10 fun ways to keep kids involved when they’re out of a game
Date: 4th Feb 2025
Author: Ian Challinor
Let’s face it – nobody wants to be out of a game! But what if there was a way to keep everyone included, even when they’re technically ‘out’? These 10 simple tips will make sure that the fun never stops and everyone stays involved, no matter where they are in the game.
- Use a waiting area rotation system: When a player is ‘out’, they go to a row of chairs. The first person out sits in the first chair. When the next person is out, the first person moves along one to the second seat and the newly out person takes the first seat. Each time someone else is ‘out’, the ‘out’ players keep moving down the row until they reach the last chair. When they get to the end of the row, they can come back into the game!
- ‘Freeze and Melt’ rule: If a player is tagged or ‘frozen’ in a game (such as freeze tag), let them to ‘melt’ back into the game after counting to 20. This keeps the pace lively and reduces frustration.
- Helper roles: Give ‘out’ players specific tasks, such as scorekeeping, timing or refereeing. They could also act as a ‘judge’ for the game, such as voting for best silly walk in a race.
- All-in ending: In elimination games, announce a final round where everyone is back in for one big chaotic finish. This makes sure nobody feels left out for the finale.
- Designated restarts: After a set amount of time or turns, everyone who is out automatically gets to restart. This keeps the game flowing and fair.
- Second chance tokens: Give each player a token, such as a counter or card. They can use it once per game for a second chance. It prevents kids from feeling discouraged when they’re out early.
- Cheerleading rule: If someone is ‘out’, they join the cheer squad to encourage others, instead of feeling sidelined. Why not get flags and pompoms to wave, so it doesn’t get too noisy?
- End with an all-win game: Conclude with a quick, easy game that everyone can win or enjoy equally, such as hide and seek or a playing catch.
- Reverse the rules: Halfway through a game, flip the rules. For example, in tag, the tagged become the taggers. Keeps kids on their toes!
- Challenge zones: Create a designated ‘challenge zone’ where kids who are out can rejoin after performing a simple task, such as hopping on one foot 10 times or saying a silly phrase.