Hot Potato

The children stand closely together in a circle, shoulder to shoulder, with no gaps between them. The leader stands outside the circle. The leader decides on a specific number, for example, 13. The number should not be too high to ensure the children can follow along and maintain concentration.

While the leader counts loudly and clearly, the children quickly pass the ball around the circle from one child to another. The ball should feel 'hot,' so it must be passed on quickly. This adds pace, excitement, and engagement to the game. It's important that all children get a chance to touch the ball as it moves around, so the group shouldn't be too large. If the ball drops, it's simply picked up, and the game continues.

The leader stands with their back to the children and counts slowly and clearly up to the chosen number, for example, 13. Once the leader reaches the number, they suddenly turn around and shout 'Stop the ball!' or 'Hot potato!' The child holding the ball at that moment must then step out of the circle and go to the leader.

The child who is with the leader now gets to decide the new number for the next round of the game. Afterward, the child re-enters the circle, and the game continues in the same manner: the leader counts, the ball is quickly passed around, and it's exciting to see who ends up with the ball when the number is reached.