School is starting back in a few days. Most schools will be locking away mobile phones and other gadgets until the end of the school day. What are the children to do? Like most parents, I am constantly asking my young ones to ditch their gadgets and socialize with others. "In the playground" I ask, “what do you usually do in your break time”? "nothing, just hang about, or play football". Feeling concerned I decided that I would revisit my childhood and play some of my old favourites with my blessings. These games were played way before the internet, and kept the playground buzzing with laughter and joy.
1. Pelt the Pan
Find an empty bottle, can or container put it in in front of a wall. Players take it in turns to try and hit the object with a marble, boiled sweet or coin. First to hit the object wins.
2. Scooch
You will need a tennis ball. One person stands against the wall, and another throws the ball at them. The person against the wall
3. Nearest the Line
Draw a line in the dirt, if there is concrete use chalk to make a line. Players stand in front of the line, at least 3feet away. Taking it in turns players throw their coins at the line. The one that gets their coin the closest to the line is the winner.
4. Hide and Seek
Children's game in which any number of players hide themselves and wait to be found by one or more seekers. One player closes their eyes and counting to a chosen number (say 20) while the other players hide. One two three and keep counting till it reaches twenty. When that number is reached, the player who is "it" calls "Ready or not, here I come!" they have to go and find hidden players and run back to the starting point and say "tig".
5. Which One
The first player turns around with their back toward the game while the other chooses an object, (same number of objects as per players) but does not remove it from the spot.
Once an object is chosen, the player turns around and tries to guess the object that the other players have chosen.
The first player can ask four times, "Which row is the object in?" After the other player answers him, he can move the object around to help him guess the correct answer. After the first answer, the player might move all the odd numbered objects. The next time they might move around something else to help them work out the answer.
6. Hunt the Sweet & Eat It
A box of sweets is required for this game. Best played with 4 or more players. The "it" player is sent out of the room, and a sweet is hidden anywhere in the room. Find it with clues and they get to eat it. Best played with a time limit, and good clues.
7. Red Light Green Light
There is no set number of players for this game. One of the players (leader) goes to the end line and turns her/his back to all the other players, which are lined up on the starting line.
The leader starts the game by counting “one, two, three”. While the leader counts, the other players must run as fast as possible to reach the end line. When the leader reaches the leader pronounces “three”, s/he must shout "Red" and turns around. Everyone must then stop moving and freeze. If any players are caught moving by the leader they must go back to the starting line. The others stay where they are and start running again from their position when the leader turns around and starts again counting “one, two, three, "Red”. At any time, the leader can change the pace of counting to surprise the players. The game continues until one of the players reaches the end line and becomes the new leader.
8. Knuckles
OK!!! One for the bigger lads. You will need a coin and strong finger. Taking it in turn, spin the coin on a surface and try to catch it between your fingers, try not to miss. If you do, you will get a heavy flick of the coin AGAINST YOUR KNUCKLE...OUCH!!!