Relay Races
Relay Races
Objective: To promote taking turns, teamwork, and movement skills while practicing speed, coordination and following directions to accomplish a goal.
Equipment/Setup
- Cones/markers to indicate start/finish lines, turnaround point, and lanes if needed
- Any size group
How to Play: Divide children into small teams and have them line up behind the start line. One at a time, on your "Go", the first child in each line goes down to the turnaround point, then comes back to tag their next teammate to go. The next child repeats the same path until all team members have had a turn. Celebrate the effort of all teams when the relay is complete.
Modification Chart
| Level | Modification | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 🟡 0-1 year old | Place a small toy at the finish to encourage babies to get to (crawl, scoot, or walk depending on ability level). | Visual Tracking, Sensory Play |
| 🟣 1-2 year old | Have them carry the toy from start to the finish line. Bonus if they drop it in a bucket at the end. Celebrate their success. | Hand-Eye Coordination, Cause-Effect |
| 🟢 2-3 year old | Introduce the 'Turnaround Point' so child has to turn back and make their way to the start. | Gross Motor, Timing |
| 🟠 3-4 year old | Continue practicing with the 'Turnaround Point' with adding a variation of walking and running rounds. | Reaction Time, Teamwork |
| 🔴 4-5 year old | Continuing the run/walk rounds + more advanced movements based on their Developmental Checklist (skip, hop, gallop, etc.). | Coordination, Balance, Motor Planning |