playing the music. I think they get a lot of enjoyment out of being in control over whether mummy moves or not.