Goyder Square is home to Palmerston’s newest play spaces. These play markings encourage and promote active movement for young children. 

Snakes and Ladders 

Equipment required: 2 dice and a counter for each player 
Number of players: Minimum of 2, maximum of 6 
2 large dice and counters are available for 1 hour hire from the City of Palmerston Library. Players must hold a current library card to hire dice and counters. 

How to play

  • The object of the game is to be the first player to reach by the end by moving across the board from square 1 to square 100.  
  • To decide who goes first, each player should roll one die to see who gets the highest number. This person will take the first turn, followed by the person with the second highest score and so on. 
  • To take your turn, roll two dice at the same time and add together the total number showing on both dice. Move forward that number of spaces from square number 1. 
  • The ladders on the game board allow you to move upwards and get ahead faster.  The snakes on the game board move you back down the board. You only slide down the snake if you land on the square containing the snakes head. 
  • The first person to reach square 100 on the board wins. 

Mirror Moves 

Equipment required: Nil
Number of Players:  2 players 
This activity helps encourages active movement while stimulating your brain. 

How to play

  • Both players must stand in the middle on the circle with each foot on the feet markings.
  • The player correctly facing the words ‘Mirror Moves’ is the leader; meaning the other player must follow their moves.
  • The leader must keep one foot on the foot marking and quickly move the other foot to one of the coloured circles, with the opponent following by placing their foot on the same coloured circle.
  • The trick to remember is that is their coloured circle is on the opposite side. The leader should continue to quickly change colours and sides of feet used. Players should swap positions after several minutes of play. 

Hopscotch 

Equipment required: Counters or markers 
Number of players: Minimum of 1 player, maximum of 4 per hopscotch 
Hopscotch is a traditional game that still brings loads of fun and laughter in school yards everywhere. For younger children simply hopping across the single squares can provide hours of fun.

How to play 

  • Give each player a distinct marker - traditionally a small rock or counter. 
  • Each player takes their turn to throw a marker on the board, starting with the first square.
  • The first player stands behind the starting line to toss his or her marker in square one.
  • The player hops on one foot to each square to the end of the board. The player must hop over the square containing their marker, then turn and hop back, retrieving their marker. 
  • A player loses a turn if their marker bounces out of the square when tossed or step out of the coloured square. The first to get their marker to 10 wins.

Coloured spots and lines 

A series of lines and spots have been placed around the main activities for children to balance or hop over to while moving on to the next activity station.