Ask Ollie
Ghost, Ghost, Pumpkin Chase
Here's one to try together!
Tiptoe round the circle, tap a head, and shout PUMPKIN! Can you grab the empty spot before you get caught?
Reviewed by our team.
Safety first
- running can cause collisions or falls
- toys or objects on the floor can cause trips
- toddlers should walk rather than run
How to do it
Grown-up prep: Clear a big open patch of floor so nobody can trip. Gather at least 4 players and have everyone take off slippery socks if the floor is smooth.
- Sit on the floor in a big circle, facing the middle.
- Choose one tapper to walk around the outside of the circle.
- Tapper, tap each head gently and whisper, ghost.
- Now tap one head and shout, pumpkin! Ask: Who do you think will be the pumpkin?
- Pumpkin, jump up and chase the tapper around the circle!
- Tapper, dash to the empty spot and sit down before you get tagged! Ask: What is your trick for getting back fast?
- Add a spooky move: a mummy walk, bat wings, or cat tiptoes!
- Keep playing until everyone has had a turn. Which creature will you be next? Ask: What new spooky move can you invent for the next round?
Play it again
- Creature swap: the tapper shouts a new creature name before each chase.
- Slow motion: everyone moves in super slow motion, and the winner is the smoothest mover.
- Backwards bats: chase while walking backwards very carefully, with a grown-up watching.
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