Group play is important for toddlers, as it helps with their communication skills with others. It teaches them how to play well with other children. This can help them learn how to get along with others, be a good sport, and take turns. Group games are also good for helping toddlers connect with others and make friends.
Toddler games can be played at home for various reasons, such as parties, sleepovers, and just a day of playing with other kids. They can be a lot of fun and even help toddlers get the exercise that they need together.
Here are a five group games for toddlers for you to consider when helping them play together. Since these children are only toddlers, some of these games may need the help of an adult or just adult supervision as they play.
Duck Duck Goose.
Duck Duck Goose is a classic game that children just love. Sit the children down in a circle and let one child walk around the group gently touching the top of everyone’s head, calling them “Duck”, but picking one as “Goose”. Once they pick their “Goose”, the child picked as “Goose” chases the child who picked them around the circle. If they make catch them, then the child picks another “Goose”. But if the child who picks them sits down in their spot before they can catch them, then this child must now pick the “Duck, Duck, Duck, Goose!”.
Hide and Seek.
With Hide and Seek, they may need help from you and other adults, since they are only toddlers. Help the children hide in safe hiding spots, as one child hides their eyes. That child can count to a certain number (with help if they are still learning how to count) or wait until an adult lets them know that all of the children are hidden. Now you and this toddler must go find the other children. Once they find them, they can hide as another child waits to find them. Let the children take turns hiding and finding them.
Hot and Cold.
Hot and Cold is similar to Hide and Seek. Find an object for the children to hide, such as a building block, toy, hair brush, etc. Help one child hide the object if they need it as the other children hide their eyes. Then, let the children try to find this object. If they get closer, let them know that they are “Hot”, but if they are not close, let them know that they are “Cold”. The child who finds the object first can hide it next, or you can just let them take turns hiding it.
I-Spy.
I-Spy is a great game for helping toddlers to identify objects of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Help the children to take turns coming up with ideas, or let them find the object with the clues you give. For example, if there is a banana on the table, you or the child can say “I spy with my little eyes, something yellow!”. Or if you are outside and you see a tree, you or the child can say “I spy with my little eyes, something big, brown, and green!”. Give as many clues as you want when telling them what you spy, depending on how hard it may be to guess. But the children will have fun giving hints and making guesses!
Ring Around The Rosie.
Ring Around the Rosie allows children to play together and sing. Hold hands and walk around in a circle singing the song, which goes “Ring around the Rosie, a pocket full of posies. Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down!”. As you sing the lyrics, ” Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down!”, have the children sit down on the ground together.
Other group games that you can teach to toddlers to play together include Simon Says, Hot Potato, Freeze Dance, and more! Group games such as these will provide toddlers with hours of fun and laughter that they can all enjoy together!
