20 EXCITING Tag Games for Kids (2023)

Tag games for kids are ALWAYS a hit!

I have 20 EXCITING tag games that both kids and adults will LOVE. My goal when playing tag games is to keep the kids moving as much as I can.

Let the games begin!

Game #1: Everybody’s a Tagger

Starting it off with one of my favorite go-to tag games for kids!

Everyone’s a tagger is a quick game that you can start immediately that keeps active.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• Just yourselves!! ( I can’t say this about a lot of activities, so that’s another reason why this one is awesome).

B. Activity

When you say go, everyone will start running! Everyone is a tagger and will start attempting to tag others.

If you get tagged, you freeze and put your hand up. To get unfrozen, someone has to come over and give you a high-five. Then, you are back in the game.

*The fun part about this game is that you can even tag the person who unfroze you; it’s a constant back and forth game!*

Game #2: Bridge Tag

I love bridge tag because the kids are either running or working on balance and core!

Whether you are teaching physical education or looking for a tag game for a group of kids to play, you never want too much downtime where the kids aren’t active.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• cut pool noodle
• jersey
• music (optional)

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I always love playing tag games using pool noodles. It helps keep the game safer because there is less pushing.

B. Activity

*You will choose 2-3 taggers depending on how large the group size is.

*On the so signal, the taggers will start trying to tag others! If someone gets tagged, they will stop and form a front bridge. To get unfrozen, another player has to crawl under their bridge.

*The person who is crawling under can’t be tagged while they are helping another player.

After a few minutes of play, stop the game and switch taggers!

Game #3: Toilet Tag

Yes, you see this correctly! When I taught PE, the kids begged to play this game. It is such a funny one that the kids enjoy so much.

The kids love turning into toilets :).

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• cut pool noodle
• jersey
• music (optional)

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B. Activity

*Choose several kids to be the taggers! They can have a jersey or a cut pool noodle!

*On the go signal, the taggers will start tagging other players. If someone gets tagged, they will bend down on one knee to make a toilet. They also will put an arm up to be the handle.

*To get unfrozen, another player comes and pulls down the handle and says “flush!”. Then they can rejoin the game!

Play for a few minutes, then switch taggers.

Game #4: Ninja Turtle Tag

Who didn’t love the Ninja Turtles growing up? It was one of my favorite shows, that’s for sure!

Even if you didn’t watch the show, this is a fun game for kids to play!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

B. Activity

*Choose several taggers and give them a jersey or a cut pool noodle!

*On the go signal, the kids will start running! If they get tagged, they will flip on their backs on with their feet and hands up in the air.

*To get unfrozen, another player comes over and gives them a double high 5! They can say KOOWABUNGA, just like Michaelangelo.

Remember, you can always switch up the skill when playing tag! You can have the kids skip, gallop, side slide, or walk to practice locomotor movements.

Game #5: Blob Tag

This is a great cooperative tag game for kids to try! It teaches kids how to communicate and work together.

When I was teaching PE, this was one of the hardest concepts for kids to grasp. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it; if anything, it means we need more of these activities so they can learn how to work together effectively.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• nothing 🙂

B. Activity

*You’ll choose one person to be the tagger. On the go signal, that one person will start running, trying to tag others.

*When someone gets tagged, they will hold hands or link arms with that person. They then will work together to tag others. They have to work together to discuss what direction they want to go in.

*The chain will keep growing until everyone has joined the chain! You can start the game again by having the last standing person be the tagger the next time.

Game #6: Waspital

The kids always get a kick out of this tag game! I especially love this game because the kids are moving 100% of the time!

They love that aspect of the game, and I do too because they don’t have to sit out!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Activity

*Choose 2-3 kids to be taggers (wasps) and give them a jersey or a cut pool noodle!

*On the go signal, the taggers will try to tag others. When someone gets tagged, they place one hand on the place where they got tagged. They will continue playing in the game. If they get tagged again, they place their other hand in the other spot where they got tagged.

*When players get tagged 3 times, they go to the “hospital”; this is a coned-off area to the playing area’s side. To rejoin the game back to normal, they have to do 10 jumping jacks!

