Follow My Leader Game Instructions | Outdoor Games for Kids

Players: Any number
Location: Outdoors
Age Group: School-age children

Follow My Leader is a simple and active game in which one player leads the group through a series of movements and challenges that everyone else must copy.

How to Play Follow My Leader Game

One player is chosen as the Leader, while all the others become Followers. The Followers line up behind the Leader and must imitate everything the Leader does.

The Leader sets off and creates a route that may include:

• Walking along paths
• Climbing over safe obstacles
• Jumping over lines or small objects
• Crawling under barriers
• Balancing along a curb or log
• Taking unusual routes around the play area

The challenge is for every Follower to repeat each action exactly as the Leader performs it.

Penalties

If a player cannot complete a challenge, misses a movement, or falls behind, they move to the end of the line. Traditionally, the last player in line received a teasing title, but in modern play it is better to simply place them at the back of the queue without any negative labels.

Becoming the New Leader

You can play in several ways:

• Keep the same Leader until everyone is tired.
• Rotate Leaders after a set time.
• Allow the player at the front of the line to become the next Leader after each round.

Modern Variations

The Leader can introduce fun actions such as:

• Hopping on one foot
• Spinning in a circle
• Walking backward
• Pretending to be different animals
• Creating an obstacle course
• Performing simple dance moves

Safety Tips

The original game often involved crossing hedges, ditches, and other challenging terrain. For modern play, choose safe obstacles and age-appropriate challenges that can be completed without risk of injury.

Why It’s Fun

Follow My Leader encourages creativity, coordination, balance, and observation. Since the Leader can invent new challenges at any moment, the game stays unpredictable and keeps everyone engaged as they try to keep up with the person in front.

Follow My Leader Game Printable