31 Games - Musical Chairs

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

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This popular party game has plenty of options - plus, the music can be perfectly tailored to match any mood!

Musical Chairs

Players:  5 + 

Ages:  3 + 

Place:  a space large enough for the players to circle around the chairs

Equipment:  chairs (1 less than number of players) & a music source that can be easily stopped and started

How to play:  The chairs are arranged side by side, alternating the direction they're facing.

Players position themselves evenly around the chairs and begin walking (or hopping, dancing or skipping) around in a circle once the music begins to play.

When an adult randomly stops the music, the players must all find a seat.  The player left without a seat is now "out" and one chair is removed.

Play continues in this manner until two players and one chair are left.  The player seated in the final chair is the winner.

Variations:

Musical Bumps - This version doesn't even use any chairs!  The players just need to sit on the floor as quickly as they can and the last player to sit down is "out."

Ownership Musical Chairs - In this version, there are the same number of chairs as players. Each player attaches a sign (or a Post It) with his or her name on it to a chair.  Each player now "owns" that chair.  Just as in the standard version, players circle the chairs while the music plays, but when the music stops, they must all rush back to their own chair.  The last player to make it back is "out," but that player remains seated.  The last player left standing is the winner.

Musical Hodgepodge - This variation uses objects instead of chairs.  Objects (that are safe & nonbreakable) are placed in the center of the circle (1 less than the number of players) and when the music stops, players grab an object. An object is removed after each round and the player left with an object at the end is the winner.

Musical Islands - This is another variation that doesn't use any chairs.  Instead, large sheets of paper (1 fewer than number of players)  are scattered around the room.  When the music stops, players must stand on one of these "islands" or be "out."  More than one player may stand on an island, but each player must be on "dry land." (So they can have only one foot on the paper, as long as they're balanced and not touching the "water" with the other one.) Like with the chairs, one paper is removed after each round and whoever is left on the final paper (no matter how many players that is) is the winner.

I'm sure you've played this classic game with your children before, but have you ever heard of these variation?  I'd love to hear!  Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

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Looking for other fun ideas of things to do with your little one?  Check out my Latticed Learning page here!

This post is part of the write31days challenge!