GamesChitterbobThere is also the old rhyme of "Chitterbob," but it is usual ... Other Yes And No Games The same game can be played without such keen rivalry, one pl... Memory Test A tray piled high with all sorts of objects, as diverse as po... Object Relay Race Players stand in files, an equal number in each file. Opposit... Hide And Seek One boy is chosen to be "IT." He blinds his eyes while the ot... A Dinner For Literary Celebrities The Guests 1. A barrel maker.--Cooper. 2. A mixtu... Shoulder And Arm Push Opponents face each other with a line marked upon the ground ... Naming Chestnuts Roast three chestnuts before the fire, one of which is named ... |
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVE GAMESChoosing SidesFor many games the players are divided into two opposing groups or teams. When there is no special leader or captain for each group, some of the above methods of counting-out or choosing are used for assigning play... All Up Relay _10 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._ The players are divided into two or more groups of like numbers which compete against each other. The different groups line up in single file ... Animal Blind Man's Buff _10 to 30 or more players._ _Parlor; gymnasium; playground._ One player is blindfolded and stands in the center of a circle with a wand, stick, or cane in his hand. The other players dance around him in circ... Animal Chase _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ Two pens are marked off in distant corners of the playground. One player, called the chaser, stands at one side of one of these pens. The other players st... Arrow Chase _8 to 16 players._ _Out of doors._ This game is especially adapted to surroundings where a very devious chase may be given, with many opportunities for the runners to go out of sight, double back on their co... Automobile Race _20 to 30 players at once._ _Schoolroom._ This schoolroom game is played with most of the class sitting, being a relay race between alternate rows. The first child in each alternate row, at a signal from the... Barley Break _6 to 18 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ A long, narrow strip of ground is needed for this game, divided into three spaces measuring from ten to fifty feet square. The central one of these three spaces is... Baste The Bear _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; parlor._ One player is chosen to be bear, and sits in the center on a stool. The bear chooses a second player to be his keeper. The keeper stands by the be... Bear In The Pit _10 to 30 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ A bear pit is formed by the players joining hands in a circle with one in the center as the bear. The bear tries to get out by breaking apart the bars (clasped ha... Bend And Stretch Relay _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ This game consists in a sideways passing of two bean bags and two dumb-bells alternately. This amount of apparatus should be placed on the floor in the outer aisle beside ea... Bird Catcher _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom; playground._ Two opposite corners are marked off at one end of the ground or room, the one to serve as a nest for the birds and the other as a cage. A mother bird is chosen, ... Black And White _10 to 100 players._ _Gymnasium; playground; parlor; schoolroom._ One player is chosen as leader, the rest being divided into two equal parties. Each player in one party should tie a handkerchief on the left... Blackboard Relay _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ As here explained, this game is adapted to grammar (sentence construction, and punctuation). It may be made to correlate with almost any school subject, as ex... Black Tom _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ Two parallel lines are drawn on the ground with a space of from thirty to fifty feet between them. All of the players except one stand beyond one of these... Blind Bell _5 to 100 players._ _Parlor; gymnasium; playground._ All the players but one are blindfolded and scatter promiscuously. The one who is not blindfolded carries a bell loosely in one hand, so that it will ring... Blind Man's Buff _10 to 30 or more players._ _Parlor; gymnasium; playground._ One player is chosen to be blindfolded and stands in the center. The other players join hands and circle around him until the blind man claps his ... Body Guard _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ A small space is marked off at one end of the ground as a "home" or goal. One player is chosen to be the Panjandrum, an important personage requiring a bo... Bull In The Ring _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ All but one of the players stand in a circle with hands firmly clasped. The odd player stands in the center and is the bull. The bull tries to break throu... Bunch Of Ivy _20 to 60 or more players._ _Parlor; gymnasium; playground._ The players in pairs form a ring. The inner player of each couple kneels. The outer player of each couple holds the upraised hand of the kneeling ... Bung The Bucket _10 to 30 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This is a game of leapfrog. The players are divided into two parties. Half of them form one continuous "back," on which the other half jump, one at a time, until ... Buying A Lock _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; schoolroom._ Oh, here we all go to buy us a lock; What kind of a lock shall it be? We'll buy a broom handle; if that will not do, With a poker we'... Cat And Mice _5 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ One player is chosen to be cat, and hides behind or under the teacher's desk. After the cat is hidden, the teacher beckons to five or six other players, who creep softly up t... Cat And Rat _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; parlor._ One player is chosen for cat and one for rat. The others all form a circle with clasped hands. The cat stands outside of the circle and the rat in... Catch And Pull Tug Of War _10 to 100 players._ _Gymnasium; playground._ Any number of players may engage in this contest, which is one of the best for a large number, containing as it does both excellent sport and vigorous exercise. ... Catch Of Fish _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This is one of the very strenuous games, and affords opportunity for some very good exercise and sport. A line is drawn across each end of the playgroun... Catch The Cane _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._ The players, who should be numbered consecutively, stand in a circle or semicircle. One player stands in the center of the circle or in front ... Cavalry Drill _10 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This is a game of leapfrog. I. Two players make a back. They stand with backs to the jumpers and place their inside hands on each other's shoulders with arms e... Centipede _9 to 12 players._ _Gymnasium; seashore._ The players sit in a circle on the floor, with their feet stretched out and mingled in a promiscuous pile. One player, who is leader, and stands outside the circle, ... Changing Seats _20 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ This game is played in several different forms. The following are very popular. ... Changing Seat I The teacher gives the command, "Change right!" whereupon each pupil slips from his own seat to the one across the aisle to the right, the pupils in the farthest right-hand row standing in the outside aisle. The ... Changing Seat II In this form of the game the players in the displaced row run around the room and take the vacant row of seats on the opposite side. For instance, the teacher gives an order, "Change left!" whereupon all the pu... Charley Over The Water _10 to 30 or more players._ _Parlor; gymnasium; playground._ One player is chosen to be Charley, and if there be more than twenty players there should be two or more Charlies, to make the action more rapid. ... Chickadee-dee _5 to 10 players._ _Dark room._ This game is a good one for the loft of an old barn on a rainy day. The writer obtained the game from a group of boys, who found it one of their chief sports used in this way.... Chicken Market _5 to 20 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ This is one of the traditional dramatic games. One player is chosen to be market man and another buyer; the rest of the players are chickens; they s... Chickidy Hand _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ One player is chosen to be It, and stands near a post with the fingers of his hands interlocked. The other players, each clasping his own hands in the same... Chinese Chicken _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom; seashore._ This game is played with small blocks of wood or bean bags. Stones, or, at the seashore, bathing slippers, may be used instead. These ... Chinese Wall _10 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The Chinese wall is marked off by two parallel lines straight across the center of the playground, leaving a space between them of about ten feet in width... Circle Race _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The players stand in a circle a considerable distance apart and face around in single file in the same direction. At a signal all start to run, following ... Circle Relay _9 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The players stand in three or more divisions in single file, facing to a common center. In this formation they radiate like the spokes of a wheel. On a ... Circle Seat Relay _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ This game starts with the players all seated, and with an even number in each row. At a signal, the last player in each row runs forward on the right-hand side of his seat, ... Clam Shell Combat _2 to 30 players._ _Out of doors; seashore._ Each of the players is provided with an equal number of clam shells; the players then pair off in twos for the combat. Which of the two shall have the first play ... Club Snatch _10 to 60 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This is one of the best competitive chasing games. A goal is marked off across each end of the playground. Midway between the goals, an Indian club is placed; a... Cock Stride _3 to 15 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This game is usually played with boys' caps, but knotted handkerchiefs or balls of crumpled paper may be used. One player is the cock; he is blindfolded and stands... Crossing The Brook _5 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._ This game is a great favorite with little children. A place representing a brook is marked off by two lines on the ground. For little children ... Cross Tag _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ One player is chosen to be It. He calls out the name of another player, to whom he at once gives chase. A third player at any point in the chase may run be... Do This Do That _10 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom; parlor._ All the players stand facing one of their number who is the leader. The one who is leader assumes any gymnastic position or imitates an... Double Relay Races _10 to 100 players._ _Schoolroom; playground; gymnasium._ First two rows (Nos. 1 to 14) stand in aisle II and give way to rear to starting point. Third row (Nos. 15 to 21) stand in aisle III, march forward a... Drop The Handkerchief _10 to 30 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ All of the players but one stand in a circle. The odd player runs around on the outside of the circle, carrying a handkerchief, which he drops behind one ... Duck On A Rock _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ Each player is provided with a stone, called a "duck," about the size of a baseball. A large rock or post is chosen as the duck rock, and twenty-five fe... Dumb-bell Tag _5 to 30 or more players._ _Gymnasium; playground; schoolroom._ The players stand, scattered promiscuously, one of their number, who is It, being placed in the center at the opening of the game. A dumb-bell ... Every Man In His Own Den _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ Each player selects for himself a den; a post, tree, or other objective point may serve for this, or the corner of a building, or if in a gymnasium, a piec... Exchange (Numbers Change; French Blind Man's Buff) _10 to 30 or more players._ _Parlor; gymnasium; playground._ One player is blindfolded and stands in the center. The other players sit in chairs in a circle around... Farmer Is Coming The _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ One player, chosen to be the farmer, is seated. The remaining players, standing at a distance, select a leader who taps some of them on the shoulder as an... Fence Tag _4 to 30 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors; schoolroom._ This game is a great favorite with boys for outdoor play, but may also be used in the gymnasium, various pieces of apparatus being used in lieu... Fire On The Mountains _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ A number of stools are placed in a circle with considerable space between them, there being two stools less than the number of players. If played out o... Flowers And The Wind The _4 to 30 or more players._ _Indoors, out of doors._ This game is suitable for little children. The players are divided into two equal parties, each party having a home marked off at opposite ends of the play... Follow Chase _10 to 30 or more players._ _Gymnasium; playground._ The players stand in a circle with arms stretched sideways, resting on each other's shoulders, thus making a wide distance between. One player is chosen f... Follow The Leader _5 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; parlor; schoolroom._ One player, who is especially resourceful or skillful, is chosen as a leader. The others all form in single file behind him, and imitate... Forcing The City Gates _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ Two captains are selected, who alternately choose players until all are in two groups. The two sides then line up in two straight lines, facing each other... Fortress _10 to 100 players._ _Out of doors; gymnasium._ This is one of the very strenuous games based on the idea of warfare. The underlying idea is exactly opposite to that of Robbers and Soldiers, b... Fox And Geese (For other games sometimes known by this title, see _Fox Trail_ and, in the division of Quiet Games, _Naughts and Crosses_.) _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ One player is chosen to be ... Fox And Squirrel _20 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ The players sit in their seats facing toward the aisles, so that each two adjacent lines have their feet in the same aisle and face each other. The game consists in passing ... Fox Trail Double Rim (Fox and Geese; Half Bushel) .) _3 to 30 or more players._ _Out of doors; indoors; snow._ This form of Fox Trail, like the Single Rim game, is distinctively a snow game, but may be used anyw... Fox Trail Single Rim (Fox and Geese; Half Bushel) .) _3 to 20 players._ _Out of doors; snow; seashore; gymnasium._ This is one of the few distinctive snow games, but may be played anywhere that a large diagram m... French Tag _4 to 60 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ In this form of tag certain boundaries are agreed upon beyond which players may not run, though they may climb or jump over any obstacles within the bounda... Frog In The Middle _10 to 30 or more players._ _Parlor; gymnasium; playground._ One player is chosen for the frog, and sits in the center on the floor with his feet crossed in tailor fashion. Where there are more than twenty p... Garden Scamp _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom; parlor._ This game is a great favorite with children, and may be made an opportunity for much sport with youths and older players. All but tw... Going To Jerusalem _10 to 60 or more players._ _Parlor; gymnasium; schoolroom._ A row of chairs is placed in the center of the room, so that they face alternately in opposite directions, one chair to one side, the next to the ... Good Morning _10 to 60 or more players._ _Schoolroom; parlor._ This is a very pretty sense-training game cultivating discrimination through the sense of hearing. Little children are very fond of it, and i... Guess Who _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; parlor; schoolroom._ Where there are more than ten players, it is desirable to have them separated into several groups. Each group has a leader, and lines u... Gypsy _5 to 10 players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ This is one of the traditional dramatic games, obviously an abbreviated form of _Mother, Mother, the Pot Boils Over!