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

Ready or not,
You shall be caught.

The children having hidden while he was counting remain perfectly still while he is hunting them. If he passes by some child without finding him, that one may 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 “it” sees a child, runs to the base and touches it first calling: “One, two, three,” and the child’s name he has to be “it.” If the child reaches the “base” first he is “free” and the game proceeds until some one is “caught.” If all the children get “free” the one who is “it” again hides his eyes.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Image © the bbp @ Flickr, Attribution

This is a game for young children. Some small article is hidden in the room, while the little on who has to find it is sent outside. This finished, the players call out together: “Hot Boiled Beans and Bacon; it’s hidden and can be taken!” The little one enters and begins to hunt about for the hidden article. When she comes near to its hiding-place, the company tell her that she is getting “hot”; or if she is not near it she is told that she is “cold.” That she is “very hot” or “very cold,” will denote that she is very near or very far away from the object that is hidden, whilst if she is extremely near, she would be told that she was “burning.” In this way the children can be interested in the game by being allowed to call out whether the little on is “hot” or “cold.”

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Image © Brianfit @ Flickr, Attribution

The players seat themselves in a circle on the floor, having chosen one of their number to remain outside the circle. The children seated on the floor are supposed to be cobblers, and the one outside is the customer who has brought his shoe to be mended. He hands it to one of them, saying:

Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe;
Get it done by half-past two.

The cobblers pass the shoe round to each other as quickly as they can, taking care that the customer does not see which of them has it. When the customer comes to get it he is told that it is not ready. He pretends to get angry and says he will take it as it is. The must then try to find it, and the cobbler who has it must try to pass it on to his neighbor without its being seen by the customer. The person upon whom the shoe is found must become the customer. Whilst the customer takes his place in the circle on the floor.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Image © pope24 @ Flickr, Attribution

In between all the fun family playtime, its nice to at least keep an eye on things like Manners and maybe even Reading. Michelle on her blog scribbit has a whole slew of great posts.

And GNM Parents asks WWCHD? (What Would Claire Huxtable Do?) about dealing with children sibling relationships when you were an only child and have no reference.

Thanks for the posts! Now on to the games…

Hunt the Ring

For this game a long piece of string is required. On this a ring is threaded, and the ends of the string are knotted together. The players then take the string in their hands and form a circle, whilst one of the company, who is called the “hunter,” stands in the center. The string must be passed rapidly round and round, and the players must try to prevent the “hunter” finding out who holds the ring. As soon as he has done this, he takes his place in the circle, whilst the person who held the ring becomes the “hunter.”

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Image © Nagyman @ Flickr, ShareAlike