A Bandage Where I'm Tagged
A few children tag holding a scarf; anyone tagged puts on a “bandage” by placing a hand exactly where they were touched and keeps running that way, and after a second tag they go to the hospital, where the teacher heals them with a puff of air and they rejoin. It warms up the body and names body parts.
How to play
- Sitting down, the teacher shows how the bandage works: put your hand where you were tagged (shoulder, arm, back) and run without taking it off (1 min).
- The teacher gives scarves to three or four taggers and the game starts; everyone else runs (2 min).
- Anyone with two bandages goes to the hospital (a cone); the teacher asks “Where does it hurt?”, blows on it, and the child goes back in (1 min).
- Switch taggers: those holding scarves hand them to someone who hasn't tagged yet (2 min).
- Everyone puts bandages on each body part the teacher names while walking slowly, then shakes them off (1 min).
Rules
- I tag gently with my scarf hand.
- Where I get tagged, I put my hand and keep it there.
- With two bandages I go to the hospital and come right back.
- I say where I was tagged.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, just one bandage before the hospital, and the teacher is the only tagger at first.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, two bandages before the hospital and three taggers.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, a bandage on a leg means hopping on one foot for a bit; four taggers.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child is the hospital nurse who heals with a puff, or tags from their spot when someone passes.
- Autism: use a real sticker instead of holding a hand in place if keeping the position is hard.
- Hearing impairment: the teacher holds the scarves up high to mark when taggers change.
Learning goals
- Name and locate body parts.
- Run with one hand busy while staying balanced.
- Warm up the body in a fun way.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Scarves: 4
Teacher tip
Set the hospital far from the middle so the trip there is part of the run. Some kids get tagged on purpose to visit the hospital: that's fine, the game allows it.
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