Friendly Pixie (Locomotor)

Modification of Simon Says with the educator casting spells as a pixie. When the pixie drops the wand, children must run to the safe zone (castle) to avoid being caught.

Set up

Designate an outdoor play area. Educator is the Friendly Pixie and starts with the ‘wand’ (this can be a scarf, pool noodle, pole. Witch's hat optional). Choose a tree or part of your environment to be the ‘castle’. Each child has their own ball.

How to play

Step 1

The educator holds the wand and is the Friendly Pixie. The children are in the activity area, waiting for a ’spell’ command

Step 2

The educator holds their wand in the air and calls out the following instructions (magic spells), whilst demonstrating:
- Jump around the square – jumping as far as you can
- Jump around the square – jumping as high as you can
- Run around in the direction the pixie calls (forward, backward, left, right)
- Skip around
- Hop on one leg – change legs
- Hop in a circle
- Jump up to the sky
- Run backwards
- Run with high knees
- Run on the spot
- Run at different speeds the pixie commands (super fast, super slow)

Step 3

After calling out a number of instructions (2-3) the Pixie drops the wand and children race to the castle (e.g., tree or climbing frame) carrying their ball as the Pixie chases after them. Children then return to the play area and the Pixie continues with the instructions (magic spells).

Variations

Make it easier

Don’t introduce the ‘castle' at the start, just stick with 'magic spells'
Start with simple instructions that children can achieve, such as “Jump on the spot” or “Run slowly”

Make it harder