Chasing games Activity
Playing chasing games is a fun way to keep tamariki active and improve their movement and coordination. It can help them build relationships through shared enjoyment. The best thing is that both crawlers and walkers can enjoy these games.
Why do it?
- Chasing provides practice for children’s active movement and coordination skills such as crawling, walking, running, balancing, turning and stopping.
- Chasing games can be enjoyed with crawlers or walkers.
- Children learn about taking turns as they switch between chasing and being chased.
- Chasing games also build relationships through shared enjoyment and fun.
How to do it
- You may need to do some playful modelling to help a child understand the chase-and-catch idea.
- If a child is still crawling, it will be more fun if you crawl in this game, too.
- Use and repeat verbal cues like ‘Come and get me’ or ‘I’m going to get you!’
- Add to the fun by pretending you’re trying really hard to get away — hide around a corner or behind a chair and add in some excited sound effects.
- Let them get away a few times and then make a big deal when you do catch them, with a tickle or a ‘Gotcha now!’ cuddle.
Using more te reo Māori
| Te reo Māori | English |
|---|---|
| Haere mai | Come here |
| Whaiā | Chase |
| Ngōki | Crawl |
| Hīkoi | Walk |
| Oma | Run |
| E huri | Turn |
| Tauhunahuna | Play hide and seek |
| Kia tūpato | Be careful |
| Aru | Follow/chase |
| Whakapōturi | Slow down |
| Kia tere | Be quick |
| Aru mai i ahau | Follow me |
| Kei te haere koe ki hea? | Where are you going? |
| Ka aru ahau i a koe | I'm going to chase you |
| Ka nui tēnā, e te tau | That's enough, my darling |