Game #7: Zombie Tag

Zombie tag is a great game for Halloween time but can be played throughout the school year! The kids used to ask for this one constantly.

This is my favorite tag game on this list. You’ll love watching the kids act like zombies!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

B. Activity

*Start the game with 1-2 zombie taggers. They will grab a hula hoop; everyone else won’t have one to start with. When the music starts, the zombies will put one foot inside the hoop and the other foot outside the hoop.

* They will drag the hoop on the floor to act like a zombie. They also can make zombie noises to bring the character more to life!

* If a zombie tags someone, that player will go and grab a hula hoop and become a zombie tagger along with the others.

The object of the game is to be the last one standing without a hula hoop!

Game #8: Sharks and Minnows/Octopus Tag

Sharks and minnows is a fan favorite by ALL the kids! Whenever there was a free choice day in class, this was always one of the choices the kids wanted!

If you have a group of kids at the house for a play date or a party, this is a great one to get the kids outside and have some fun.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• jerseys
• cones
• yard spray paint (optional)

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B. Set-up

Create a playing area by setting up a rectangle of cones. This will be the starting line, finish line, and boundary lines during gameplay.

B. Activity

*Choose 2 kids to be the sharks. They will stand in the middle of the playing area!

* Have the minnows (kids that aren’t taggers) head to the starting line. On the go signal, they will try to run to the side without getting tagged.

* If they get tagged, they turn into seaweed. They are stuck where they are they can move their arms back and forth to try to tag others passing by them, but they can’t move their feet.

*Play will continue until all players get tagged by the sharks or the seaweed!

Game #9: Pac Man Tag

Remember the game, Pac Man? Such a classic game! It’s a perfect and different activity for kids to play!

What makes this game fun is that you play on the lines of the gym! If you are at home wanting to play this game, invest in some outdoor spray paint! It comes off your lawn, don’t worry 🙂 I’ve used it.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

*If you are playing this game in a gym, you most likely have taped lines already down. If not, you want to add some lines onto the gym floor. Place them ALL over to make sure they are connected to create a pathway.

*Want to play at home? Create a course on the cement using sidewalk chalk or use lawn paint spray.

*To create a course to play, you just need to have a bunch of lines connected! They can go in different directions.

C. Activity

*In this game, the kids have to stay on the lines! The taggers are the only ones that can hop “jump” players off the line, but they must return back on!

*Choose 2 taggers and give them a jersey or a cut pool noodle. The taggers will start at one end of the playing area, and the other players will spread out on the lines.

* On the go signal, the kids will run on the lines provided. They can’t jump from line to line, and they must stay on the lines. If they get tagged by a pac-man tagger, they have to sit down (becomes a blocker).

*If a player is running and comes up to a blocker, they must turn around and go the other direction; they can’t “jump” the blocker; only the taggers can.

*When a player steps off the line, warn them to stay on it. If you have to give several warnings, I have had them become a blocker.

*Play keeps going until everyone has been tagged; besides two players, they will become the new taggers!

Game #10: Capture the Beanbag

Many of these activities could be used as a warm-up game in PE class; this is a main game that can be played.

Capture the beanbag was a fan favorite by my students! I loved it because they were constantly moving and getting exercise!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

*Each team should have 2-3 hula hoops on their side! 7 beanbags should be placed in each hoop!

*Split the kids up in even teams. Give one team jerseys!

*Play over the centerline in the gym or create a line with spray lawn paint if you are at home.

C. Activity

* On the go signal, kids can cross the centerline to attempt to grab a beanbag. Once they cross the line into the other team’s area, they can get tagged.

*Once tagged, they have to freeze. Someone from their team can cross the line and try to free them by tagging their hand; they both have to cross back over to their side before grabbing a beanbag.

* If a player makes it over to the other side, grabs a beanbag, they are safe! They have to place the beanbag on their head and balance it back to their team’s side. If they drop it, they have to bring it back and try again until they can make it (this is slightly different from the video).

The object of the game is to have more beanbags on their side!

Game #11: Dinosaur Tag

We <3 dinosaur tag! My kids love to play this one at home!

