The Goal: Categories is a fast-paced, rhythmic game where participants sit/stand in a circle and quickly name items within a chosen category to a clapping beat (e.g., clap-clap “Colors” clap-clap “Red” clap-clap “Blue”). If a player hesitates, repeats an item, or cannot think of a new item, they are eliminated, and the circle gets smaller.

Setup: Players sit in a circle. A leader or the whole group sets a consistent, simple clapping rhythm (e.g., slap legs twice, clap hands twice).

Starting: The leader or first player chooses a category (e.g., “Types of Dogs,” “Ice Cream Flavors,” “Cities”).

Gameplay: Moving clockwise, each player must say a word that fits the category on the beat.
Elimination: If a player takes too long, repeats a word, or says something incorrect, they are out.

Winning: The game continues until only one person is left, or the last person standing chooses the new category for the next round.