Educational Reading Games
With lots of fun and easy interactive reading learning activities, can play games to help learn essential reading comprehension skills and more.
ABCmouse’s team of nationally recognized education experts designed every reading game to teach a specific reading concept.
Games include voiced instructions making them easier for even the youngest of children to play.
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An Analysis of Traditional Kids Game Popularity Across the U.S.
At ABCmouse, we know that reading games of all kinds are a fantastic way to make learning fun and engaging for young children. But reading isn't the only way kids learn. Traditional games also play a crucial role in their development.
In this study, we explored the most popular traditional kids' games in every state, using Google Trends data from the past 20 years. From classic favorites like Tug of War and Hide-and-Seek to exciting versions of tag, we found some interesting regional trends when it comes to the popularity of playground games from coast to coast.
What Is The Most Popular Kids’ Game In Your State?
For generations, traditional kids' games have been a cornerstone of playtime. They teach children valuable lessons about teamwork, strategy, and the importance of following rules in a way that’s much more fun than they’re likely used to. We took a closer look at the enduring popularity of these games to determine which ones are most popular in every state. Here’s a quick look at our findings:
1. Tug of War
Tug of War, with roots dating back to ancient civilizations and the first Olympic games, is a game of strength and teamwork. It’s the most popular kids game in 10 states and is a favorite in the Midwest, specifically, making it the most popular in our study overall. This could stem from the region's community-focused values, where working together is key.
- States: California, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin.
2. Hide-and-Seek
Potentially originating in Greece in the second century B.C., Hide-and-Seek has been a childhood staple for centuries, encouraging creativity and strategic thinking. It comes in as the second-most popular kids game, standing out in nine states. The game’s popularity in the South could be linked to the warm weather and ample outdoor spaces perfect for hiding and seeking.
- States: Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
3. Four Square
Coming in third in our ranking, being the most popular in six states, is Four Square. A playground classic that has been around since the turn of the 20th century, it combines agility and quick thinking. Its popularity in the Northeast might be attributed to the region's competitive schoolyard culture and because all you need is a hard surface, some chalk, and a bouncy ball.
- States: Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Vermont, and West Virginia.
4. Heads Up, Seven Up
Also most popular in six states is Heads Up, Seven Up, the first primarily indoor game in our study which is a great option for kids who are dealing with inclement weather but still want to have some fun. It’s particularly popular in the West, which makes sense since playing outside in the middle of the summer or winter isn’t always possible for kids across the region.
- States: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and New Mexico.
These classic games aren't just fun—they also open the door to learning. From working as a team while playing Tug of War to developing strategic thinking playing Hide-and-Seek, every game helps kids develop important skills while having a blast.
What Is The Most Popular Version of Tag In Your State?
Similar to many of the traditional games we listed above, Tag has been a beloved childhood activity for centuries, captivating kids with its simple rules and excuse to run around. It also happens to have seemingly endless variations. We wanted to find out more about these tag variants and where they’re most popular, so we also took a look at their popularity across the country. Here’s a look at what we found:
1. Freeze Tag
Of all the tag variants, Freeze Tag comes in as the most popular overall, being the top-searched in a whopping 17 states. In this version, one player is "It" and must tag the other players to freeze them in place. Frozen players can be freed by being tagged by another unfrozen player. The game ends when all players are frozen.
- States: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota , West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
2. Robot Tag
Robot Tag, is the most popular in 15 states and second-most popular overall, adding a futuristic twist to the classic game. For this type, players that get tagged by the two players who are “It” must move like robots, with stiff, jerky motions. The only way they can be changed back to normal is by being tagged by one of two other designated players when the game begins. This challenging version of tag might be so popular due to the added fun of showing off your best robot impression.
- States: California, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.
3. Dragon Tag
This tag variant comes in third, as it is the most popular in six states. In Dragon Tag, players are put into groups of four and will lock arms with the child at the end of the line tucking a bandana in their pocket, acting as the dragon’s tail. Each dragon will spread out and when the game begins, the head of each dragon is trying to pull the bandana from the pocket of the other dragons’ tails. This imaginative version appeals to kids' love of fantasy and adventure.
- States: Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia.
4. Zombie Tag
Zombie Tag brings a spooky element to the classic playground game. The "It" player acts like a zombie, moving slowly (or walking on their knees) with arms outstretched. Instead of tagged players being “out,” in this version they become zombies, making the game progressively harder. This version's popularity likely ties to the widespread interest in zombies and is a great option during the Halloween season.
- States: Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, and New York.
These different tag variants aren't just about having a ton of fun (though they do that, too). They also encourage remaining active, being creative, and building relationships through play.
Every game in our study provides a unique way for kids to learn and grow while having a great time. At ABCmouse, we believe that play is an essential part of learning. Through games like those we analyzed, children develop important motor, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills. A love for these types of games can grow into a life-long love of learning beyond the playground.
Methodology
To determine the most popular kids' game in every state, we compiled a list of well-known traditional kids' games and analyzed their regional search interest using Google search data from 2004 to 2024. Google gives each query a value of 0 to 100 based on how often that term is searched compared to all other searches in the area. We compared the search interest of the games across all 50 states to determine the most popular kids' game and version of tag in each state. We used high search interest as an indicator of popularity in this study.