Games for Everybody Part 4

All the players except one sit in a row. This one sits in front of them and says to each one in turn: "Our cook doesn't like P's; what can you give her instead?"

The first one may answer "sugar" and that will suit her, but the next one might say "Potatoes," and that will not do, and he will have to pay a forfeit because the letter "P" comes in that word.

There is a catch to this as everyone thinks that the vegetable "Peas"

is meant instead of the letter. Even after everybody has discovered the trick it will be difficult to think of words, and if a player fails to answer before 5 is counted, a forfeit must be paid. "My grandma doesn't like tea (T)" is played in the same way.

HOLD FAST, LET GO.

A simple game for small children is the following. Each child takes hold of a small sheet or tablecloth, the leader holding it with his left hand, while he pretends to write with his right hand.

The leader says: "When I say 'Hold fast,' let go; and when I say 'let go,' hold fast." He calls out the commands one at a time and the rest do just the opposite of what he says. Whoever fails must pay a forfeit.

SIMON SAYS.

One child is selected to be Simon. The rest of the children sit around in a circle. Simon stands in the middle and gives all sorts of orders for the children to follow. Every order which begins with "Simon says"

must be obeyed, whether Simon performs it or not, but if Simon should give some order, such as "Thumbs down," whether he puts his thumbs down or not, it must not be obeyed by the others because it was not preceded by "Simon says."

All sorts of orders such as "Thumbs up," "Thumbs down," "Thumbs wiggle-waggle," "Thumbs pull left ear," etc., are given. The faster the orders are given, the more confusing it is. A forfeit must be paid by those who fail to obey the orders.

OLD SOLDIER.

One child, who represents the old soldier, goes around to each child in turn and begs for something, saying that he is poor, hungry, blind, etc., and asks what they will do for him.

In answering the old soldier no one must use the words, "Yes," "No,"

"Black," or "White." As soon as a child is asked, he must answer immediately. If he does not, or says any of the forbidden words, he must pay a forfeit.

HIDE AND SEEK.

One child is chosen out. This one stands by a post or in a corner which is called "base," and hides his eyes. The children decide among themselves how much he shall count while they are hiding. Suppose they choose 100, then he counts 5, 10, 15, 20, etc., until he reaches 100, and then he calls out:

"Ready or not, You shall be caught."

Each child having hidden in some place while he was counting, remains perfectly still while he is hunting for them. If he pa.s.ses by some child without finding him, that one can run to the "base" and say "One, two, three, I'm in free!" As many children as can try to get in "free," but if the one who is out tags any of them before they reach "base," the first one tagged is the next to hide his eyes.

HANG-MAN.

Two children may derive a great deal of amus.e.m.e.nt from this simple pastime. At the top of a piece of paper write all the letters of the alphabet. Underneath, the child who has thought of a word or short sentence puts a dash down for every letter contained in the word thought of.

Suppose the words thought of were "Gamebook," it would be written thus: --------

The other player asks if the word contains "a," and the other puts it in its proper place, crossing the letter off of the alphabet above.

The other guesses different letters at random, every right one being put in its place, while for every wrong one a line is drawn to help construct a gallows for the "hang-man." If there are many wrong guesses, the "hang-man" may be completed and then the word is told the other player. The players take turns in giving out and guessing the words.

The gallows is made thus for every wrong guess:

[Ill.u.s.tration: The gallows and hang-man is drawn progressively, one line at a time.]

BIRD, BEAST, OR FISH.

A simple little game for amusing two children is the following. Write on the top of a slate or paper the words "Bird, beast, and fish."

One child thinks of the name of some animal and puts down the first and last letters of the word, marking dashes for the other letters.

His companion thinks over all the names of animals he knows containing that number of letters, until finally he has guessed what it is or else has given up. If he guesses correctly it is his turn to give either a bird, beast, or fish.

PETER PIPER.

This is an amusing game for children. A blackboard is needed upon which the verse, "Peter Piper," etc., is ill.u.s.trated or written so that the words are mixed up and it will be difficult to point out. Some older person will be needed to superintend the game.

One child is given a pointer and as the others sing, to any familiar tune (Yankee Doodle, for instance):

"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Now if Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where is that peck of pickled peppers, Peter Piper picked?"

she must point out each word or drawing as quickly as it is sung.

If a mistake is made in pointing, the child takes her place with the rest and another child is out. Each one is given a turn.

It is an achievement, if done successfully, and some suitable gift should be given as a prize.

LOOK OUT FOR THE BEAR!

Any number of children can play this game. One is chosen to be the "bear," and he hides in some part of the room or garden, while the rest, with their backs turned, are standing at their goal.

As soon as the children have counted 50 or 100, they all scatter and hunt for the "bear." The child who finds him first calls out, "Look out for the bear," and all the children run to their goal.