Unusual Children's Games

Around the World in 80 Days

• Around the World in 80 Days is a board game for children ages 10 and up and can involve two to six players. Players will start out in London and will race around the world, following the same path of those who took the legendary trip by Jules Verne. It is an action game played with dice and cards which represent different modes of travel such as trains, boats and even elephants and hot-air balloons.The player who ends up back in London the fastest is the winner.

The Doughnut Game

• This is an unusual and a bit messy way to combine some fun with breakfast or a morning snack for younger children. All you need are some ring doughnuts, string and a place to hang the doughnuts, such as on a line between two trees or on a clothesline. Simply tie each doughnut with a piece of string and then suspend it at the appropriate height for each child. To play, the children must eat the doughnut as it hangs, with their hands kept firmly behind their back. The first one to finish his doughnut is the winner.

Wipe the Smile Off Your Face

• This game can be played by children of any age although the younger ones tend to giggle more during the game. It is best played with a large group of at least 6 or more players but can also be played just by a family. Everyone must sit in a circle. The youngest player goes first and starts by smiling his biggest, goofiest smile. He must smile at everyone in the circle and try to make someone else laugh. A point is given for every person he can make laugh or giggle. When he is finished, he uses his hand to "wipe" the smile off his face and "hands" the smile to the next person. The next player then must smile and attempt to make other players laugh. This goes on until everyone has had a turn and the player with the most points for making people laugh is the winner.

Chubby Bunny

• All that is needed to play this unusual, funny game is a bag of large marshmallows and a large group of children. All the players sit in a circle and put one marshmallow in their mouth. Then they must say "I am a chubby bunny." The object of the game is to see who can put the most marshmallows in their mouth and still clearly say "I am a chubby bunny." No one is allowed to chew any of the marshmallows. This game is best played with children ages 10 or older and also be sure to explain before the game that no one should swallow any of the marshmallows as this could pose a choking hazard.