10 Bean Bag Games to Play with Kids

Let them compete with themselves to see how many they can get in a row or how high they can throw it up and still maintain enough control to catch it again.

It is great for them to set goals and try and break their own personal record. This teaches children perseverance and the value of practice.

2. “Bubble Gum” Rhyme – Kids love rhymes and songs. Pass the bean bag to this rhyme: “Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum in a Dish. How many pieces do you wish?”

Whoever the bean bag lands on gets to say how many pieces and then you keep passing that many times. Start the rhyme over again.

If you have a large group, kids that get “out” can go to the center of the circle until you find the last man standing.

This was my kids’ favorite activity we did with the bean bags.

3. Bean Bag Catch – Give one child a cup or a little pot like the one pictured above. You might want to find something that cannot break.

Let the other child toss the bean bag. They need to work together as a team to try and catch as many as they can.

4. Bean Bag Relays – Have the children balance the bean bag on a body part and race to the finish. Yes, it’s OK that only one of them can win.

These relays can for a while because you can choose different body parts. They can balance on their head, arm, back, back of their hand or shoulder as they race from one spot to the next.

5. Bean Bag Balance – This is a test to see who can balance on a body part the longest (chest, head, arm, food, cheek, back of hand or face). This works on self-control and balance. Last child standing wins.

6. Bean Bag Basketball – This is a toss game where they take turns trying to get the bean bag in the bucket. You can vary the position starting point based on the child’s age to make it fair.

7. Bean Bag Music Freeze – Play music. Let them dance or throw the bean bags while the music is going. When the music stops, they need to freeze. 

This can be a competitive game where kids can sit out if they don’t freeze in time. It can also just be fun to repeat this over and over and not have kids go out.

8. Bean Bag Obstacle Balance – I didn’t get a great picture of this, but you have the kids walking a line made of string. You also put obstacles they need to step over or touch  (taller things along the side like a t-ball base or an upside-down bucket) along the way.

The goal is the get to the end of the string without having the bean bag fall. You could also draw a chalk line they need to follow.