_ One player is selected for gypsy,... Hang Tag _10 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ One player is It, or chaser, and changes places with any other player whom he can touch (tag). In this form of the game, however, any player may escape being tag... Have You Seen My Sheep? _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; parlor; gymnasium; schoolroom._ The players stand in a circle. One walks around on the outside, and touching one of the circle players on the back, asks, "Have you see... Hide And Seek The following games of hiding and seeking will be found in alphabetical order Hide and Seek I spy! Ring-a-lie-vio Run, Sheep, Run! Sardines Smuggling the Geg Ten Steps ... Hide And Seek 2 _2 to 20 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ This is a simple form of "I spy," played by very little children. One covers his eyes or blinds and the others hide. When securely hidden, they call "Coop!... Hide The Thimble (Magic Music) _5 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom; parlor._ One player is sent from the room; while absent, one of those remaining hides a thimble, a cork, or some small object which has been previously shown ... High Windows _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ All of the players but one join hands in a circle. The odd player in the center runs around on the inside of the circle and hits one of the players with a... Hill Dill _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ Two parallel boundary lines are drawn from thirty to fifty feet apart; or the game is often played between the curbings of a street, which serve as bounda... Hip _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground._ All of the players stand in an informal group. One of them is provided with a stick about the size of a broomstick and about two feet long. He throws this as far as h... Home Tag _4 to 60 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ One player is It, or chaser, and changes places with any one whom he can touch (tag) outside of the safety places called homes. One or more such places are... Hopping Relay Race _10 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._ A starting line is drawn on the ground, behind which the players stand in two or more single files, facing a goal. The goal should be ten or more fee... Hound And Rabbit _10 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._ A considerable number of the players stand in groups of three, with their hands on each other's shoulders, each group making a small circle wh... How Many Miles To Babylon? _10 to 100 players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ The players are divided into two lines and stand facing each other, with a distance of about ten feet between. Each line numbers off in twos, and the players in ... Huckle Buckle Bean Stalk _5 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom; parlor._ This game is a form of Hide the Thimble. A thimble, cork, ring, or other small object may be used for hiding. All of the players leave the room save one, who places... Hunt The _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The ground is marked off with two goals at opposite ends by parallel lines drawn entirely across it. The space between the lines should measure from thirt... Hunt The Fox _20 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The players stand in two parallel lines or files facing to the front, with about five feet distance between the files, and considerable distance between e... Hunt The Slipper _10 to 30 or more players._ _Parlor; seashore; gymnasium._ All of the players but one sit in a circle, with the feet drawn up and knees raised so that a slipper may be passed from hand to hand of each player... Indian Club Race _10 to 100 players._ _Gymnasium; playground._ This game is an adaptation of the Potato Race. See also the related game _All Up Relay_. The players are lined up in two or more single files, the... I Say Stoop! _5 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._ This game is a variation of the old familiar game "Simon says," but calls for much more activity than the latter game. The players stand in a... I Spy (See _Hide and Seek_ for list of other games of this type.) _3 to 30 or more players._ _Out of doors; indoors._ One player is chosen to be the spy, who blinds his eyes at a central goal while the other pla... Jack Be Nimble _10 to 60 players._ _Indoors; out of doors; schoolroom._ This game is suitable for very little children. Some small object about six or eight inches high is placed upright on the floor to represent a candles... Jacob And Rachel _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; parlor._ All of the players but two form a circle with clasped hands. The two odd players are placed in the center, one of them, "Jacob," being blindfolded... Japanese Crab Race _2 to 60 or more players._ _Gymnasium; playground._ If there be but few players for this game, it may be played as a simple race, without the relay feature, as here described. For large numbers the relay ide... Japanese Tag _4 to 60 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ One player is chaser, or It, and tries to touch or tag all of the other players, the one tagged then becoming chaser. In this form of the game, however, wh... Johnny Ride A Pony _10 to 60 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This is a game of leapfrog. The players are divided into two even parties, except for one leader, one party being the ponies and the other the riders, or Johnnies... Jumping Relay Race _10 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._ The players are lined up in several single files behind a starting line which is drawn at from ten to fifty feet from a finishing line which s... Jumping Rope (Skipping) _3 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ Jumping a rope is admirable for both boys and girls, combining much skill with invigorating exercise. It should always be done on the toes, with a "... Jump The Shot (Sling Shot) _10 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ For this game a shot bag, such as is used to weight the ends of the rope that is drawn over jump standards, may be used, and ... Kaleidoscope (Flower Garden) _5 to 30 or more players._ _Schoolroom; parlor; playground._ This is a quiet game, and makes a pleasant and restful change from more active games. It may be correlated with geography, histo... Lady Of The Land _4 to 10 players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ This is one of the old dramatic games in which