Kindergarten Games in Gym

Physical education is an essential part of the education process. Even at an early age, students learn healthy habits that can last a lifetime. Physical education for kindergartners focuses on the development of fundamental motor skills and can enhance a child's social, cognitive and physical development, according to the Council of Physical Education for Children. Choosing fun and engaging games can help kindergartners reap the rewards of physical education.

For this exercise, you will need to provide kindergartners with three beach balls. Kids should scatter across the playing area, which may be half of a gym. One ball should be tossed into the air. The object of the game is to keep the ball in the air. The ball should not touch the ground. Kids can use any part of their body to keep the ball in the air. As kindergartners begin to get the concept of the game, add a second and then third beach ball into the game. Keep track of the number of times the beach ball is hit before it lands on the ground. This will encourage kids to try harder next time.

Divide your kindergarten class up into two even teams. Goal nets — or desks, baskets or trash cans used for nets — should be placed on the opposite sides of the room. Each team should line up in front of its net. Kids should assume the crab position — have kids sit on their buttocks and prop themselves up using their hands and feet. The ball will be placed in the center of the room to start. Kindergartners must crab walk to kick the ball in the net.

Have kids stand across one edge of the gym. Elect one student to be the stoplight. The stoplight calls out red, green or yellow light. When green light is called players may run. A yellow light means players must walk. A red light indicates players must stop. The object of the game is to make it across the gym first without disobeying any of the traffic lights.

A three-legged race can teach kindergartners balance and teamwork. Pair kindergartners up in teams of two. Using rags or stockings, lie the left leg of one child to the right leg of the other while the pair is standing side-by-side. Allow teams to practice walking around. They can also try hopping or running. You can have teams race across the gym or playground. As your kindergartners' ability to complete this task increases, you can set up an obstacle course to make this task more challenging.