Duck, Duck, Goose

playground game · tag chase · circle game · kids play

The Setup. Kids stand in a circle while one person walks around tapping each head, calling out 'duck' each time. When they finally yell 'goose' while tapping someone, the fun really begins.

The Chase. The player who was tapped as the goose jumps up and chases the tapper around the circle trying to tag them. If the tapper makes it back to the goose's empty spot in the circle without getting tagged, the goose becomes the new tapper.

A Very Old Game. Duck, duck, goose has been played for hundreds of years and is one of the most popular games taught to young kids in schools and playgrounds around the world.

The More the Merrier. The game works best with a big group of players in a large circle because more players means more space for the chaser to run and hide.

Many Names. Different countries call this game by different names, like 'Fox and Geese' or 'Duck on the Rock,' but the basic idea of tapping and chasing stays the same.