Rainbow Tag

Overview

Add a little color to your ordinary game of tag! This is a great game to play with younger children to help them remember and identify colors. A leprechaun stands in the middle of the playing area calling out the colors of the rainbow, one by one. Any player wearing those colors must run like the wind and try to avoid being captured by the frisky little fairy!

Age

Preschool, School-age

Number of Players

5 to 10, 10 to 20, 20+

Team Division

Every man for himself (individual players)

Competitiveness

Either/or (can be played either way)

Difficulty

Easy peasy (fun and simple)

Indoor or Outdoor

Either

Space Needed

Large (gym, outdoor field, reception hall), Extra large (football field, warehouse)

Noise Level

Semi-rambunctious

Mess Factor

Dustpan, please

Prep Time

5 minutes or less

Game Time Length

5 - 15 minutes

Supplies

2 to 4 cones, boxes, flags, sweatshirts (something to mark two sides of the playing field)

Setup

1. Designate your two ends of the rainbow with cones, like the end zones of a football field, with a playing field in between. The larger the playing field the better.
2. Choose one player to be the “leprechaun". Have the leprechaun stand in the middle of the playing field.
3. Have all the other players line up shoulder to shoulder in one end zone, facing the leprechaun.

How to Play

The object of the game is to try and run past the leprechaun without being tagged. If you are tagged, you are out of the game and must go stand on the sidelines.

1. The leprechaun yells out a color, like “Red!”
2. The players all look at their clothes; anyone who is wearing red must then race across the playing field, past the leprechaun, and over to the other end zone. The leprechaun may chase anyone crossing the playing area.
3. Should any player be tagged, they are out and must go stand on the sidelines.
4. Play continues with the leprechaun returning each time to the center to call out a new color.
5. Players must switch sides any time a color they are wearing is called. After the first round you may have players crossing from both sides in opposite directions (make sure everyone who is running pays attention so as to avoid collisions while crossing).

Variations

1. Instead of having players out when they are tagged, have them join the leprechaun in the center, and try to catch other players.

Tips

1. Make sure the leprechaun is loud enough. An adult may have to help repeat the color for those with small voices.
2. Safety first! Make sure that kids don’t run into each other once they start crossing back and forth in two directions.
3. Keep it moving. As soon as the players safely reach their sides, have the leprechaun call out another color.
4. Make sure the leprechaun always returns to center before calling out a new color.