Classic Kid’s Games and Party Games

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

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…
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