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Games for Kids: How to Play Captain’s Orders

Captain’s Orders is a great group game for kids as it get’s children moving and thinking…fast!

How to Play Captain's Orders

The faster the game commands are called, the faster (and funnier!) the actions become!

The game can be easily adapted by reducing or increasing the number and complexity of the commands, which makes a great game to play with children of all ages (and even adults) – in fact, I remember playing it at youth group many, many years ago!

Number of players: 5+

Recommended Age: 4+ years (it is easy to adapt this game according to the age and abilities of the players)

Equipment needed: None

To play:

1. Select one player to be the captain. The captain stands at the front of the designated play space. Alternatively, with younger children an adult should play the role of captain.
2. All other players line up single file, facing the captain.
3. Introduce the various commands and actions to be used in the game.
4. When ready for play to commence, the captain calls out a command. The players do the action associated with the command.
5. Play continues with the captain calling and the ‘crew’ responding. The faster the actions are called and performed, the trickier (and funnier) the game becomes.

Basic commands:

  • To the island: run to the left boundary (can also be a command of ‘port’)
  • Scrub the deck: crouch down and make a scrubbing motion with hands
  • Hit the deck: lay on your stomach
  • Clear the deck: everyone must have their feet off the floor
  • Up periscope!: lie on back with one leg raised straight in the air. Twist the raised foot as if a scanning periscope
  • Captain’s coming: stand to attention and salute
  • Climb the rigging: pretend to climb a rope

Partner commands:

  • Abandon ship!: players must pair up, sit face to face and pretend to row a lifeboat
  • Love boat: players pair up and dance together
  • Crow’s nest: players pair up and the lightest player rides on their partner’s back (piggy back)

Tips and hints for playing Captain’s Orders:

  • Keep the game fun and flexible to keep the kids moving, especially for young children.
  • If you wish to add a competitive element to the game, players that perform the wrong action are out and the last player standing becomes the new captain. Be mindful that this version will mean that the eliminated players will not be actively involved in the game, which I personally think is a shame. Alternatively, those players who are eliminated could just stand out for a count of ten star jumps before re-joining the game.

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Check out the other games in the Games for Kids series;

Games for Kids: How to Play Scarecrow Tag Games for Kids: How to Play Duck Duck Goose
Games for Kids: How to Play Red Light Green Light Games for Kids: How to Play Tails

Games for Kids: How to Play Please, Mr Crocodile Games for Kids: How to Play What's The Time Mr Wolf?

45 Fabulous Birthday Party Games for Kids

Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.

Filed Under: Bigger Kids Play, Featured, Group Games for Kids, Outdoor Fun, Physical, Toys, Games & Supplies

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Read the comments or scroll down to add your own:

  1. Smaggle says

    June 17, 2014 at 9:19 AM

    I used to play this as a warm up for my year 12 drama kids. They took it SO SERIOUSLY. I mean this game could end punches.
    • Christie Burnett says

      July 2, 2014 at 10:36 AM

      It really is a game for all ages ;)
  2. Margaret Elvis says

    June 17, 2014 at 9:28 AM

    Can be loads of fun. I am sure when I played it years ago (and perhaps my children after me) it was called "Simon Says". Same principle though although I don't think we stood in line but rather spread out. Not that it matters really.
  3. Sarah Richard-Preston says

    June 17, 2014 at 7:30 PM

    Thank you for this post! As a relief teacher I am always looking for fun, new games to fill in spare time and this is one I haven't heard of. Can't wait to give it a go!
    • Christie Burnett says

      July 2, 2014 at 10:22 AM

      Hope you have fun with it, Sarah :)
  4. Kim says

    May 30, 2016 at 12:52 AM

    "Man over board" partners -one on hands and knees and the other with one foot on their back with their hand over eye looking "Four men eating" - four people in a group sitting on the floor pretending to eat "Beached whale" - flop on the floor and make whale sounds
    • Christie Burnett says

      June 3, 2016 at 8:29 PM

      Love these, Kim! Thank you :)
  5. David says

    August 26, 2016 at 5:58 PM

    This is a fantastic game for kids from 6 - 16. You can run them ragged and they will have a ball (as lomng as you are serious about it and have lots of fun commands at the ready)...there is no limit to the commands you can use. "Cook's Coming!" and the kids make a vomiting sound. "Starboard!" and make them run to the right then left with "port"...
  6. Nicole Fleming says

    August 5, 2017 at 2:03 AM

    In Girl Scouts we call it Ship to Shore, because (when you're not doing silly commands!) you're either running one way (ship) or the other (shore). It's great because it can be an endless time-filler or played competitively, depending on the needs of the group. I've seen all kinds of crazy individual commands, but useful numbered commands are: Man overboard: One person on hands and knees, partner has one foot resting on their back, searching. Crows' nest: three people back to back linking arms Captain's table: four people face inward and pretend to eat

Trackbacks

  1. Simple Summer Fun and Games says:
    June 1, 2017 at 6:56 PM
    […] Captain’s orders […]
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