Sunshine and Snowflake Tag

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Age
3-5 years
Child Development
Language/literacy links: Counting; number recognition; vocabulary: naming words (e.g. ‘snowflakes’ and ‘sunshine’); movement words (chase, run, flee, boundaries).
Equipment
Pool noodles (optional)
Blue and yellow yarn balls (optional)
Physical Activity

Vigorous play, developing body control and spatial awareness; cooperative play.  

How to Play
  1. Have one or two children as taggers (snowflakes) and one or two children who melt the snowflakes (sunshine).
  2. Snowflakes move around and tag other children with the snowball (blue ball of yarn).
  3. Children tagged by the snowball are frozen and stand still.
  4. Children who are sunshine move around and melt the frozen children by tagging them with the sun (yellow ball of yarn). Snowflakes cannot freeze sunshine.
  5. Once unfrozen, the children are free to play again.
  6. Change the sunshine and snowflakes often. Think of fun ways to select new taggers such as the children choosing someone else or selecting someone who comes up with the most creative balance pose.
Change it up / Alternatives / Additional Options
  • For a child with a disability that limits their balance, provide a support structure for them when they are frozen, such as the wall or an adult.
  • For a child with a disability that limits their locomotion, adjust the rules of the game to assist their participation. This can be something such as everyone has to walk throughout the game.
  • For a child with a visual impairment, provide large objects that are clearly visible as the sunshine and snowflake, such as large balls or pinnies on the children.
Notes

This activity also develops skills in the following areas: Running, balance, spatial awareness, collision avoidance.

Adapted from HOP