🚦 Red Light, Green Light

What you need

Equipment: Nothing. Mark a start line and a finish line 10 to 15 meters apart. The caller stands at the finish line with their back to the players, and everyone else lines up at the start. A yard, park or hall is best.

How to play Red Light, Green Light

1. The caller explains the three lights: green = run, red = freeze completely, yellow = a special move.
2. The caller shouts 'Green light!' and everyone runs toward them.
3. Without warning, the caller shouts 'Red light!' and turns around.
4. Anyone caught moving after 'Red light' loses a point and stays where they are. Nobody goes back to the start.
5. On 'Yellow light!', the caller adds a move, like 'Hop on one foot!' or 'Crab walk!', and everyone moves forward that way.
6. No running while the caller turns around. That is exactly when players get caught.
7. The first player to tag the caller or cross the finish line wins the round.
8. The winner becomes the caller for the next round.

Scoring and wrapping up

Scoring: First place = 3 points. A full round without losing a point = 2 bonus points.

To finish: After 4 or 5 rounds, add up the points. For a great finish, play a team round: everyone must arrive together, so if someone is caught, the others wait for them.

By age

• Ages 4-6: green and red only, and no points lost.
• Ages 7+: add the yellow light moves.

Variations

• Big group: play with two callers at two finish lines and let players choose which line to aim for.
• Capy twist: on 'Capy light!', everyone must freeze in a funny pose and hold it until the next green light.

Tips for the adult in charge

• Vary your speed: 'Green... green... green... RED!' catches everyone off guard.
• Turn around fast and look carefully, but be generous with little ones.

Safety

Play on a flat surface that is not slippery.

🖨️ Printable yellow light moves

Call one of these each time you shout 'Yellow light!'

1. ☐ Hop on one foot
2. ☐ Crab walk
3. ☐ Tiptoe like a mouse
4. ☐ Walk backwards
5. ☐ Bunny hops
6. ☐ Giant steps
7. ☐ Baby steps
8. ☐ Walk like a penguin
9. ☐ Skip
10. ☐ Gallop like a horse
11. ☐ Walk with your hands on your head
12. ☐ Frog jumps
13. ☐ Walk in slow motion
14. ☐ Walk like a robot
15. ☐ Side steps
16. ☐ March with high knees
17. ☐ Walk like a tightrope walker
18. ☐ Wobble like jelly