When You Have a Group...

One of the many wonders of watching social skills blossom in the preschool set is the beginning of group games. Seeing your child play with her friends and siblings and cousins - well, it is like watching the supposedly parallel tracks of her earlier interactions merge onto a crowded interchange of lively play. It is a pure delight. Preschoolers are surely motivated by winning (and they are surely challenged by all that turn-taking and patience), but truly, they just love to play the game. It is innocent and charming - the racing ahead can't be deemed cheating (yet), the frustrations don't make them poor sports (yet), and, best of all, the glee from beginning to end is unmistakable. And why should we be surprised? These little ones are already the pros at figuring out the rules of this crazy game called life. So, go ahead and get started on some of our favorite games for preschoolers.

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Sardines

ages 3-6

Supplies

good places to hide

Activity Detail

What child doesn't love hide-and-seek? Here's a fun variation to play with a group, inside or outside. While the group counts to 50, one person goes to hide (find a place that's big enough to fit the whole group). When the group is finished counting, everyone spreads out to look for the hider. When you find the hider, quietly climb into the hiding place, too. Play continues until all the seekers have discovered the hiding place and crammed themselves in. The last person to find the hiding place is now the hider for the next round.

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