25+ Awesome Circle Games for Kids and Adults

Quite often we form circles to play games, have group discussions, or make announcements. Circle Games are easy to monitor, ensure that participants are on equal ground (no one is at the front of the line, etc), and enable everyone to see and hear one another.

Circle games are also really easy to organize and set up in a hurry. Most of them don't require much preparation or materials, so camp counselors or teachers can get a game going without a lot of effort. This is why we think that group circle games are great for filling in gaps when other activities fall through for one reason or another.

Tips for leading Circle Games

Here are a few tips for running games to play in a circle:

When leading circle games for kids, ask the group hold hands and slowly walk backwards until the circle forms and their arms are fully extended (as in the picture). Adults generally don't need this :)
Have a big loop made of rock climbing webbing or rope and ask everyone to hold a spot of the rope on the loop and back up until the rope is taut. There are a number of games you can play with the rope like this, including group sit and race car
Stash a circular blanket in your backpack, office, or trunk. Ask the group to sit on the outside of the blanket

Let us know what you think! And if you don't see your favorite circle camp games, or know of a fun variation, please submit an activity today!

Dollar Dollar

A quarter or small stone Coordination and learning of others’ names Sit one person in the middle of a circle whose role will be to guess where the ÛÏdollarÛ is. Each person places their left hand on their left knee cupped to receive the ÛÏdollarÛ. With the other hand each person pretends to take the ÛÏDollarÛ from their own left …

Double Dice or Dive Circle Game

A pair of dice, heavy mitts, a wrapped object (object will be given as a prize) Have the group form a circle and sit on the floor. Give them a set of dice. Each person has a chance to throw the dice before passing them on to the next player. If the person throws a double, he puts on heavy …

Down by the Banks

Have campers sit in a circle with their right hands on top of the child sitting next to them, and their left hand under the other child’s. As you sing the song the last one to have their hand hit is out. When only 2 campers are left have them each take their right hands and hold the other camper’s …

Drop it-Catch it

Ball Get your group to stand in a circle all facing the center. Have them spread out arms length. One person is in the middle with a ball and passes it back and forth to the other players surrounding them. The player in the middle with the ball must say “drop it” or “catch it” before tossing the ball to …

Flagpole

You just need a little thing as “flag” it can be a short, sock, ball, even a little thing so it’s harder to take it from the person. it’s starts with everyone standing in a big circle watching the circle, (and there is place enough between each person for another one)1 person is walking around the circle with something in …

Flying Dutchman

1. Everyone but two players join hands in a circle. 2. Two left out are the lost ship. They hold hands and walk around the circle until they find a place to enter the circle. 3. When they decide, they break the hand hold of two players and enter the circle. 4. The two players whose hands were un-joined now …

Four On A Couch-Bench

This is the best game I have ever played. I love it. But it is very difficult and probably wouldn’t work with groups of less than 12 people. The explanation is very long and involved, but DEFINITELY worth it. This is essentially a memory game. The object of this game is to get 4 members of your team on the …

Fox & Squirrel

2 Playground balls (Foxes) 1 smaller ball (Squirrel) 1. Form a circle of people, about 3 feet apart from one another. 2. Start the foxes and squirrel at different points in the circle. 3. Players can only pass a ÛÏfoxÛ to the person beside them, but the ÛÏsquirrelÛ can be tossed anywhere in the circle. 4. As the leader, you …

Frogger

none First sit everyone down them have them all close their eyes tight. Tell them that you are going to tap one person on the head and they are the frogger. The frogger’s role is to stick their tongue out at people. When they do this it will “freeze” that person. There will also be a detective chosen before the …

Frogger (Revised/Updated)

Frogger One person is Frogger. One person is the detective. This is chosen at the beginning of the game. The frogger’s identity should be kept secret. The detective sits in the middle. The frogger sticks his/her tongue out at someone. If they see it they “die”. The detective has 3 guesses to find the frogger.

Fruit Reactions?

