Traditional Childhood Games

Simon Says:

- Choose one child to be "Simon"

- Throughout the game, "Simon" directs the other children in doing things in place(such as

"touch your nose" or "spin around"), sometimes using the phrase, "Simon Says"

- When the phrase "Simon Says" is used, the other children must do the directed action

- If a child does the wrong action, or does the right one but "Simon" did NOT say "Simon

Says," then that child is "out" and can sit down for the rest of the game

- The last child standing is the winner and the next "Simon"(if there is more than one child left,

they are all declared winners and can use Rock-Paper-Scissors to find the new "Simon")

**Hint: When directing, "Simon" may use actions and movements to either help or mislead

the other children

BOX BASKETBALL
Things you will need:
the top and bottom of a square gift box (about 4" across and 2 1/2 " deep)
tempera paint
scissors
Glue bottle or glue gun
super ball

1. With your paint, decorate your boxes any way you want. (zig-zags, polka dots, stripes, ect.)

2.After the paint dries, cut a medium size square in the wider part of the box.(the cover or the box)

3 .Glue the part with the hole bottom down to the top of the other part.

How to play:
The first person stands about a foot away from the box. They then throw the ball in the box and try to get it in the hole. If it goes in, they get a point. The person with the most points wins.

Hide and Seek:

This is a classic favorite. When babysitting please have kids know the boundaries. Do not let them to unsupervised areas.

Rules:

One person is IT.
The person that is it counts to 20, 30, (you decide)
The others to and hide.
The person that is IT says: Ready or not here I come! Then tries to find the others
The person who is found, it the next person who is it.

Note to Babysitters: If a very young child wants to play. Assign them a partner for safety reasons. You should always be a supervisor rather than a player.

Mother May I

Rules:

One person is IT
The person who is it stands on one side of the yard or room.
The others stand on the other side of the yard or room
The person who is it says to the first person in line. " Johnny, you may take five (any number) giant steps".
Johnny must say "Mother May I"
The person who is it says " Yes you may or No you may not". If the say yes, Johnny takes 5 giant steps closer to the person who is it.
Then the person who is it goes to the next person....etc.
If a person forgets to say "Mother May I, they must go back to the start.

Other possible directions from the person who is IT.

giant steps
normal steps
tiny steps
tip toe

Have fun!

Name Tag Ball

You need a soft kickball, or beach ball. (do not use a hard ball for this game)

The person who is it throws the ball in the air and calls another player's name.
The person whose name is called runs to catch the ball. When they get the ball they yell STOP!
All players must stop and freeze where they are.
The player who has the ball can take three giant steps towards any player.
The player with the ball tries to hit the person with the ball (below the neck).
It the player with the ball hits the person that person is IT, unless the person catches the ball. If they catch the ball than the person who was it, is it again.
If you hit above the next you lose and are still it.

Note to babysitters: The ball must be soft...At no time should this be a rough game. Most kids love to play this.

Red Rover (you need a group to play this game)

Divide your group into two teams.
Each team stands in a row holding hands on opposite sides of the yard.
The first team says "Red Rover, Red Rover Send (name a child on the other team) Right Over".
That person then must run across the yard and break through the hand chain.
If they break through the chain they can bring one person back to their team.
If they do not break through the hand chain they must stay on that team.
The team that ends up with all but one person wins.

Send your game ideas to sandkems@abcbabysit.com .