German Children's Games

Schnitzeljagd

• Schnitzelijagd can be translated as "paper chase." In this game, children are divided into two groups with one group the hunters and the other group the hunted. The hunted children, who must reach a designated location before being caught, are given a minute or two head start. They are supposed to leave a trail of bits of paper, branches or rocks. One trail must indicate the children's actual path, but extra markers can be left to confuse the hunters. An "X" should be placed at the end of any false trails.

Sardines

• Sardines is a German game of tag. One child is "it" and has to hide from the others. Whoever finds the hidden child also hides. Eventually, all the children will be hidden except for one, who then is "it" in the next round.

Topfschlagen

• Topfschlagen, or Hit the Pot, is a German game for small children. One child is chosen and is supposed to keep his eyes closed while another child hides a pot with a prize underneath it somewhere in the room. The child with the closed eyes is then given a cooking spoon to beat on the floor until he finds the pot and gets the prize. Then another child takes a turn finding the pot with a new prize underneath.