The children sit in a circle. Each child is given the name of a fruit. One person is chosen to stand in the center of the circle and repeats the name of one of the fruits three times e.g. orange, orange, orange. The person around the outside of the circle who is the orange, must interrupt by shouting the word …

Grandma’s Underpants

to make the person in the middle laugh or smile One person is “it” and all the kids sit in a circle and the “it” stands in the middle. The kids on the outside of the circle ask them a question and the only thing the “it” can say is “My grandma’s under pants.” The kid on the out side …

Hide the Carrot

A carrot To trick the person in the middle (and to laugh your butt off!) This game is wilarious (wicked, and hilarious)! It’s essentially like “hide the button”; one person in the middle of a circle, with everyone around them passing an object behind their backs – the person in the middle of the circle has to guess the object’s …

Huh!

Game where you can be eliminated by laughing or motioning improperly. Everyone stands in a circle. You may not laugh. You must motion properly. The motion is having your hands flattened together and pointing either up above your head, or to another person, depending on what part of the game you are in. One person begins by motioning up above …

Human Pinball

Playground Ball 1. Everyone stands in a circle facing outward except one (the dodger) they stand in the middle. 2. Have players in circle stand with legs spread feet touching the person next to them. 3. Have them bend and swing arms between legs 4. They become ÛÏflippersÛ, whose object is to hit the dodger with the ÛÏpinballÛ. 5. The …

I Can Play the Pen Game

The I Can Play the Pen Game requires a pen and creative thinking This is a group puzzle or riddle game and goal is for each person in the circle to figure out the puzzle. Take the pen and start by saying the phrase, “Okay, I can play the pen game, can you play the pen game?” While doing this, …

Jab-er-quackie

1. Get the group in a circle. 2. Pick 1 person to be outside of the circle. Once the game starts they are to yell “Jab-er-quckie” as loud as they can over and over again to guide the people in the middle to them. 3. Pick another person to be outside the circle. They are to yell “Jab-er-walkie” as loud …

Killer Wink

Have campers sit in a circle with one person in the middle. Send the person in the middle of the circle out of the room. Then have the people in the circle choose one person to be the “killer”. The “killer” winks at one person in the circle every 30 seconds or so. The person who is winked at then …

Kitty Wants A Corner

The people within the circle must make eye contact with someone else before switching places, so they can know who they’re trading with and where they’re going. No one can talk except for the kitty, everything is done with the eyes. The object of Kitty Wants a Corner is that the kitty doesn’t get a corner. This game builds community, …

Kumala

Place for a circle. Everyone gets in a circle. You pick one person to start this off. They go into the middle. You first start clapping slowly then speed up everytime. This is a repeat song. “FE” (repeat) “Fe Fo” (Repeat) “Fe Fo Fet” (Repeat) ” Kumala kumala kumala vista” (repeat) “Hey nana nana la vista” (repeat) “Eni minie deca-inie …

Kumcha

The description seems a little complex but I promise it really isn’t a difficult game and it’s a lot of fun and laughter! Totally worth learning. Everyone will stand in a circle with their arms positioned like wings. At the same time they will all start off together saying Kum-Cha over and over. As you say “kum” you flap your …

Kung Pow Chicken

Everyone sits in a circle. All people play hold both thumbs up in front of them with thumbs pointing in the air. There are three levels to the game. Level 1 is the noise “Cheeche” or “Shh” (you can change the noise if you’d like), level 2 is the noise “Boom” and level 3 is “Kung pow chicken (when you …

Lap Pass

Rubber playground ball Pass an object for lap to lap without using your hands Lap Pass Sit in a circle knees touching. Place a rubber ball in one persons lap. The object of the game is to pass the ball around the circle without using your hands. Add different sized balls or objects (a fin or basket, just not something …

Let Me in the Circle

The group forms a large circle holding hands, with their backs to the middle. Two people are on the outside of the circle. Their goal is to get to the center of the circle. Advise the group that they must always be safe and careful not to hurt anyone, either physically or emotionally. Once the activity is over, process the …

Little Sally Walker

to have fun!!!! Get everone in a circle with one person in the middle. The person in the middle walks around inside the cricle while eveyone else sings, “Little Sally Walker walking down the street. She didnt know what to do so she stoped in front of me. (at this point, the one in the middle stands in front of …

25+ Awesome Circle Games for Kids and Adults

Tips for leading Circle Games

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