I love you can play it was just a few people or a whole group.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need 

B. Set-up

At one end of the playing area, place a hula hoop and a bunch of bean bags. On the other end of the playing area, place a single hoop.

Place cones on the sides of the playing area, so kids know where the boundary lines are.

C. Activity

* Depending on how many kids are playing, choose 1-2 players to be the taggers (dinosaurs). Give them a cut pool noodle. They will go in the middle of the set of hula hoops.

* Split up the teams evenly and place them in a line behind the single hula hoop that doesn’t have the beanbags in it.

*On the go signal, the first person in each line from each team will attempt to get to the other side of the playing area where the beanbags are. If they can get there, they can grab a beanbag (dinosaur egg), and they are in the “safety zone.” Once they leave the hoop, they can get tagged.

* If they get tagged on the way back with a beanbag, they have to put it back in the hoop, and they tag the next person in line to try.

*If they get tagged on the way down and don’t have a beanbag, they just go back in line and tag the next player.

The game’s goal is to be the team that has the most “dinosaur eggs” in their hoop!

Game #12: Baby Shark Tag

Who doesn’t love the song Baby Shark? It was such a massive hit! My kids were listening to it constantly when a few years back.

It’s such a cute song to play this tag game to! The kids also love “chomping” with the noodles for this game.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

Place 5-6 hula hoops around the playing area. Place the activity dice on one side!

C. Activity

*Choose 2-3 taggers and give them a set of cut pool noodles. Give them directions: they only LIGHTLY chomping the other players with the two pool noodles in the center of the player’s body.

*When the song comes on, kids (fish) start to run. They can run around and head into the hula hoops as safety for 5 seconds. Only one person is allowed in a hoop at a time. Safety is the anemone!

* If a fish gets tagged by the shark, they head to the activity dice. They roll the dice and see what the exercise says. They complete the exercise and go back to the game!

Game #13: Animal Tag

This is such a fun game because kids will get the chance to pretend to be animals and practice some fun movements!

If you are a PE teacher, this is a great way to check for locomotor recognition.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• cones
• sidewalk chalk

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B. Set-up

Create 4 different cages for the animals!  I would do this in each corner of the playing area. You can do this with cones or sidewalk chalk!

You could also print off a picture of each animal, so kids know where to go.

C. Activity

*Choose 1 person to be the “zookeeper,” 1 person to be the monkey, and place the other kids in assigned animal groups.

*The Kangaroos will hop, gazelles will gallop, cheetahs will run, and zebras will skip.

*Once the music starts, the kids will do their specific animal movements! If the zookeeper tags them, they have to return to their cage. The only way they get out is when the monkey comes over to free them!

*Change the zookeeper and monkey every few minutes!

Game #14: Skunk Tag

This is such a fun and simple tag game that kids will get a kick out of!

Skunk tag is a tag game where the tagger may constantly be switching. This is great for kids because it gives many kids the chance to be a tagger.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• hula hoops

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B. Set-up

Set up one hoop in the middle of the playing area to be the skunk’s home. The other 4 hoops are placed in the corners of the playing area for safety.

C. Activity

* Choose 2 players to be the skunks; they are the taggers!

* On the go signal, the kids will start running! They are trying to stay away from the skunks. If the skunk tags them, they have to go to the skunk’s home in the middle of the gym (the hoop), and they yell NEW SKUNK!

* They become the new tagger, and the player that tagged them becomes a runner!

* To hide from the skunk, the players can go into one of the 4 hoops in the corners for safety. They can stay in for 10 seconds! Only one person in the hoop at a time.

Game #15: Secret Agent Tag

This is such a fun game for the kids. They love the part that no one knows who the taggers and freers are.

This game is a little different, too, because the “freers” can get tagged.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• NONE!

B. Activity

* Have all the kids put their heads down and close their eyes.

* Explain that if they feel 1 tap on their heads, they are the taggers (secret agents). If they feel 2 taps on their head, they are a freer.

*Once the roles are chosen, have all the kids stand up and start running!

*Secret agent taggers will begin tagging players. If they get tagged, they will sit down and wait for the freers to tap them to return to the game.

