Red Light, Green Light Game
Supplies: Starting line, finish line
This outdoor activity was a staple of my childhood. A simple stop and go game that could be played with three or thirty people and all we needed was a yard. A great activity to keep the kids busy for 10 – 15 minutes as you set up for cake or the party is over and you are waiting for parents to pick up their kids.
Red Light, Green Light Game Prep & Play
a. Before the game, denote a physical boundary to act as a starting line and finish line. You can also lay two lengths of rope, or crepe paper, about 25 feet apart in your play area to make start and finish lines.
b. To begin the birthday child (or random player) stands in front of the finish line (they’re the Police Officer) facing the other players who are standing behind the start line.
c. The game begins when the Police Officer (turns around) turns his/her back on the other players and shouts, “Green Light!” He/she then turns around and counts to five as fast as possible. (Police Officer must be loud so players can hear.)
While the Police Officer is counting, the other players try to run or walk quickly toward the finish line.
d. When the Police Officer has finished counting to five he/she shouts, “Red Light!” and turns around quickly. The other players must freeze instantly.
e. If the Police Officer catches anyone off balance and falling, running or still moving, that player must return to the starting line.
f. The Police Officer continues to call Red Light, Green Light and try to catch people moving until one of the participants crosses the line while the Police Officer’s back is turned. That player then becomes the Police Officer.
Red Light, Green Light Game Options
a. How the player count 3 instead of 5.
b. Random countdown – Place pieces of paper in a hat 3, 4, and 5 (these represent seconds). Then each time before the Police Officer turns around to say Green Light, they pick a slip out of the hat and that is the countdown number they use. It makes it harder for the players to run full out because they don’t know when they need to stop.
c. No Running! Change things up by must players Hop, Waddle like a duck, skip or dance towards the finish line.
