Archive for April, 2007

Hunt the Slipper

Monday, April 16th, 2007
Kid’s Party Games

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

Hot Tamales

Friday, April 13th, 2007
Kid’s Party Games

For those with tinkering and robot loving children, NASA has streaming video of the FIRST robotics competition on their website. Found via the Creative Kids at Home Blog.

And DallasNews Family shares a few of the great tips from the Book “365 Unplugged Family Fun Activities” in their post 5 Ways to Avoid the Arsenic Hour.
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Hunt the Ring

Thursday, April 12th, 2007
Kid’s Party Games

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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Green Gravel

Wednesday, April 11th, 2007
Kid’s Party Games

Girls form a circle and dance around one of their number. The girl in the ring turns her head gravely as a messenger advances, while the rest sing to a pleasing air:

Green gravel, green gravel,
The grass grows so green,
The fairest of ladies,
Is fit to be seen.
Dear _______, Dear _______
Your true love is dead;
The king sends you a letter
To turn back your head.

The process is repeated calling each child by name until all of the children have so turned. Turning the head is the sign of sorrow. The game is continued by the following verse in which the lost lovers appear:

Dear _______, Dear _______
Your true love's not slain,
The kind sends you a letter
To turn around again.

And the dancers who have all turned about, are one by one made to face the ring.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Image © icyFrance @ Flickr, ShareAlike

Frog in the Middle

Tuesday, April 10th, 2007
Kid’s Party Games

How’s everyone dealing with the mountains of candy?

Ivy over at Home Ec 101 gives some quick tips on Controlling the Sugar Rush.

And Megan Jeffrey has some fun finger puppets on her site, if you’re into crafting.

One more thing, Does anyone have any good resources for putting on a Shadow Puppet play? I was looking around today and couldn’t find anything.
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Carnival Time!

Monday, April 9th, 2007

Thank you to Lil’ Duck Duck for hosting the Carnival of family life!

There are some great posts up there – Here are a few that caught my eye before work this morning:

Thanks for the posts everyone!

Donkey’s Tail

Monday, April 9th, 2007
Kid’s Party Games

“and the fun begins…” Not only do you learn how to play “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” here, but you get a great description of the most likely places that the tail will end up and the amount of laughter one can expect the game to generate.

Speaking of pinning things onto figures, Jennifer Beck Harris has some fun coloring printouts and dress up figures on her illustrations site – Looks like enough activities to keep someone busy for at least an afternoon.
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Easter Bowling

Friday, April 6th, 2007
Ukrainian Eggs

If you’re looking to do something a bit different this year with your Easter Eggs, you might want to check out some resources for Ukrainian Easter Eggs. You can make some amazing, detailed designs that really stand apart from the normal one or two color dyed eggs.

For those of us that avoid eggs for whatever reason, Peta has a short guide on an egg-free Easter with alternatives for dying and candy.

And the ever so clever folk at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories show how to make your very own Gelatin-free Peeps.
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Drop the Handkerchief

Friday, April 6th, 2007
Children Playing Games

A take on todays “Duck Duck Goose”.

The book also attaches a nursery rhyme to this game that I only remember hearing as part of a jingle selling kids toys on the television. Never thought that it might have really been part of a game at one point.

Also, The Tulane University Ornithological Society is attempting to break the current Guinness World Record for Duck Duck Goose.

The attempt will be made on April 21, 2007 and will be used to raise proceeds for the Audubon Nature Institute.
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Egg Race

Thursday, April 5th, 2007
Easter Children

Although not technically a game – Easter candy is what all children are thinking when they think of Easter. Candy Blog gives you the skinny on tons of different candies and treats.

Crafty Daisies shows how to Hollow out and Easter egg for those that want some colored eggs that last much longer than their hard boiled counter parts.

And lastly Bitter Sweet has some crochet instructions for creating some very cute little Birds of Feather.
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