Children's Chinese Games

Cat Catching Mice

• To get a group of children up and moving, play the traditional Chinese game of "Cat Catching Mice." Play the game in an outdoor area or indoor gymnasium. Choose one child to be the "cat" and one to be the "mouse." The rest of the group forms a circle, with the mouse inside and the cat outside, by holding hands. As the children move around in the circle, they say the following rhyme: "What time is it? Just struck nine. Is the cat at home? He's about to dine." As the rhyme comes to an end, the children stop moving and drop hands. The cat then weaves in and out of the circle to try to catch the mouse. The cat must follow the same path the mouse takes. Once the mouse is caught, choose two more children to play the animal roles and repeat the game.

Knocking the Stick

• If you are celebrating Chinese New Year, play a game of "Knocking the Stick." This is done by drawing two lines in the dirt, roughly 8 feet apart. Find a group of sticks between 10 and 15 inches long. Place one of the sticks on the line. Players stand at the other line and throw sticks in an attempt to drive the stick over the line. This game can be played with a small or a large group.

Chinese Playground Game

• Teach a group of 10 or more children a Chinese playground game. Have everyone stand in a circle. One person starts by throwing the ball to someone across from her. The kids on either side of the person that caught the ball must raise the arm closest to the catcher. They must keep their arms up until the ball is thrown again. If someone fails to catch the ball or raise the proper arm, he's out of the circle. Continue play until only five children remain.