Statue Game
One of the biggest problems young children have is just standing still. This game seeks to help them focus. You say “Go Crazy!” and let the students run around for a few seconds to get their energy out. Then, give a command and the students have to get to that posture and stay there like a statue. If they move, make them sit down. You can give several commands, and whoever hasn’t moved by the end is the winner. There can be any number of winners. You can also say that if everyone is the winner, then you can move on to another game. Parents will be impressed at how they stand. One time I went into a preschool class and played this, and the teacher remarked that she had never seen the kids so still the entire year.
Color Game (size, attribute, etc)
For this game scatter objects throughout the training area. Yell an attribute, and make all the students run and touch something with that attribute. For instance, say “Everyone find something white.” Or “Go touch something soft.” You could also put objects in that should never be touched, like a plastic knife.
Shark Attack
This is basically a balance obstacle course. Set up a path from one side of the room to the other that students have to traverse. Say that the mats are water and that if they step in it, a shark will get them. This can also be lava, acid, whatever. You can even ask the students what they want the mats to be.
If the basic balancing is too easy, you can roll exercise balls, have pool noodles or other pads move, or have parents/instructors try to knock the kids off the balance course. It’s also good to have some jumps needed in this course as well.
Points Game (Medicine balls, rings, etc)
This next drill works well for children as well as adults. Divide the room in half and scatter objects across it. It is good to use medicine balls with their weight marked on them. Make the students run to the other side and put the objects on the other team’s side. Time the drill for 3 minutes or so. The whole round will basically be spent with people running back and forth and carrying medicine balls. You can make a rule that you can only carry one thing at a time.
To determine the winning team, add up all the points of everything left on their side. Medicine balls should count however many pounds they are, so moving one 10 lb ball is the same as moving two 5 lb balls.
To add in more strategy put certain zones (or rings on the floor) where points are doubled or tripled. With older kids and adults, you might consider allowing grappling or other techniques.
Numbers or Letters Drill
This requires the item from Century, or you could always make your own. It’s pretty self-explanatory.