various parts are enacted by the different players. One player takes the part of a lady and stands alone... Lame Fox And Chickens _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ One player is chosen for the fox, and stands in a den marked off at one end of the playground. The rest are chickens, and have a chicken yard at the oppos... Last Couple Out (Widower; Last Pair Pass) _11 to 31 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ An odd number of players is required for this game. One is chosen for catcher, who stands at one end of the playground with hi... Last Man _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ This is a schoolroom adaptation of the game usually known as "Three Deep," or "Third Man." It is one of the most interesting and popular schoolroom games. ... Leader And Footer _50 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This is a leapfrog game. One player is chosen to be "back," and he chooses a leader, generally the poorest jumper, and a "footer the best jumper. A start... Leapfrog The back Any player who bends over to make a back for others to leap over is called the "back." He must rest his hands on his knees or near them to make a firm back. It is against the rules f... Leapfrog 2 _2 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The first player makes a back, standing either with his back or his side toward the one who is to leap over. The next player runs, leaps over the back, runs a few... Leapfrog Race _10 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The players are lined up in two or more single files, as for the simplest form of leapfrog, but the game is a race between the different files. The first play... Letting Out The Doves _3 to 30 players._ _In doors or out of doors._ This game is particularly suitable for young children. The players stand in groups of three. One in each group, usually the smallest, represents a dove; one a h... Lost Child The _10 to 30 or more players._ _Schoolroom; parlor; playground; gymnasium._ This is a quiet game designed to test the memory, and makes an interesting variation when players are tired of active games. The playe... Master Of The Ring _2 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ A circle is drawn on the ground. The players stand shoulder to shoulder inside the circle, with arms folded either on the chest or behind the back. The pla... Maze Tag (Line Tag; Right Face) _15 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium; house party._ All but two of the players stand in parallel lines or ranks, one behind the other, with ample space between each two player... Menagerie _10 to 60 or more players._ _Indoors._ This game may be one of the funniest possible for a house party. The players sit around the room or in a circle. One player who has ready wit is chosen to be ringmaster... Midnight (Twelve O'clock at Night) _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; classroom._ One player is the fox and the others sheep. The fox may catch the sheep only at midnight. The game starts with the ... Moon And Morning Stars _5 to 20 players._ _Out of doors._ This game is played when the sun is shining. One of the players is the moon, and takes her place in a large area of shadow, such as would be cast by a large tree or a house... Mother May I Go Out To Play? This is one of the old traditional dramatic games and is found in many countries. One player represents a mother, and the rest are her children, and stand in front of her in a line. One or all of them... Mother Mother The Pot Boils Over! _5 to 11 players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ This is a traditional dramatic game. One player represents an old witch, another a mother, another the eldest daughter, another a pot boiling on the hearth,... My Lady's Toilet _10 to 30 or more players._ _Parlor; schoolroom._ This a French form of a game known in America as Spin the Platter. Each of the players is named for some article of My Lady's toilet, such as her gown, neckl... Numbers Change _10 to 30 or more players._ _Parlor; playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._ The players stand in a large circle and are numbered consecutively. One player takes his place in the center. He calls two number... Observation _5 to 60 players._ _Parlor; schoolroom._ This game is a test of visual memory. When played in a parlor, all the players are seated except one, who passes around a tray or a plate, on which are from six to tw... Odd Man's Cap _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ Twelve players make the best-sized group for this game; where there are more players, they should be divided into small groups. All but one of the players... Old Buzzard _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground._ This is one of the old dramatic games, probably better known in America than any other of this type. One player is chosen to represent the "Old Buzzard"; ... Old Man Tag _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ The players are in groups of two rows each, which play together. These two rows face away from each other. Thus the first and second row will turn respectively to the right ... Old Woman From The Wood (For boys, see _Trades_.) _10 to 60 or more players._ _Parlor; playground; schoolroom._ The players are divided into two even parties, which face each other from a short distance. One party advances toward... Oyster Shell _10 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ Two parallel lines are drawn across the center of the playground, with a space of ten feet between them, which is neutral territory. At a considerable distance b... Par _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This is a leapfrog game in which the distance of the back from the jumping line is advanced after each round a "foot and a half," measured in a certain