Fun - For Free!
Recently when chatting with the kiddos about fun games, I began travelling through time past. Visions of youth parties long ago jogged my memory of a surprising number of games. Fun games long forgotten.
Summer is fast approaching and with it the potential for gatherings and reunions of all varieties. Staycations and local amusements are the talk of the media. Economy and frugality are the new "in" among families. Whether you are looking for an inexpensive activity to up the summer's fun factor or looking for something different and new, yet old, the games we're sharing today are time-tested and Mama approved. (Blessed Mama that is)
HOT POTATO:
At least one modern, battery-operated version is available from retailers. However, we're talking about the old-fashioned beanbag variety.
SUPPLIES NEEDED:beanbag or other soft item to use as a "potato", music and someone to turn music on and off
Have game participants sit in a circle, either on the floor or seated in chairs. Once music has begun, players quickly pass the beanbag aka potato to the player next to them. The "potato" continues around the circle until the music stops. The player holding the "potato" when the music stops either removes themselves from the circle with the games continuing until only one player remains OR the player holding the "potato" when the music stops can answer a question of the leaders choice. This game works well with gatherings of all ages and would be an excellent ice breaker if the option of answering questions was used.
Another game similar to HOT POTATO is the always popular MUSICAL CHAIRS. As in Hot Potato, music and someone to turn the music on and off is needed. Unlike Hot Potato, One less chair than people participating are placed back to back in the center of the playing area. When the music begins, players walk around the chairs dropping into the nearest chair as soon as the music stops. The player left chairless steps out of the game taking a chair out of the center with him/her. Play continues until two players and one chair remain. The "winner" is the player who gets into the remaining chair.
Both of these games would be a fun addition to any gathering and all ages. Music can be chosen to match any taste, theme, or occasion. Need a fun way to memorize facts or memory verses? Instead of removing themself from the game, the participant holding the potato or missing the chair could be required to answer a question or recite a verse. Simple games of yesteryear provide hilarious fun while creating memories to last a lifetime. By the way, have you ever been measured for a casket? That's another fun game - for another post.
Summer is fast approaching and with it the potential for gatherings and reunions of all varieties. Staycations and local amusements are the talk of the media. Economy and frugality are the new "in" among families. Whether you are looking for an inexpensive activity to up the summer's fun factor or looking for something different and new, yet old, the games we're sharing today are time-tested and Mama approved. (Blessed Mama that is)
HOT POTATO:
At least one modern, battery-operated version is available from retailers. However, we're talking about the old-fashioned beanbag variety.
SUPPLIES NEEDED:beanbag or other soft item to use as a "potato", music and someone to turn music on and off
Have game participants sit in a circle, either on the floor or seated in chairs. Once music has begun, players quickly pass the beanbag aka potato to the player next to them. The "potato" continues around the circle until the music stops. The player holding the "potato" when the music stops either removes themselves from the circle with the games continuing until only one player remains OR the player holding the "potato" when the music stops can answer a question of the leaders choice. This game works well with gatherings of all ages and would be an excellent ice breaker if the option of answering questions was used.
Another game similar to HOT POTATO is the always popular MUSICAL CHAIRS. As in Hot Potato, music and someone to turn the music on and off is needed. Unlike Hot Potato, One less chair than people participating are placed back to back in the center of the playing area. When the music begins, players walk around the chairs dropping into the nearest chair as soon as the music stops. The player left chairless steps out of the game taking a chair out of the center with him/her. Play continues until two players and one chair remain. The "winner" is the player who gets into the remaining chair.
Both of these games would be a fun addition to any gathering and all ages. Music can be chosen to match any taste, theme, or occasion. Need a fun way to memorize facts or memory verses? Instead of removing themself from the game, the participant holding the potato or missing the chair could be required to answer a question or recite a verse. Simple games of yesteryear provide hilarious fun while creating memories to last a lifetime. By the way, have you ever been measured for a casket? That's another fun game - for another post.