Have fun together with people games.

As their name suggests, you don’t need special equipment to play people games – just you and the time and a space to enjoy being together with your child.

Ideas for people games

There are lots of well-known people games and families often make up their own games.

Here are some ideas:

• Traditional Māori games such as tī rākau (stick game), mahi whai (string game), poi, and haka.
• Peekaboo, using a soft blanket or hands.
• Finger-play games like This little piggy, Round and round the garden, and Where is Thumbkin?
• Games like Simon says, Hide and seek, and I spy.
• Chase, tag, or running around a circuit.
• Make up a story by taking turns to add the next sentence.

When children are included in people games they can learn to:

• take a turn
• wait for you to take a turn
• focus their attention and copy you
• make choices
• ask to start a game, or for it to continue
• practice using new body actions, sounds, and words to communicate.

Te reo Māori words and phrases for people games

Kei whea koe? Where are you?

Kei konei ahau Here I am

E oma Run

E peke Jump

Titiro Look