Hobbies And Interests
It's Dinner Time
One player gets to be the wolf. He stands with his back to the other kids, who line up about 15 feet away. When the game starts, they shout "What time is it, Mr. Wolf?". The wolf answers with a time, for example "It's 4 o'clock." The other kids take the number of steps forward that equal the time, in this case 4. When all the kids have advanced, they shout again "What time is it, Mr. Wolf?" and the wolf answers with a new time. When he thinks they have advanced far enough, the wolf yells "It's DINNER TIME," and turns to chase the group, who scramble back to the starting line. If the wolf tags a child, that child becomes the wolf and the original wolf joins the group for the next round.
Simon Says
One person volunteers or is chosen to be "Simon." The others stand in a line and await Simon's commands. To begin the game, Simon calls out an action for the other children to perform. Actions are usually physical activities, like "do five jumping jacks" or "pat your head and rub your tummy." Each command that the group follows should be prefaced by "Simon says," as in "Simon says twirl around 3 times." Simon tries to trick people by throwing in commands without the "Simon says." Any kid who follows an instruction without "Simon says" is out of the game and must take a seat. The round lasts until there is only one child left standing, then he or she becomes Simon for the next round.
Lawn Bowling
Gather ten items of any description that are taller than they are wide, like empty oatmeal containers, milk jugs or individually wrapped paper towel rolls and make a bowling-pin style triangle. Let the kids "bowl" with a softball or a volleyball.
Water Hazard
Designate a starting point and a finish line with several sprinklers set up between them and random obstacles to jump over or go around. With kids manning the faucet to turn the sprinklers randomly on and off, have the players try to complete the course without getting wet. The player with the best time who is the least soaked is the winner.
Freeze Tag
Designate a home area and appoint a kid to be "it." When the game starts, the kids scatter in all directions to hide while whoever is "it" covers his eyes and counts to 20. At 20, he starts looking for the other players. While he's trying to flush players out of their hiding spots, other players try to sneak back home without being tagged. Kids who are tagged must freeze in position until freed by another player willing to risk his safety to tag his teammate. The last player left unfrozen is "it" for the next round.
All In Good Fun
Some of the best games are made up on the spot with rules that make no sense to anyone but the players. Encourage your children's imagination by providing balls of varying size, empty boxes, blankets, buckets, empty containers, and soft bats or racquets...and let them make their own fun. Some children's games have been around since the Middle Ages and are still just as fun to play, and some are spur of the moment ideas that will never be played again (because no one can remember the rules). The very best games are those that result in laughter.