Traditional Playground Games For Modern Primary Schools
Updated on: February 18, 2025
“I’m bored”. Whether a parent or member of staff, this is the one thing you do not want to hear when supervising children as they play! Thinking of playground games for primary school children under pressure can be challenging.
If you’re in a school, nursery, or organised group, coming up with ideas for playground games for a large group of children is even harder. But being here means you’re ensuring this scenario does not happen to you!
As a top primary school playground supplier, we have a large stash of ideas for playground fun we know children will enjoy. When supervising children, traditional playground games are a favourite choice because under pressure, you’ll still remember the rules.
Managing hot tempers, differing personalities and short attention spans means you need to be comfortable with any playground games you lead. Best of all, traditional playground games are universal so almost all of the children (there’s always one!) will have heard of the classic game before!
Whether your children are in nursery, KS1 or KS2, here’s our top picks for popular playground games for primary school children that will keep everyone happy.
Top Playground Games For Primary Schools: Updated For Modern Playgrounds
At Fun & Active Playgrounds, we like to ensure all the playground equipment we design is fun as well as educational. For us, that means giving traditional playground games a contemporary finish so they’re relevant to modern children.
We don’t change the game, instead we give it a contemporary finish with a few embellishments for extra interest. Over 10 years experience of designing playground markings and equipment for primary school children means we know what they like.
Where there are adaptions that can be made to improve playground games – we do it.
Here’s what we mean…
1. An Update on Traditional Hopscotch Playground Game
Everyone knows hopscotch. Once children get going, they enjoy the increasing challenge of having to skip squares with stones. Then there’s all the laughter that comes from trying to balance on one leg.
But you have to queue. And wait your turn.
We’re passionate about quality play which enables children to develop a wide range of skills, including turn-taking. However, we know that keeping a group of primary school children waiting around is a recipe for trouble.
What to do?
Our clever team came up with the perfect solution. Why not use the space better whilst promoting collaborative and open-ended play? The team created these popular designs for 4-way and 3-way hopscotch.
Not only is there no lengthy waiting around, but each design also leaves children free to play with the playground markings in a greater range of ways. Then we realised we could take our ideas even further!
We developed language hopscotch, times table hopscotch, twists on traditional designs and more.
In fact, at Fun & Active Playgrounds, you can customise any of our playground markings and equipment for primary schools. You could even get some of those pupils who often complain that they’re bored involved in the design process!
More about custom playground designs.
2. Traditional Maze Playground Games Reworked
Present a maze to modern children in the right way and it will seem really contemporary. Realising this, our team got to work on updating the traditional maze so it had more meaning for contemporary minds.
From logic to co-ordination, problem-solving and more, the range of skills a maze playground game can support is huge. Reaching deep into their knowledge of what children enjoy, the team came up with a brilliant collection of exciting designs.
For us, play should be both educational and fun, so you’ll find all of our playground resources are enjoyable and stimulating for all children.
How long will these sophisticated designs last? You don’t have to worry about the longevity of our playground markings because we use superior thermoplastic. Thermoplastic playground markings deliver high-grade performance that’s non-slip and resistant to all types of weather.
Your pupils can use our playground markings safely all year. Regardless of all the scrapes, scuffs and scratches primary school playgrounds endure, these classic playground markings won’t fade or rub off.
In fact, they last for 10 years longer than traditional playground painting.
3. Snakes and Ladders Refreshed
Understandably, initially you’d feel quite wary of suggesting snakes and ladders to a group of jaded primary school children. Yet think again because our team have been busy!
Our bright and colourful playground designs provide children with a fresh take on snakes and ladders. We’ve created a sensory experience in which pupils can physically move along the board, down the snake and up the ladder.
Add a jumbo dice and some pantomime-style cheering and “ahh”ing for drop down or move up the board and everyone will have lots of fun.
For older children see our playground chess marking.
4. What’s The Time Mr Wolf
Remember those old playground games that used to get so out of hand? Our team put their heads together and added a little structure to those playground games that don’t need any equipment but could benefit from a bit of organisation.
The Mr Wolf marking stops children tearing all over the playground, causing bumps and falls as they collide with peers. Each innovative design still leaves plenty of room for open-ended play whilst keeping children contained in one part of the playground.
5. Piggy In The Middle
The team applied the same principle to piggy in the middle and noughts and crosses. The introduction of an organised layout gives each game a wider appeal, attracting children who prefer a little less mayhem. The markings also make it much easier for new children to join a game because they enable pupils to see what the game is.
6. Twister
One of the biggest challenges of supervising children’s play is getting everyone involved. We have an answer for this too! What’s one game everyone enjoys? Twister!
The Twister Playground Marking has the same recognisable colours and layout as the classic game we all know and love. Best of all, once you’ve played the game with children, they can carry it on themselves on their own. Finally, a game everyone can play!
Find Twister, Chess, Noughts and Crosses and lots of other classic games for children in the Fun Playground Games Collection.
Browse fun playground games for schools
Browse our full range of playground markings
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.