wa... Partner Tag _4 to 100 players._ _Indoors; out of doors; schoolroom._ All of the players but two hook arms in couples. Of the two who are free, one is It or chaser, and the other the runner. The runner may save himself b... Pebble Chase _5 to 30 or more players._ _Gymnasium; playground; out of doors._ One player, who is the leader, holds a small pebble between the palms of his hands, while the others stand grouped around him, each with his ... Pinch-o _5 to 30 or more players._ _Gymnasium; playground._ This is a game of chase, an advancing line (rank) of players turning and fleeing from an odd player in front of them when a signal is given. The players in... Pitch Pebble _4 to 10 players._ _Out of doors; seashore._ This game may be played with pebbles, shells, or nuts, each player having two or four of such articles. The object of the game is to throw these pebbles into a ho... Poison _10 to 30 or more players._ _Gymnasium; playground; seashore._ A circle is marked on the floor or ground considerably smaller than an outer circle formed by the players, clasping hands. Each player tries, ... Poison Snake _10 to 30 or more players._ _Gymnasium; playground._ The players join hands to form a circle. About fifteen Indian clubs or tenpins are placed in the center of the circle, with spaces between them in which a... Pom Pom Pullaway _5 to 30 or more players._ _Out of doors._ This game is often played between the curbings of a city street, but is suitable for any open play space which admits of two lines drawn across it with a space of f... Poor Pussy _5 to 20 players._ _Parlor._ The players sit in a circle, except one who is chosen for Poor Pussy. Pussy kneels in front of any player and miaous. This person must stroke or pat Pussy's head and say, "Poor P... Potato Races Four forms of Potato Race are here given as follows POTATO RACE I. Individual competition; rules of Amateur Athletic Union of the United States. Placing potatoes on marked spots; gathering... Potato Rac I (For individual competitors) _2 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The simpler and usual Potato Race is played in two forms: (I), the players competing as individuals; and (II), ... Potato Rac II (Team competition) _10 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium; seashore._ The first description here given is for an informal game. This is followed by the rules for strict athletic procedure. The ... Potato Shuttle Relay _20 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium; seashore._ This first description is for an informal game. This is followed by rules for an athletic contest. This is a form of potato race suitable for large n... Potato Spoon Race _6 to 60 players._ _Parlor; playground; gymnasium._ This is a form of potato race that may afford much amusement, especially for indoor companies. The players are divided into two or more groups which compet... Prisoner's Base Prisoner's Base is one of the most popular games for both boys and girls who are beginning to care for team organization, and is capital for adults. It gives opportunity for vigorous exercise ... Puss In A Corner _5 to 30 or more players._ _Schoolroom; playground; gymnasium._ All of the players but one are disposed in the corners or at convenient goals that will answer the same purpose. The odd player goes from one t... Puss In The Circle _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ A large circle is marked on the ground or floor. One player, who is Puss, stands in the center of this circle; the other players stand outside of the circ... Railroad Train _10 to 100 players._ _Parlor; schoolroom; out of doors._ Each player is named for some object on a train, such as engine, baggage car, dining car, smokestack, boiler, cylinders, wheels, oil, coal, engineer, ... Red Lion _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ A place is marked out at one side or end of the ground called the den. In this stands one player who is called Red Lion. The other players choose one of th... Ring-a-lievio (Ring-a-lee-ve-o) _10 to 30 or more players._ _Out of doors._ This is a form of Hide and Seek in opposing parties. Players who are caught are prisoners and may be freed as described. The me... Ringmaster _10 to 60 players._ _Playground; gymnasium; parlor._ This may be made a very amusing game for young children. One is chosen for ringmaster and stands in the center. If he can flourish a whip like a true ring... Robbers And Soldiers _10 to 100 players._ _Out of doors._ This game is best played in the country, where there are woods in which the robbers may hide. The players are divided between robbers and soldiers, there bein... Rolling Target _2 to 30 players._ _Gymnasium; playground._ This game consists in shooting or hurling through a rolling hoop a stick or gymnasium wand. The hoop may be from six inches to two feet in diameter. The smaller ho... Round And Round Went The Gallant Ship _4 to 30 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ This is a simple little game for very little children, consisting simply in dancing around in a circle with clasped hands as the following verse is recited... Run Sheep Run! _10 to 30 or more players._ _Out of doors._ This is a form of hide-and-seek, but the hiding and the seeking are done by parties instead of individually, each party acting under the direction o... Saddle The Nag _6 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This is a game of leapfrog. The players are divided into equal parties, with a chief for each. One of the chiefs stands with his back to a wall or fence, a... Sardines _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; house party._ This is a game of hide and seek that reverses some of the usual methods of playing the game. The player chosen to be It, instead of blinding goes out hi... Schoolroom Tag _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ A circle about three feet in diameter is drawn on the floor in the front of the room and serves as a goal. One player is chosen to be It, and stands ten feet from the goal. ... Shadow Tag _4 to 60 players._ _Out of doors._ This is a very pretty form of tag, suitable for little children, and they delight in playing it. It hardly need be said that it requires a sunny day. The ... Shuttle Relay (Double Relay) _20 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This form of relay race is especially adapted to large numbers in limited space. The action is more rapid than in the single rel... Siege _10 to 30 players._ _Out of doors; barn._ This game is suitable for a barn; the greater the number of open doors and windows available in the barn the better. The players are divided into two equal parties... Single Relay Race _10 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This game differs from the track event known as a Relay Race. The form here given is one of the best for engaging in strenuous exercise all of a l... Skin The Goat _6 to 20 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This is a game of leapfrog, differing from Saddle the Nag in the gradual lengthening of the line of backs, though there are similar features... Skyte The Bob _2 to 10 players._ _Playground; seashore._ _Note. The word "skyte" means a sharp, glancing blow, and as here used indicates the way in which the stones are thrown at the "bob." This game i... Slap Catch (Hands Up) _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._ The players stand in a circle, with one in the center. Those in the circle bend their elbows, which should touch the sides, and e... Slap Jack (Herr Slap Jack; Skipaway) _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; parlor._ The players stand in a circle, clasping hands. One player runs around the outside of the circle and tags another as h... Slipper Slap _10 to 30 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ This game is played with a slipper, or a piece of paper folded in several thicknesses to present a surface of about three by eight inches, firm but flexib... Smuggling The Geg _10 or 30 to more players._ _Out of doors._ This is an old Scotch game, evidently an outgrowth of smuggling. The "geg" is a small treasure or object easily handled, such as a pocket knife, key... Snow Dart _2 to 10 players._ _For the snow._ This game is played with a wooden dart about eight inches long, whittled out of wood about the size of a broomstick, pointed abruptly at one end, and sloping gradually to t... Snow Snake _2 to 10 or more players._ _For the snow._ This game is played by skimming or skipping sticks over the hard surface of the snow, as stones are skipped over the water. Each player is provided with from three ... Spanish Fly _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This is a game of leapfrog in which the leader (first over) sets feats for the others to perform, as in Follow the Leader, any player who fails taking the ... Spans _2 to 10 players._ _Out of doors; indoors._ This is a game played by snapping buttons against a wall, their landing point determining a score. Each player has a button. One of the players lays his button on ... Spin The Platter _10 to 30 or more players._ _Parlor; schoolroom._ All the players are numbered and seated in a circle, except one, who stands in the center and twirls a platter, tray, or some other round object. As he... Spooning _10 to 30 players._ _Children's party; adult house party._ All but one of the players stand in a circle. The odd player is blindfolded and placed in the center. He is given two silver tablespoons. The player... Squirrel And Nut _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ All of the pupils but one sit at their desks with heads bowed on the arms as though sleeping, but each with a hand outstretched. The odd player, who is the squirrel, and car... Squirrel In Trees _10 to 100 players._ _Schoolroom; playground; gymnasium._ This game is very like Hound and Rabbit, but is a little less exciting, and under some circumstances better adapted to very young children. Most o... Stage Coach _10 to 60 or more players._ _Parlor; schoolroom; gymnasium._ A leader is chosen who has a faculty for telling a story. This leader gives to each of the players the name of some part of a stage coach or of it... Stake Guard _10 to 30 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This game is one of the forms of Duck on a Rock, and in this form is well adapted to use indoors as well as out of doors. The game differs fr... Stealing Sticks _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The ground is divided into two equal parts, with a small goal marked off at the rear of each part, in which six sticks are placed. Each player who r... Step _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The ground is marked off by two parallel lines from fifty to two hundred feet apart. One player, who is chosen to be counter, stands on one of these lines ... Still Pond No More Moving! (Still water, still water, stop!) _5 to 30 or more players._ _Parlor; gymnasium; playground._ One player is blindfolded; the others scatter promiscuously. The blindfolded player is led to the center of the... Stone _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ A large circle is drawn on the ground or floor in the center of the play space. At either end of the ground a goal is marked off. One player, chosen to be... Stoop Tag ("Squat" Tag) _4 to 60 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ One player is It and chases the others, trying to tag one of them. A player may escape being tagged by suddenly stooping or "squatting"; b... Sun Dial _2 to 10 players._ _Gymnasium; playground; seashore._ A circle from twelve to twenty feet in diameter is drawn on the ground. This