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I don’t know about you, but I love old-school games. Without devices or overly concerned parents watching their every move kids had to think for themselves and solve their own boredom. And for some reason these games continue to appeal to children of every generation. In short, kids knew how to entertain themselves back in the day.
As a homeschool parent I love teaching these playful games to my kiddos. And when I initially teach them I enjoy putting an educational spin to it. For example, today’s leapfrog game will have your child following the rules of leapfrog while mimicking the various sounds frogs make. Which is quite a few!
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Before learning how to play leapfrog let’s create a lesson all about frogs.
There are many resources to learn all about frogs. Playing for Hours offers a mini-unit study in Ff is for Frog with a complete book list. Activities and printables will guide your child through learning about a frog’s life cycle to the anatomy of a frog. Read more by following the link.
One special activity I love is the frog dissection kit. This is for ages 6+ but with careful observation I’m able to use it for my preschooler and engage my 7 year old in his younger brother’s lesson at the same time. I wrote a post on it that you can check out here, Dissect a frog.
Read books all about frogs.
Firstly, Frog Song by Brenda Z. Guiberson is a must for this lesson. It’s actually what inspired me to turn leapfrog into a learning game for my boys. This book highlights the various sounds heard from frogs all around the world.
Secondly, All About Frogs by Jim Arnosky is another great book. This one explores the life cycle of a frog, a frog’s diet, and being able to recognize their sounds.
Lastly, this wouldn’t be a Playing for Hours post if I didn’t include a whimsical book about a frog. The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher by Beatrix Potter is just right for this spot. A frog wearing galoshes and sailing a lily pad sets off to catch enough minnows that he may invite his friends over to dinner. Needless to say he encounters some mishaps along the way. Your child needs more than facts to attach their imaginations to in stories so be sure to find a whimsical tale of a frog.
How to play leapfrog.
To begin, let’s learn how to play leapfrog. After that I’ll explain how to incorporate the frog sounds. Although it is relatively easy!
Leapfrog rules.
You only need two players for this game but the more the merrier. Firstly, crouch down in a line. Then the player in the back of the line places their hands on the next person’s back and jumps forward over them. Their legs should swing around like a frog’s legs.
This same motion is repeated on each player until they reach the front. It then starts over again with the player in the back.
How to play leapfrog with an educational twist.
Leapfrog can easily be turned into a learning game by including frog sounds. Each time a new person begins making their way to the front they can choose from one of the many sounds a frog makes. Or if your child is very little, you can choose new sounds. Everyone makes the new sound or you can structure it so that as the jumping player and the player being jumped over has to make the sound at the same time. Talk about getting the giggles rolling!
After I finish playing with them it doesn’t matter to me whether or not they continue the educational twist or not. But they usually keep doing it because they think that it’s just naturally a part of the game and who doesn’t like beeping like a frog?
The various sounds a frog makes.
To give you some inspiration, here are various sounds that emanate from a frog’s mouth. Barks, beeps, grunts, trills, clucks, whistles, croaks, chirps, and ribbits.
Lastly, to end the lesson, listen to actual frogs.
We’re not a screen family but sometimes I just can’t do a lesson justice without using our tv. So to end the leapfrog lesson I encourage you to employ the use of YouTube. Here is an excellent video to hear from live frogs the many noises they make, Frog Noises.
When you learn how to play leapfrog with frog sounds the giggles will flow.
Overall, this learning game version of leapfrog will bring out the play and laughter in your home. When watching your children attempt to hop over each other and listening to them trilling, chirping, croaking, and beeping while doing it you can’t help but laugh. And they’ll be giggling with laughter too!
Don’t forget to turn how to play leapfrog into a full lesson with books and activities. Also, hop on over to Ff is for Frog for a mini unit study on frogs for preschoolers. If you’re excited to show your family how to play leapfrog, then leave a comment with how many people you’ll be playing with and the ages. Check out the full and easily accessible instructions below.
How to Play Leapfrog
AT A GLANCE ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS
Materials
- Space
Instructions
- If you’ve never played leapfrog then bring your whole family together and line up. If it is just your child and you, you both will still have so much fun!
- The person in the back goes first. Everyone crouches down and the person in the back places their hands on the next person’s back and jumps forward over them.
- They then do this to the next person in line until they reach the front. It then starts over again.
- Extend the activity by teaching your child all about the various sounds a frog makes. You can look the sounds up ahead of time and then replicate them for your child.
- Each time a new person is making their way leaping over everyone, call out a new sound for everyone to make.
- Various sounds frogs make to get you inspired: Barks, beeps, grunts, trills, clucks, whistles, croaks, and ribbits.
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