Keep Your Posture Tag Activity

Keep Your Posture Tag Activity is a lively game that requires concentration and co-ordination.

Benefits of Keep Your Posture Tag Activity

Fun and Playful

Encourages good posture

Slow variation of a tag game

Multiple variations

Common items as props

Required Props

Small Items, such as a pencil or eraser, etc.

How To Play Keep Your Posture Tag Activity

We all need to learn to maintain good posture, well here is a game of tag that might help.

Ask the group to find any kind of inanimate object, something like an eraser or a pen etc. To prevent anybody from arguing about the type of item they have, for instance, complaining their items is too small or too big etc. Make sure to provide similar items to the whole group.

Once everyone has an item, ask them to place it on their head and to try and balance it. Then shout out, “Go” to get the game started. In this game, everyone in the group is ‘It’ and must then try and tag as many players as possible but must also avoid being tagged.

Once a player tags somebody, the person is eliminated, as long as the player keeps their item balanced on their heads. If the item falls off their head, or they touch it in order to stop it from falling off, they are then also eliminated.

Continue the game until there is only one player left, who is then the winner. Finding the game is over too quickly? Allow the group to play a few more rounds, or you can include a variation. 

Contextual Framing Ideas

Do you slouch in front of the computer or find yourself walking with less than perfect postures? Then, has somebody ever told you to walk up straight? It’s going to happen again, this next game is going to do just that, but this time there’s going to be a bit more fun involved.

 In Victorian times, posture played an important role, exhibiting a certain sophisticated air. This was expected in both seated and standing postures, with chin up and back straight. Deportment was even taught in schools, which I’m sure was not as fun as the following game.

Step-by-Step Instructions to play Keep Your Posture Tag Activity

• Give each member of the group an item, such as a pencil, toy or beanbag.
• Instruct the group to balance this item on their heads.
• Invite all members of the group to play tag, each member must tag as many players as they can. Each member must also avoid being tagged by their fellow players.
• When a player tags another member, this person is then eliminated, as long as the item is still balanced on their heads.
• If the person tries to prevent the item from falling, or if the item falls to the ground, they are then also eliminated.
• Continue with the game until there is only one player left.

Facilitators and Leaders Tips

Consider what items you choose to use, as some can be ‘stickier’ and therefore easier to balance on the head. For instance, an erasure will be easier to balance than a pen. Also, consider the co-ordination skills of the group before you decide on including it into your program.

Keep an eye on members of the group, some may decide to place the item underneath thick hair. Make sure the items rest on top of each person’s head.

Debriefing and Reflection Strategies

Here are some questions to ask the group, which will help them to process their experience of the Keep Your Posture Tag Activity.

• What was your plan to keep the item balanced on your head?
• How did you feel walking around with purpose and with such severe posture?

Variations of Keep Your Posture Tag Activity

• Chances: To make the game longer, allow each member to have three chances or lives, before being eliminated.
• Move Backwards: Instead of being eliminated, those who are tagged must walk backwards for as long as the game is played. The person can do this with or without the item balanced on their heads.
• Steal the Item: In order to tag a person, a player must ‘steal’ their opponents’ item off their heads. This variation produces some unusual avoidance maneuvers, which eventually leads to the item falling to the ground.