Buzz

July 16th, 2008
Kids Playing Buzz

This is a very old game, but is always a very great favorite. The more the players, the greater the fun.

The way to play it is as follows. The player: sit in a circle and begin to count in turn, but when the number 7 or any number in which the figure 7 or any multiple of 7 is reached, they say “Buzz,” instead of whatever the number may be. As, for instance, supposing the players have counted up to 12, the next player will say “13,” the next “Buzz,” because 14 is a multiple of 7 (twice 7) – the next player would then say “15,” the next “16” and the next would of course say “Buzz” because the figure 7 occurs in the number 17. If one of the players forgets to say “Buzz” at the proper time, he is out. The game then starts over again with the remaining players, and so it continues until there is but one person remaining. If great care is taken the numbers can be counted up to 70, which, according to the rules before mentioned, would of course be called Buzz. The numbers would then be carried on as Buzz 1, Buzz 2, etc., up to 79, but it is very seldom that this stage is reached.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Birds, Fruits, and Flowers

July 9th, 2008
Kids Chasing Birds

In this game every one in the company has to describe in a riddle, First a bird, then a fruit, and finally a flower. The others must guess. Whoever guesses the most is the winner of the game.

Here are examples of the riddles:

BIRD: Although a bird I mm part of a plant.
Answer: STORK. (Stalk).

FRUIT: Although a single specimen, I am really two.
Answer: PEAR.

FLOWERS: Although usually white, I am always described as rose colored in hue.
Answer: PINK.

Image © Martini Captures @ Flickr, Attribution

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

The Cook Who Doesn’t Like Peas

July 2nd, 2008
Kids Cooking

One of the players commences the game by saying to his neighbor, “I have a cook who doesn’t like peas (p’s); what will you give her for dinner?”

The person addressed must avoid the letter P in his answer. For instance, he may answer, “Artichokes,” “Onions,” “Cabbage,” and “Carrots,” but he must not say “Spinach,” “Asparagus,” “Potatoes.” The question is then asked of the second player, and so on until all have replied. If a player mentions a word containing the letter P he has to pay a forfeit.

Image © tempophage @ Flickr, Attribution

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Partners

June 25th, 2008
Kids Playing Partners

The players divide themselves into ladies and gentlemen, if the ladies predominate they must impersonate gentlemen, and vice versa. The gentlemen then proceed to choose lady partners. One of the players next undertakes to question the couples. The fun consists of the questions being put to the lady and the gentleman answering for her. “Do you like your partner?” the lady is asked, and the gentleman may reply, “Yes, I adore him.” Whatever the reply the lady is forbidden to deny it; if she does, or if she answers for herself, she must pay a forfeit.

But retaliation comes, for when all the ladies have been questioned the gentleman’s turn arrives, and the ladies answer for their partners. “What is your favorite occupation?” the question may be, and the lady may answer “Dressing dulls,” or “Making mudpies,” or anything ridiculous that occurs to her.

Image © Tom@HK @ Flickr, Attribution

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

A Luncheon in White and Yellow

March 1st, 2008
Kids Yellow

Use a large plateau or mirror for the centerpiece, in the center of which lay an irregular piece of real (or artificial) moss about and-half the diameter of the plateau (to represent an island.) Stick a few sprays of asparagus and maidenhair fern in it and a number of white and yellow spring flowers-the crocus, jonquil, daffodil, daisy and snowdrop. Cut the stem: of the Bowers in various lengths to give a better effect. Place a few (artificial) little fluffy chickens on the island and several downy ducklings in the surrounding lake (mirror.) Or use a vase of jonquils and daffodils for a center piece.
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Consequences

October 19th, 2007
Kid’s Schooling

One of the most popular games at a party is certainly “Consequences”; it is a very old favorite, but has lost none of its charms with age. The players sit in a circle; each person is provided with a half sheet of notepaper and a pencil, and is asked to write on the top –

(1) one or more adjective, then to fold the paper over, so that what has been written cannot be seen. Every player has to pass his or her paper on to the right hand neighbor, and all have then to write on the top of the paper which has been passed by the left-hand neighbor
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Cross Questions and Crooked Answers

October 18th, 2007
Children Whispering

To play this game it is best to sit in a circle, and until the end of the game no one must speak above a whisper.

The first player whispers a question to his neighbor, such as: “Do you like roses?”

This question now belongs to the second player, and he must remember it.

The second player answers: “Yes, they smell so sweetly,” and this answer belongs to the first player.

The second player now asks his neighbor a question, taking care to remember the answer, as it will belong to him. Perhaps he has asked his neighbor, “Are you fond of potatoes?” And the answer may have been, “Yes, when they are fried!”

So that the second player has now a question and an answer belonging to him, which he must remember.
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The Curate

October 17th, 2007
Kid’s Acting

A player is chosen to represent “The Curate.”

The other players are assigned such names as printer, plumber. jeweler, butcher, druggist, shoemaker, etc. “The Curate” starts the game by saying.

“Mr. Butcher (or any other name) I called to see you this morning but you were not at home.”

The Butcher: “I had just gone over to the jeweler’s.”

Curate: “And what business had you at the jeweler’s?”

(The jeweler is the next to speak but he must not do so until the question is answered.)
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Definitions

October 16th, 2007
Children’s Definitions

A subject is given to the company by the “teacher” and those joining in the game are each to define the subject in as terse a manner as possible, in epigram or verse, written on a slip of paper.

The cards are then signed, turned in and the “teacher” reads the definitions.

Then the company are to decide which one of the definitions has the greatest merit. For instance, the word “Friendship” is given and the answers might run like these:
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Kid’s Games Link roundup

October 15th, 2007

Some really fun kid links (via Boing Boing) for the month of October –

DIY Kid’s Drinking Straws

Do-It-Yourself Crazy Drinking straws – Build any number of weird arrangements of straws to drink from multiple glasses at a time.

I bet this would be great fun at a Halloween party to create some scary concoctions.

Kids Crochet Octopus

An excellent interview with Jessica Polka and her Wunderkammer (Wonder Chamber.)

Jessica has created some amazing crochet “specimens” that remind me of a mix between The Life Aquatic and carnival side shows.

You can even purchase the patterns for some of her designs if you’re the crafty type yourself.

Kid’s Halloween Cupcakes

Wendy from Wisdom of the Moon has whipped up some utterly delicious Halloween cupcakes

I absolutely love Halloween, and these cupcakes would be sure to steal the show with any kid’s who see them.

Children’s Paper Craft Models

And finally, Matt has created his first papercraft model named Grumm.

Not only has he created it, but he’s made a nifty little PDF file that you can download, printout, and put together to recreate his model yourself!