Relay races and other games for kids

Relay races

Relay races.

Relay races are games where equal teams compete against each other to complete a race. Relay racing games can be set up at various occasions such as school breaks, outdoor parties and other group gatherings. We have listed many relay race ideas for children of all ages.

Game sheet

number of players: from 6 children
age: from 6 years old
supplies: depends on relay
Played outdoors
Duration: 15 minutes

Relay races rules

Split the children into 2 or more teams depending on the size on the group. Make teams of 4 to 6 children on average to ensure that each child waits as little time as possible between passes. Once the teams are formed, the children line up one behind the other on the starting line.
Explain the rules of the relay based on the one you have chosen.
Finally, say “on your marks, get set, go!” and watch them run. You can do one pass, but the children can also pass each other 2, 3 or 4 times…

Relay race ideas

running: it is the classic relay. Kids have to run in the defined play area to a specific target, tag it and run back.
crab walk: kids use both hands and feet to walk, but the child is facing upward so their back faces the ground.
baton : the children run with a baton and pass it to the child at the other end of the relay. If they drop it while running, they need to start over.
hopping on one foot : the child must complete the course using only one foot.
carrying an object: each child must complete the course carrying an object. It can take different forms, such as an egg in a spoon, a bucket of water, a book on the head…
pass along: in this relay, each child remains in their spot but needs to pass along an object from one end of their line to the other.
wheelbarrow : in this race, the children put themselves 2 by 2. The first child puts his hands on the ground and the second child grabs his legs. They will have to do the course as if the child in the back was pushing a wheelbarrow.
skipping: here, the children will have to complete the course by skipping rope.
Mix-It-Up Relay Race: the children will have to go from point A to point B until all children have participated. But beware, in this race each child will have to move in a different way: one can run, another can hop, another can jump with both feet or walk backwards… The goal is for each child to do the race in a different way.