Zombies are scary and gross.
That’s exactly why zombie games for kids are popular, says Taylor Rios, entertainment blogger at TV by Tay who’s a fan of “The Walking Dead.” “I think kids have become interested in zombies because their parents are. They see mom and dad, older siblings or the babysitter excited about something and they want to be part of it,” she says. “I also think the special effects and makeup used to create realistic-looking zombies are pretty neat and the scarier and more disgusting they look, the more kids seem to love them.”
Author of the “Zombified” series, Char Robinson, adds, “I think kids are interested in zombies because they’re currently so pervasive in our culture. What the adults are watching and playing is what the kids are also interested in. There are even whole series of zombie books for kids on the market. Parents shouldn’t be alarmed if their kids want to play zombie games.”
Rios agrees, adding that her kindergartner woke up asking to watch “Resident Evil” recently. She says the scare of zombie movies, books and games is a fun way for kids to connect with their parents.
So hunker down and enjoy some undead fun with your family with these five zombie games for kids:
- Human, Human, Zombie
Instead of Duck, Duck, Goose, players are either humans or zombies. The children sit on the ground spread out in a large circle. One child is selected to be the first zombie. They walk around the outside of the circle and lightly tap each player on the head labeling them either “human” or “zombie.” The first player to be labeled zombie is now infected. The newly infected player gets up and chases the one who zombified him around the circle. The first one back to the open space in the circle is cured. The other player repeats the process. The game ends when everyone has had a turn to be a zombie.
- Feed the Zombie
Players try to feed the zombie with brains, but only the right brain will do. Blow up different colored balloons and place them in a bin. These are the “brains.” Choose a player to be the first zombie who will secretly pick a color. Determine a starting line and have the zombie stand at a designated finish line. When the zombie calls out, “Brains! I want brains!” each player must chose a “brain” (balloon) and run with it to the finish line. The zombie will only accept “brains” in the designated color. The last person to the finish line with an unacceptable color is the next zombie.
- Don’t Feed the Zombie
Instead of feeding the undead, the goal of this game is to keep the brains away. It’s a play on Monkey in the Middle. Choose someone to be the zombie. Have the other players circle around. Give them a “brain” (foam ball) to throw back and forth. The goal is to keep the brain away from the zombie. If the zombie catches the brain, the zombie can choose someone else to infect and that child goes into the middle. The game ends when everyone has been infected.
- Zombie Freeze
Players jump and dance around while music plays. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is a great choice. When the music stops, the dancers stop and assume a zombified state — frozen with arms outstretched in front of them. Anyone still moving takes a seat on the sidelines. Last zombie standing is the winner.
- Brain Toss
Instead of Ring Toss, place the ring on the ground and give children “brains” (beanbags) to toss inside the ring. Give each child three “brains.” The child with the most brains inside the ring is the winner. Place the ring farther away for older kids.
“Zombies are scary, and scary is fun,” says Rios. If you’re afraid your kids will be afraid, don’t worry. Rios doesn’t think modern kids scare as easily as their parents did when they were young because today’s kids are exposed to so much more media. But use your best judgment. If kids seem to be getting scared, switch over to different non-zombie game.
Want more game ideas? Try these 5 Superhero Games for Kids.
Rachael Moshman has her master’s degree in education. As a mom and early childhood expert with more than two decades in the field, she’s seen kids play all sorts of creative, pretend games that often seem strange to adults. But she doesn’t think zombie games are anything to be alarmed about.
