Fun Playground Games For Primary Schools and EYFS
Updated on: August 14, 2023
There are always children for whom playtime offers so many choices they don’t know where to start. Children who appear to enjoy time by themselves, and those who often complain of being bored, are often simply unsure which primary school playground games they should play.
By offering suggestions or starting a game with them, you can help to ensure all children are physically active at playtime and having fun.
There’s never been a more important time for primary school children to be engaged in energetic playground games.
Why promote school playground games for all?
In a 2015 study by Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation and Tesco found 75% of school children in the UK are not doing enough exercise. The study suggests a lack of exercise will put children at risk of developing complications, such as diabetes and heart disease, in future.
With children spending so much of the day in school, it’s important all children engage in some degree of energetic activity at playtime.
According to the NHS, primary school children should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, including playground activities.
For those children who find the open-ended nature of school playtimes overwhelming, we’ve got lots of ideas to help you help them!
As a leading UK supplier of playground markings and equipment for primary schools and early years settings, we’re passionate that all children enjoy playtime.
In fact, we’ve got a huge collection of fun and educational playground markings children can use at breaktime and lunchtime. From games to sports courts, there are all sorts of designs children can use to kickstart play. See playground markings
Use this time-saving guide to get all children active and having fun at playtime. A selection of top playground games for primary schools and early years settings will give you plenty of ideas to keep children occupied.
All of the playground activities we’ve included are: practical, easy to play, need no equipment and suitable for KS1, KS2 and EYFS. Let’s dive in!
Fun Playground Games For Primary Schools and EYFS
1. Shopping List
- Pick 3 children to stand at the front whilst the rest of the children stand against the wall.
- Choose one of the three children to be the caller. Tell the children against the wall they have to run if they hear the word “sausages”.
- The caller calls out a shopping list, beginning “I went to the shop and I bought…’. When they say sausages, all the children against the wall have to run to the other end of the play space.
- The two children at the front must try and catch any children running past before they get to the wall. Anyone they catch must start trying to catch children with them.
To upgrade the game for KS2, change the trigger word and limit the caller to words that begin with the same letter as the trigger word.
2. Hunter and Guard:
- Pick 6 children to be hunters. The hunters stand in front of the children who are all standing against the wall.
- Tell the children against the wall they are animals. They have to run to the other side of the space when one of the hunters shouts playtime.
- If any of the hunters catch the children running, those children have to stand together in the hunter’s van in the middle of the play space. Children can be freed from the van by any of the children who are animals. The animals have to tap each child to free them.
3. Capture the Flag:
- Split children into two teams and send the teams to either side of the play space. Give each team a bean bag which is now their flag.
- Tell children they have to stop the other team from getting their flag but they have to be 4 big steps from the flag at all times.
- Tell children if they tap anyone from the other team, that person has to freeze. Children can only tap people from the opposite team if they come into their half, the other team can do the same to them.
- Frozen players can be unfrozen if tapped by a teammate.
- The first team to capture the other team’s flag is the winner.
- To upgrade the game for upper KS1 and KS2, have 3 or 4 different teams.
We have a capture the flag in our collection of school playground games markings that can do the work to encourage children to get active.
With the playground game already clear to see on the ground, those children who lack confidence will be encouraged to play. Meanwhile, passing children can easily see what’s being played and join in. See more playground games markings for schools and EYFS
4. Dodgeball (Simplified version for primary schools and EYFS):
- Pick 5 children to stand in the middle whilst the rest of the children stand against the wall. Give 4 of the 5 children a soft, sponge ball.
- Tell the children against the wall they have to run to the other side of the space when the children in the middle shout go.
- If the children in the middle hit any of the children running with the sponge ball, those children join them in the middle. Children in the middle should be working as a team to get the balls back to the middle so they can be thrown again.
- If any of the children catch the ball whilst running, they swap with the person from the middle who threw the ball.
Find lots more fun, no-equipment playground games for primary schools and EYFS in our collection. Whether children are in KS2, KS1 or EYFS, there’s endless choice. Browse school playground games
Jess Sparks
Jess is deeply committed to supporting our mission of positively impacting UK outdoor play environments to promote healthy lifestyles in children.
With a CIM Level 6 Diploma in Sustainable Marketing, Jess channels her passion for sustainability into her marketing role, using her skills to promote eco-conscious practices and raise awareness for our initiatives.
Jess’ experience within the industry is instrumental in driving engagement and supporting connections with those who require ultra-durable, high-grade playground markings both locally and internationally.