Hobbies And Interests
Duck, Duck, Goose
Duck, Duck, Goose is played in various forms around the world. In Ghana, the game is called Antoakyire, while in the Czech Republic it is known as Pesk. At least four children are needed to play the game. In the most common version, the children sit in a circle facing inward. All of the players then decide together who will be "it." The child who is "it" walks around the outside of the circle, touching each seated child in turn and designating that the seated child is a"duck." But when the child who is "it" touches another child and names them a "goose," the child who is "goose" chases the one who is "it" around the outside of the circle one time. If the "goose" catches the child who is "it" before "it" can reach the "goose's" seat, that child must take another turn as "it" (in some variations, that child has to sit in the "mush pot" at the center of the circle, while the "goose" becomes "it"). But if "it" reaches "goose's" seat and sits down, then the child who was the "goose" becomes 'it.'
The Farmer in the Dell
The Farmer in the Dell is a nursery rhyme/song and also a circle game that originated in Germany. The song is about a farmer who chooses a wife. The wife then chooses a child. The child chooses a nurse, the nurse a cow, the cow a dog, the dog a cat, the cat a rat, and the rat some cheese. Finally, the cheese stands alone. To play the game, select a child to play the farmer by standing in the center of the circle. The rest of the children join hands and walk around the circle singing the song. At each verse, the named child selects another child to act out the story. The farmer will select a child to be the wife. The wife will select a player to be the child and so on until there is only one player outside the circle. This player is the cheese, who stands alone. The cheese becomes the farmer in the next round of the game.
Put the Animal in the Barn
This is a variation on the popular "pin the tail on the donkey" party game. For small children, tape is a safer alternative to pins. Create a poster showing a barnyard scene, complete with a barn and open barn door. Affix the poster to a wall at child height. Next, draw and cut out farm animals from paper. Back each animal with double-sided tape. Blindfold the children one at a time, giving each one an animal to put into the barnyard. Aim them toward the wall so they can then stick their animal to the poster. The child who comes closest to sticking their animal into the barn wins.