*If a freer gets tagged, they have to sit. If both freers get tagged, the round is over! You start by having the kids close their heads and lower their heads!

Game #16: Pizza Tag

What kid doesn’t love pizza? This game was such a big hit with the kids when I played it in PE class.

The kids loved talking about the different toppings on pizza that they love.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

B. Set-up

Place several hoops around the playing area to be the ovens.

C. Activity

*Divide up the students into at least 3 categories of toppings, for example, red (pepperoni), orange (cheese), green (olives), and give them jerseys.

* Choose 1-2 chefs to be the taggers.

* On the go signal, have the kids run from the taggers. If they get tagged, they have to go to an oven (hula hoop). They have to wait for two other different colored toppings to join them in the oven to get cooked and return to the game.

*The players don’t have to be tagged to join them in the oven, they can be tagged, but they don’t have to, which means all players other than the taggers can help!

*Once the three different colored jerseys are in the oven, they can get out and be part of the game again!

Game #17: Keeper of the Treasure 

The kids instantly love a game when the word treasure is involved!

This is a great way to introduce teamwork to your students to kids.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

*Depending on how many teams you have, you need a hoop for each team. Place them in the corners of the playing area.

*Place the treasure in the middle of the playing area!

C. Activity

Choose 1-2 people to be the keepers of the treasure (taggers). They will go to the center of the playing area to guard the treasure.

Divide up the kids into even teams and send them to one of the hula hoops.

One person from the team at a time will run to the center and try to grab a piece of treasurer and bring it back to their team’s hoop without getting tagged.

If they can go this, they can put it in their team’s hoop then tag the next person in line to go. If they get tagged and have a piece of treasure, they have to return it to the center, go back to their team, and let the next person in line go while they head to the back of the line.

The team that has the most treasure in their hoops at the end is the winner! Work on counting skills with each team.

Game #18: Soccer Tag

I love being able to add a kicking component into a tag game.

It’s a perfect way to work on aim and dribbling the soccer ball!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• small soft soccer balls
• dodgeballs

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B. Activity

* Give a few players a small soft soccer ball; these are the taggers.

* On the go signal, all the players will begin to run. They are trying not to get tagged by the soccer balls.

*When a tagger kicks the ball and hits another player from the knee down, that person has to grab a soccer ball, and they are also a tagger.

*The goal of the game is to be the last one standing without a soccer ball!

Make sure kids know to keep the ball on the floor; they are not to kick it up in the air.

Game #19: Throw+Catch Tag

What a great way to combine several different skills!

Work on throwing, catching, aim, and running. The kids are going to love this activity.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• soft dodgeballs
• music (optional)

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B. Activity

* The kids will find a partner, or you can place them in partner groups.

* Once the music starts, they will practice throwing back and forth. They will use good throwing form!

* When the music turns off, the person who has the ball turns into the tagger. They will chase their partner around until the music comes back on.

*If the player with the ball tags their partner, they will hand the ball off to their partner and become the tagger and chase them. If they don’t tag their partner, they will just continue throwing and catching when the music comes back on.

Game #20: Eraser Football Tag

Looking for a fun and easy football-related activity for elementary-aged kids?

Eraser football is a fun way to introduce some basic rules of football for our youngest learners.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

• easer
• sidewalk chalk (if playing at home)
• cones
• jerseys

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B. Set-up

Place a set of cones in a line on both sides of the playing area.

C. Activity

* Divide up the kids into even teams for an offensive and defensive team. Give one team the jerseys!

* One group will start by huddling up with the teacher to decide who gets the eraser. All team members are trying to run from one side of the gym to the other without getting tagged by the other team.

*The person with the eraser is trying to score a touchdown by making it past the cones without getting tagged. If they do, they get the point for their team.

* Either way, after the round, the teams will switch who is offense and defense. Play keeps going with several rounds!

Final Thoughts and Conclusions

Tag games for kids are a great way to keep get them active and moving! These tag games are perfect and a physical education classroom or just fun for at home.

I have personally done all of these games in my classroom, and I know they work well! Do you have a favorite tag game that is not listed here? I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below to let our community know about some tag games that worked for you.

Happy Learning!

Deena