Active Games for Independence Day

Red, White and Blue Tag

Red, white and blue tag is a hybrid of hide-and-seek and tag. Red, white and blue tag is played when "it" hides one red-, one white- and one blue-painted stick along with a supply of same-colored face paint in three different places within the agreed upon playing field. Players surreptitiously search the field for each stick, and swipe a streak of paint on their faces to prove they found it. In the meantime, "it" chases after the players, trying to wipe the paint from their faces with a cloth. The first player to reach "home" with red, white and blue stripes, is the winner.

Balloon pass is an easy game that players of all ages can enjoy. It requires two or more teams of at least three people to line up and pass red, white and blue balloons up and down the line without using their hands. The first team to pass an agreed upon number of balloons, or the team to pass the most balloons in a designated time, wins.

American history tag requires each player to be provided with a small booklet or list of facts and trivia about U.S. history. One player is designated as "it" and the group must agree upon the boundaries of the playing field that includes an area to be used as the "library." While "it" slowly counts to 25, players study their booklets. After the count, "it" chases the players who can escape being tagged by repeating a historical fact from memory. Players who fail to remember a fact must go to the "library" and study. The last player remaining on the playing field is the winner.

Sidewalk baseball is an adaptation of the classic game that requires only a stone and a piece of chalk as equipment. Players divide into two teams and draw four square "bases" on the sidewalk in the traditional diamond pattern. Each team member gets three chances to land a stone on "first base," and players advance one base at a time only when the "batter" makes a successful hit. If the batter does not land her stone in the chalk box within three tries, she is out. Younger, smaller players can draw large bases that are close together, while older players can create a more challenging playing field.