Recommended Age: 2 and ½ years onwards
Level of Parent Involvement: Medium, this activity requires the adult to be the facilitator, low for older children who may be able to play this game without an adult
Prerequisites
- None
Materials
- Small object to pass around (the “potato”) for example a bean bag, a ball or a real potato!
- Music or a musical toy that automatically turns off
- At least 2 people
Preparation
- None
Steps
- Invite the child/children telling them “we are going to play a game outside”
- Take the music source outside (blue tooth speaker, phone, musical toy etc), invite the child to bring the ‘potato’
- Let the child/children know that you are going to play a game called hot potato
- Explain to the child that “when potato’s come out of the oven they are very hot and we don’t usually touch them”
- Then let the child/children know that when the music starts they must pass the potato back and forth (if playing with one child) or around the circle if playing with a small group
- Let the child children know they must pass the potato as quickly as they can as it is HOT!
- Start the music and begin quickly passing the potato
- When the music stops the person holding the potato
- The person holding the “potato” when the music stops gets “caught” with the potato
- Someone is typically out if they are caught with the potato. This is not necessary with young children.
- Continue playing with the same group! Young children get a thrill just from being “caught.”
- Help the child transition to their next activity suggestion both an indoor and outdoor option
Variations
- Using smaller objects such as a stone/pebble
- Using a fragile object
Notes
- This activity can also be played indoors
