Each player must choose a trade and pretend to be working at it. For instance, if he is a tailor he must pretend to sew or iron; if a blacksmith, to hammer, and so on. One is the king, and he too, chooses a trade. Everyone works away as hard as he can until the king suddenly gives up his trade, and takes up that of some one else. Then all must stop, except the one whose business the king has taken, and he must start with the king’s work. The two go on until the king chooses to go back to his own trade, when all begin working again. Any one who fails either to cease working or to begin again at the right time, must pay a forfeit.

A somewhat more elaborate and livelier game of Trades is played by each boy in the party choosing a trade which he is supposed to be carrying on. The leader must invent a story, and standing in the middle, must tell it to the company. He must manage to bring in a number of names of trades or businesses; and whenever a trade is mentioned, the person who represents it must instantly name some article sold in the shop.

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Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

The leader begins by saying the first sentence, which is repeated by each player in turn. The leader in every use adds the new line, which is repeated by the other players in succession. Anyone making a mistake or omission drops out of the contest. As the ranks grow thinner, the players are required to repeat the sentences more rapidly, and no time for hesitation allowed. The one who makes no mistake is entitled to a prize.

The sentences are as follows:

1. One old ox opening oysters.
2. Two tall Turks twirling twisted turbans.
3. Three tinkering tailors totally tired.
4. Four fat Frenchmen fanning a fainting fly.
5. Five funny farmers feeding feathered fowls.
6. Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.
7. Seven shy soldiers shooting salted salmon.
8. Eight eccentric Englishmen exhibiting educated elephant.
9. Nine nimble noblemen nibbling nasturtiums.
10. Ten tipsy tailors toddling timidly together.

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Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

This game can be played by any number of children. They proceed by first choosing one of the party to act as the Sea King, whose duty it is to stand in the centre of a ring, formed by the players seating themselves round him. The circle should be as large as possible. Each of the players having chosen the name of a fish, the King runs round the ring, calling them by the names which they have selected.

Each one, on hearing his name called, rises at once, and follows the King, who, when all his subjects have left their seats, calls out, “The sea is troubled,” and seats himself suddenly. His example is immediately followed by his subjects. The one who fails to obtain a seat has then to take the place of King, and the game is continued.

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Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

If a soldier makes a mistake he has to pay a forfeit, and takes the Sergeant’s place.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Good ‘ol Simon Says:

A classic kid’s game that’s great for Backyard BBQs or just lazy days around the house.

Remembering the game kids used to play – being a simple kid, I could play this game for hours, especially with adults – it always felt good to be the kid and get one over the parents – even if they were letting you trick them.

Of course, anyone can get sick of something if they play it too much – Board Games That Might Not Bore You. I Mean, Are Great for the Whole Fam!

But, lets see how it was played back in 1909 -

Simon Says

Seat yourselves in a circle and choose one of the company to be the leader, or Simon. His duty is to order all sorts of different things to be done, the funnier the better, which must he obeyed only when the order begins with “Simon says.”

As, for instance, “Simon says: ‘Thumbs up!’” which, of course, all obey; then perhaps comes: “Thumbs down!” which should not be obeyed, because the order did not commence with “Simon says.”

Each time this rule is forgotten a forfeit must be paid. “Hands over eyes,” “Stamp the right foot,” “Pull the left ear,” etc., are the kind of orders to be given.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

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The players seat themselves in a circle, one of the number remaining in the center to represent the “Sea.” Each player takes the name of some fish and the Sea walking around the circle calls each person by the name they have adopted. As they are called they must rise and follow the “Sea.”

When all have left their seats the “Sea” begins to run about crying: “The Sea is troubled.” Suddenly she seats herself, when all her companions must try to do the same; hut there will be one seat short, so there will be one player left over and this player becomes the “Sea.” No player must seat himself until the “Sea” has taken a chair, and she can create some fun by running about and pretending she is about to seat herself.

Any player seating himself before the “Sea” must pay a forfeit.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

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Gastro Kid has a whole bunch of great recipes and food ideas for the kids and family. They are even growing Fava beans with their kindergartener’s.

Everyone loves summertime drinks, and children are no exception – Here’s how they let their children join in on the fun with childrens “mixed” drinks.

Thanks for the ideas! Now, one classic children’s game coming right up…

I Sell My Bat, I Sell My Ball

A ring is formed with one child in the middle, who is called the “drummer man.” Whatever this child does the others mimic, moving round as they do so, and singing the following words:

I sell my bat, I sell my ball
I sell my spinning-wheel and all;
And I'll do all that e'er I can
To follow the eyes of the drummer-man.

Anyone who does not at once imitate the “drummer man” must pay a forfeit and take his place as “drummer man.”

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

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For this game the company must decide themselves into parties with four in each group, and one odd player who must issue commands and lead the game. Each party of four must hold a handkerchief corner wise, one player at each corner. The leader of the game then takes up his position in the middle of the room from which he issues his commands in sharp, quick, decisive tones, when he shouts “Let go!” the players must all hold tightly on to the handkerchief. And when, almost with the same breath, he calls “Hold fast!” the must drop it as if it burnt the tips of their finders. The fun of the games lies in the leader issueing his commands so rapidly one on top of the other that the players become bewildered. The players who make a mistake retire from the game, until finally only one of the four is left and he becomes leader.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

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Now that it’s nice and sunny where I live, this will come in handy – a great Instructables guide to finding 4-leaf clovers

And Ginger Pixel “travels back in time,” and gets to see people acting nice to each other and children playing (a classic game called “Kerbs”.)

Thanks for the post’s, now on to this classic game…

He Can Do Little Who Can’t Do This

One of the players takes a stack in his left hand and thumps the floor with it, saying, “He can do little who can’t do this.” Then he hands the stick to another player, who will most probably use his right hand when holding the stick and thumping the ground. If he does he is told he has failed in the simple task, and the stick is handed to another. The game goes on until someone discovers that the secret of the trick is to copy the leader exactly, and therefore the stick must be held in the left hand.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

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One person represents the huntsman, the other players call themselves after some part of the huntsman’s belongings; for instance, one is the cap, another is the horn, others the powder-flask, gun, whip, etc.

A number of chairs are arranged in the middle of the room, and there must be one chair less than the number of players, not counting the huntsman.

The players then seat themselves round the room, whilst the huntsman stands in the center and calls for them one at a time, in this way: “Powder-flask!” At once “Powder-flask” rises and takes hold of the huntsman’s coat.

“Cap,” “Gun,” “Shot,” “Belt,” the huntsman cries; each person who represents these articles must rise and take hold of the player summoned before him, until at length the huntsman has a long line behind him. He then begins to run round the chairs, until he suddenly cries: “Bang,” when the players must sit down. Of course, as there are not sufficient chairs, one player will be left standing and he must pay a forfeit. The huntsman is not changed throughout the game, unless he grows tired, when he may change places with one of the others.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

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