Fun and Games

I was getting frustrated with my kids one night last week while I was trying to make supper and I thought "I'll get them to play one of the games I played as a kid." So I taught them how to play "Mother, May I?" (they are boys so they played "Father, May I?") They had a blast! You would have thought that I had bought them a new game (around $20 a pop and this one was FREE!). So I thought I would share some of the games that I remember having fun with growing up.

Mother, May I?


There is a goal line and a starting line. The player who is "Mother" or "Father" stands at the goal line. The "Mother" addresses one player at a time to "Take one giant step" or "Take 5 baby steps" or "Skip three steps", etc. That player must remember to say "Mother, May I?" and wait for permission before he can advance. If the player forgets to ask permission first, he must return to the starting line. The Mother then addresses another player on the line and continues until one player finally reaches the goal line. That player then becomes the "Mother."
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/party.games7.htm

Upset the Fruit Basket

Have group sit in a circle. Make sure each seat is clearly marked-- use chairs or mark places with tape. "Number" people off, but instead of saying, "one, two, three, four, five" say "apple, banana, orange, kiwi, peach" or whatever fruit you like. The more people you have, the more groups you may want. The last person is "It" and stands in the center of the circle. "The person in the middle" yells out a fruit name. Everyone with that name must exchange seats with someone else with that name. "The person in the middle" tries to take one of the empty chairs before they are all taken. Whoever is left without a chair is "It". Rather than yelling a fruit name, "The person in the middle" may yell "Upset The Fruit Basket." Everyone must change seats. Who ever is left is ( IT).
http://www.ldssplash.com/familyfun/indoor/indoor_fun.htm

Hide the Thimble

Get a thimble from your sewing kit and choose a room to hide it in. Everyone leaves the room while one person hides it. You can set a time limit for someone to find it. For younger children, you can say "hot" and "cold" to help them out.

Twenty Questions

One person would spy an object while others were out of the room. Then everyone came back in and someone had to guess what it was within 20 questions. Pretty straightforward.

Duck, Duck, Goose

In this game, kids sit down in a circle facing each other. One person is "it" and walks around the circle. As they walk around, they tap people's heads and say whether they are a "duck" or a "goose". Once someone is the "goose" they get up and try to chase "it" around the circle. The goal is to tap that person before they are able sit down in the "goose's" spot. If the goose is not able to do this, they become "it" for the next round and play continues. If they do tap the "it" person, the person tagged has to sit in the center of the circle. Then the goose become it for the next round. The person in the middle can't leave until another person is tagged and they are replaced.
*My husband has mixed it up for fun and done different animals too!*
http://www.gameskidsplay.net/

Red Light, Green Light

How to Play

Step 1
Choose one player to be Red Light. He should stand about 25 yards from the other players, with his back turned to them.

Step 2
The other players should be lined up shoulder to shoulder behind him. Their goal is to try to get close enough to tap Red Light on the shoulder, but they can move only when he says, "Green Light."

Step 3
To begin play, Red Light closes his eyes and yells, "Green Light!" Players then run at top speed toward him until he yells, "Red Light!" and turns around as fast as he can. The instant the other players hear "Red Light!" they must stop running. Anyone Red Light sees still moving when he turns around must return to the starting line.

Step 4
This sequence is repeated until a player gets close enough to tap Red Light on the shoulder when his back is turned. This player wins and becomes the next Red Light.

Most fun with:

• A huge empty field (but a long hallway will do)
• Six or more players (but you can play with as few as three)
• Kids ages 2 and up
http://wondertime.go.com/create-and-play/article/red-light-green-light.html

Pruey

This is actually one that I learned in college at a sorority activity or something. Anyway, it's fun with a huge group and I would recommend 10 and up.

Everyone in the group closes their eyes while the moderator of the game quietly picks one person to be the "Pruey." The "Pruey" opens their eyes and the moderator calls for the game to begin. Everyone else still has their eyes closed and has to roam around the room calling for the "Pruey." Once a person has found the "Pruey," they can then open their eyes and stand with the "Pruey." It is amusing to watch people blindly walking around trying to find the "Pruey." Play til everyone has found the "Pruey" or the group attached to the "Pruey."

And if you still want more ideas or links for ideas for fun with your family, here is a site that a friend recommended.
http://frugalfamilyfun.blogspot.com/

Have fun!