Tag is a high-energy, outdoor activity that kids can play anywhere, from a park to a backyard. It provides good exercise and a lot of excitement. Best of all, it's simple: Tag is free, there is no equipment or team required, and it works equally well for small and large groups of children.

Remember to keep it safe
Make sure your game location is a safe one, like a park or backyard where you have permission to play. Tag involves a lot of running, so have your kids wear sturdy footwear.

Let's cover the basics
One child is designated "it" and runs after their friends to try and tag someone else who in turn becomes the new "it." You can also designate a safe area where kids can't be tagged and can take a breather.

Now make it interesting. There are a lot of popular versions that build on the basic game – variations which will make it more interesting for your kids and keep them involved. We've listed some of them here. And who knows, maybe you and your children can create your own!


When a child is tagged, they freeze in place. If another player touches them they can be unfrozen. The game ends when everyone has been frozen, and the last person frozen starts the next round of the game as "it."


In this version, if a child squats down quickly when they are close to being caught, they can be kept "safe" and avoid being tagged "it." All the players need to agree at the start of the game on how many times they can squat to avoid being tagged.


This version makes a good indoor tag option. Wood Tag is played like the basic game, but if the player touches something made of wood, they're "safe" from getting tagged by "it."


This version can be a lot of fun and your kids may learn the names of some new foods! When a child is close to being caught, they can be kept "safe" by squatting in place and saying the name of a vegetable. If you can't think of one and get tagged, you're "it."


When you're tagged "it," you join hands with your tagger and become a tagging pair. You chase others moving together as a "blob." Every time the "blob" tags another child, that child becomes part of the blob. This version requires a bit of teamwork — the "blob" needs to move together to tag others.


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