The students pair up, standing facing each other while holding hands, and are scattered around to form “nests.” One player is designated as the “tagger” and another as the “runner.” The tagger starts chasing the runner, who can hide in any of the nests. Upon entering a nest, the runner grabs both hands of the player standing opposite them, causing the player behind them to be pushed out of the nest. That player must then run and becomes the new runner. Roles switch when the tagger touches the runner before they manage to enter a nest.

Skill focus

Primary Skill Focus

• Resilience

Complementary/Secondary Skill Focus

• Emotional awareness, regulation, and communication
• Empathy
• Flexibility
• Problem-solving

Age group	Student number	Duration
6 +	minimum 10 and maximum 30 children	5-15 minutes

How to play – brief game rules

Game rules:

• Tagging can be passed back.
• Tagging is only valid outside the nests.
• Hiding in the nest must not be obstructed.
• It is not allowed to return to the same nest twice in a row.
• Occasionally, the partner facing the previous runner, whose hands haven’t been grabbed yet, might mistakenly start running; in that case, this player becomes the new tagger.
• When the number of players is odd, the game can be played with two runners and one tagger.

It can be played in the gym or outdoors, during physical education classes, music lessons, or leisure activities.

In the game, children continuously switch between different roles: sometimes they are runners, sometimes taggers, or players pushed out of the nest who must quickly adapt to their new situation. This dynamic promotes quick adaptability and flexibility to unexpected events, such as suddenly having to take on a new role.

During the game, children:

• Experience rapid changes in situations and learn the importance of responding appropriately.
• Learn to manage disappointments like being tagged or pushed out of the nest.
• Develop the ability to refocus and find motivation to continue playing.
• Enhance their social skills, especially cooperation and accepting rules.
• Understand that failure is not final but an opportunity for growth and a fresh start.

The game supports the development of resilience by helping children cope with changes, manage frustration, and build perseverance in a playful and supportive environment.

As a result of the activity, students:

• Improve their ability to quickly recognize situations and make decisions, as they must constantly adapt to changing roles and circumstances during the game.
• Practice emotional regulation, especially managing disappointment and frustration when they are tagged or pushed out of a nest.
• Enhance their social cooperation skills, since creating and maintaining the nests is a shared responsibility, and following the rules leads to collective success.
• Build self-confidence and a sense of responsibility by taking an active role in the game and learning to accept role changes.
• Develop perseverance and a positive attitude toward setbacks, experiencing that losing in the game is not the end but an opportunity for participation and growth.

The game requires less space than a typical tag game, so it can be played not only on a sports field or in a gym but also in a larger classroom. It is suitable for physical education lessons as well as leisure time. Since pairs constantly change during the game and roles switch quickly, children become accustomed to frequently adapting to new situations.

It is recommended to play the game regularly over several weeks and then set it aside for a while. Later, it can be reintroduced during another period in the school year. Changes in the number of players or available space will affect the game’s dynamics, and rules can be adjusted slightly accordingly.

Once students are familiar with the game, they may develop strategies to keep the tagger away from the runner. They also become capable of cooperating even in changing situations.

None.

Due to the active nature of the game, there is no opportunity to ask questions during play, except for questions aimed at understanding the rules 

• Challenge: Students have difficulty understanding the rules.
  Tip: Provide a visual demonstration showing key movements and possible situations during the game.
• Challenge: Some children only choose their friends, leaving others out of the game.
  Tip: Ask players not to return to the same nest repeatedly.
• Challenge: The tagger and runner only play with each other, switching roles back and forth, while others are excluded from the fun. 
  Tip: Agree on a time limit, for example a countdown from 15, and if no one manages to enter a nest, select a new pair to play as runners.
• Challenge: The runner rushes too aggressively into the nest, creating a risky situation.
  Tip: Temporarily ask the overexcited player to step out and observe the others playing from the sidelines.

Nest-Tag can be played in multiple versions and difficulty levels, which the teacher can adjust based on the group’s composition and prior knowledge by simplifying or complicating the rules.

Beginners (6-7 years old): Simplified version for children aged 6-8. It is recommended to provide a smaller, designated playing area with 8-10 “nests” and to designate one tagger-runner pair. Once the game is understood, the group size can be increased. Simple rules are applied, and possible situations are clearly and visually demonstrated. The game starts and restarts after role changes on a signal, with the runner possibly given a defined advantage. The teacher supports participants with positive reinforcement and asks for feedback at the end of the game.

Advanced learners (8-9 years old): Basic game version for children aged 6–10, with a class-sized group (20–30 players) on a designated playing area. Visual demonstrations can be omitted, and rules are explained verbally. The teacher starts the game, but after role changes, the game continues without stopping, requiring quick reactions from the tagger and runner. In addition to the known rules, new game modes can be tried:

• With an odd number of players, the game is played with 1 tagger and 2 runners.
• The player forced out of the nest does not become a runner but instead becomes a tagger who chases the previous tagger (role exchange).

At the end of the game, it is useful to listen to participants’ feedback and ask them to recall situations that made the game particularly exciting. Emphasize successful solutions and highlight that good play can mean different things to different players.

Experts (9–10 years old): Advanced level with more complex rule variations, for children aged 8–10, class-sized groups (20–30 players), without a restricted playing area.

• Pairs may move slowly to change positions but must not obstruct nest entry.
• Without forming nests, pairs simply hold hands; if the runner grabs the free hand of one pair member, the other must continue running.
• In large, experienced groups, the 2 tagger – 2 runner variant can be tried, requiring greater concentration since there is no visual aid to identify the taggers.
• Difficulty can be further increased by playing in the role-exchange variant

• How did you feel when you were pushed out of the nest or caught? What did you do to get back into the game?
• Was there a situation where you had to make a quick decision or change your strategy? How did you handle it?
• What did you learn about managing disappointment or loss during the game?
• What feelings helped you keep going when you faced a difficult situation?
• How did your attitude toward the game change when you received a new role?
• What helped you accept the rules and changes during the game?