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Hot potato Back to results

This classic game is perfect for kids parties or some family fun on a rainy day. Youngsters are sure to have lots of giggles as they pass around the ‘hot potato’ and race against the music!

Tags: Social / Cognitive / Fine motor / Gross motor / 4 or more children / 5 or more children / indoor / outdoor / Ages 2-5 / Ages 6-11 / Age 12+ / 10 mins / 20-30 mins / 1 hour+ / With equipment

Top tip!

For added excitement, introduce a rule whereby players are also eliminated if they drop the 'hot potato'!

Equipment needed

A small ball, bean bag, soft toy or a potato!
Music player

About the activity

Get the players to stand or sit in a circle, and choose one person be in charge of the music.

When the music starts, players pass the ‘hot potato’ (a small object such as a potato, ball or bean bag) around the circle as quickly as they can. The game works best if there is a space between the players so that have to toss the ‘hot potato’ to each other.

When the music stops, whoever is holding the ‘hot potato’ is eliminated from the game must sit outside the circle. The game continues in this way until there is only one player left…the winner!

Who can pass the potato quick enough to avoid being burned?!

If you do not want to eliminate children from the game, the player holding the ‘hot potato’ when the music stops can do 10 star jumps instead!

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