It is necessary to prepare in advance a rather large, soft bag; an oat sack or potato bag may be used. This should be nearly filled with dry leaves or some substitute, and the end gathered up and tied with a string, so as to leave quite a hilt or handle for a firm grasp. All light is shut out of the place, so that the sense of hearing will be the only guide in the game.

One player, who is It, is seated on the floor in the center of the loft or room, and holds the sack. The object of the game for this player is to tag or touch any of the other players with the sack without leaving his sitting position on the floor. The object of the other players, who are scattered promiscuously, is to approach as near as possible to the center player, taking him unaware, with a taunting cry of “Chickadee-dee!” close to his ear.

The game starts in perfect silence and darkness. A player steals up to the center man, calls “Chickadee-dee!” and darts back again as quickly as possible, the center man whirling his bag around in a circle and hitting out with it in the direction of the voice, trying to hit this player. While he is doing this, another player from some other direction repeats the call of “Chickadee-dee!” close to his ear, and darts back or dodges. Any tactics may be used for dodging, such as dropping to the floor, jumping, or the more usual modes of dodging.

Any player hit with the bag exchanges places with the one in the center.

Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium by Jessie Hubbell Bancroft

One of the players is sent out of the room, and the rest then agree upon some simple task for her to perform, such as moving a chair, touching an ornament, or finding some hidden object. She is then called in and some one begins to play the piano. If the performer plays very loudly the “seeker” knows that she is nowhere near the object she is to search for.

When the music is soft, then she knows she is very near, and when the music ceases altogether, she knows that she has found the object she was intended to look for or has found the task she is to perform.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Image © BohPhoto @ Flickr, Attribution

Summer is all around, and filled with children’s Dreams of Flying.

For those that love free stuff – Karen from Pediascribe is running a contest to give away a $20 Amazon.com gift certificate. To participate simply make a comment on any of her posts. Best of luck!

PediaScribe is the blogging side of Karen and Dr. Mike’s PediaCast – where Dr. Mike talks about general and medical things that affect your children. You can even call in and leave questions for Dr. Mike to answer during the podcast.

Also be sure to checkout the Vlad Studio artwork she has down the left hand side of her blog – There are some really wonderful pictures there.

Now, to the classic kids game!

Hunt the Whistle

The chief participator in this game must be ignorant of the trick about to be played. He is told to kneel down whilst a lady knights him, naming him “Knight of the Whistle.” During the process someone fastens a small whistle to his coat tails by means of a piece of ribbon. He is then bidden to rise up and search for the whistle. The hunt begins; all the players combine to deceive the searcher; the must blow the whistle whenever they can do so without being detected. When the searcher discovers the trick the game is, of course, at an end.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Image © GerryT @ Flickr, Attribution