is intersected with straight lines, like the spokes of a wheel, which divide... Tag The game of plain, old-fashioned Tag may be made great sport, especially if suddenly and unexpectedly commenced in a group of players when other interests seem to lag. The game has many vari... Tag 2 _4 to 60 players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ Tag in its simplest form may be started by any one of a group of players suddenly turning to another, touching (tagging) him and saying "You're It!" when all must ... Tag The Wall Relay _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ The players should all be seated, an even number in each row of seats. At a signal, the last player in each line runs forward and tags the front wall. As soon as this player... Ten Steps _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; indoors._ This is a game of hide and seek and like all such games is best played where there is plenty of space and many hiding places. The distinctive feature of thi... Thimble Ring _10 to 30 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ All of the players but one stand in a circle, each one clasping with his left hand the right wrist of his left-hand neighbor. This leaves all of the right... Third Man _15 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This game is another form of the game commonly known as Three Deep, but instead of being played in the circular formation, the players are s... Third Slap _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._ The players should be divided into groups of from five to ten each. One in each group is chosen to be It; the others line up in front of him, a... Three Deep _15 to 60 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This game is one of the standard favorites for both children and adults. All of the players but two form in a double ring, facing inward; that is, in two... Tommy Tiddler's Ground _5 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The ground is divided by a line into two equal parts. One of these belongs to Tommy Tiddler, who stands on his side of the line and may not cross it. All o... Tossing Wands _10 to 60 or more players._ _Gymnasium; playground; schoolroom._ This game is played in two forms, line form and circle form. LINE FORM The players stand in two lines or ranks facing each other, all those... Trades _10 to 60 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ This game is the boys' form of the game played by girls as "Old Woman from the Woods." The players divide into two equal parties. One party retires and de... Tree Party _5 to 60 players._ _Out of doors._ In these days of nature study this game is especially appropriate. It may be used on any ground or strip of woodland where there is a variety of trees, the game consisting ... Triple Change _10 to 60 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium; parlor._ The players form a circle, with the exception of three who stand in the center. Those forming the circle and those in the center number off in thr... Tug Of War (See _Catch and Pull Tug of War_ and _Wand Tug of War_; also _Contests for Two_, under "Feats and Forfeits.") ... Under The Cuckoo's Nest _5 to 30 players._ _House party; out of doors._ One player is chosen as leader, and stands up, generally with his back against a wall or post, while a second player, who is the cuckoo, bends down, as for lea... Vaulting Seats _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ This game is played the same as Changing Seats, except that the pupils vault over the seats instead of sitting in them. The game may be played anywhere above the third year.... Wand Race _10 to 30 or more players._ _Gymnasium; playground; schoolroom._ An objective line, fence, or wall is chosen, and from ten to twenty feet from it and parallel with it a starting line is drawn. The players st... Wand Tug Of War _10 to 100 players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This game is played with wooden gymnastic wands, from three to five feet in length, and not less then one inch in diameter. There should be half as many wands as... Water Sprite _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ The players stand in two lines facing each other, with a large open space representing a river between. One player, representing the water sprite, stands ... Weather Cock _10 to 60 players._ _Schoolroom._ This game, besides offering much sport, may be made to serve a useful purpose in familiarizing children with the points of the compass. The class having learned which dire... Wee Bologna Man _2 to 60 or more players._ _Parlor; playground; schoolroom._ "I'm the wee Bologna Man. Always do the best you can, To follow the wee Bologna Man." A leader who can be very brisk in movement ... Whip Tag (Light the Candle; Beetle-goes-Round) _10 to 30 or more players._ _Playground; gymnasium._ This game may be played with a knotted towel, though it is perhaps more skillful and interesting when played with ... Who Goes Round My Stone Wall? _10 to 30 or more players._ _Indoors; out of doors._ There are two ways of playing this game. The one first described is better suited to schools and general playground conditions; the second ... Wink _9 to 25 players._ _House party._ An uneven number of players are required for this game. Enough chairs are placed in a circle to allow one chair to each two players and one for the odd player, that is, half... Wolf _5 to 30 or more players._ _Out of doors._ This is an admirable hide and seek game where there are many hiding places, as in a village or the country. One player is chosen for the wolf, who goes off and hi... Wood Tag _3 to 30 or more players._ _Out of doors; gymnasium._ This is a game of tag. When there are more than thirty players, it is desirable to have two or more who are It, or taggers. The players venture as near a... |
