Author Archives: Robert Coats

Chinese Chicken

This game dates back at least three centuries in China. It can be a lot of fun for both kids and adults, and involves a fairly good amount of coordination. Like all such games, its funniest when played by people like me, who have limited coordination. It makes a great beach game. Number of players: 5 – 30. Ages: 7+, or earlier if participants can hop on one foot. Space: Playground, gym, or most ideally, the beach. This game is played with small blocks of wood, bean bags, or as played in China, with shoes. The objects are placed in … Continue reading →

Wolf Hide and Seek

This is a great variation from traditional hide and seek. It’s best played outside with a lot of room, but can also be a lot of fun in a big old house. It can be a lot of fun at an extended family gathering. Number of people: 5-30 Ages: 4+ One player is chosen as the wolf, and this person goes off to hide. The rest of the players are the sheep, with one of them as the leader. Choose a place to function as a “pen” where all the sheep stay and blind their eyes while the wolf player … Continue reading →

Baste the Bear

Also known as “Tease the Bear,” this centuries-old classic continues to bring fun to kids throughout the world. It dates back at least to the renaissance, when Dutch artist Pieter Bruegel painted a picture of children playing the game. Number of players: 10+, ideally, but could be played with as few as 5. Ages: 5+ Space required: an open basement, big living room, small + back yard. In this game, one player is chosen to be the bear, and sits in the center on a stool. The bear chooses a second player to be her keeper. The keeper stands by … Continue reading →

Marbles Part 2: Ringer

Marbles were very popular during the depression. Marbles still are very inexpensive, and provide hours of enjoyment. Some city playgrounds organized tournaments with “ringer”: the most popular marble game. Number of players: 2+ (although any more than six can get cumbersome) Age: 5+ Space required: a six to ten foot circle, preferably on hard clay if outdoors, or carpet if indoors. Medium pile is best. To set up, draw a 6-10 foot circle on the playing surface. This can be difficult, but not impossible indoors on carpet. The outside of the playing surface must be smooth, allowing marbles to pass … Continue reading →

Marbles Part 1: Basic Marble Terminology

On a recent trip to the dollar store, two of my daughters made it to the checkout in record time. (Usually, spending their two dollars takes a great deal of deliberation.) What was their immediate choice? Marbles. It brought me back to many a rainy day playing marbles inside as a kid, or outdoors as a more sedate activity. Before we launch into any specific games, there are a few finer points of marble terminology to go over first. Some seem pretty basic, but for those unacquainted with the finer points of marbles, here’s a handy, non-alphabetized glossary. The words … Continue reading →

Drop the Handkerchief

This is one of the oldest known games and has been played by kids throughout the world for centuries. There are versions of it played in Russia, Japan, Italy and other parts of the world. It’s a great kid’s party game. Number of players 8+ Ages: 4+ Space required: large living room, small+ back yard, playground or gym. Materials: a handkerchief, washcloth, or something like it. To begin, all the players except one stand in a circle. The odd player runs around on the outside of the circle carrying a handkerchief, which he will eventually drop behind one of the … Continue reading →

Great Wall of China

This is a great game for a playground, back yard or park. It also opens possibilities for a wonderful geography lesson. It allows for a lot of running and dodging, especially if you’re playing on a larger field. Number of players: 5+ Age: 4+ Space required: playground, back yard or park. To set up the game, block out a large rectangle on the playing field. The center of the playing field is the Great Wall. It should be two parallel lines ideally ten feet apart. They can be closer if space requires. Then, mark off two goal lines at both … Continue reading →

Why Games are Important to Our History

First and foremost, I’m a history teacher. But when I can combine two of my favorite pastimes into one activity, it’s always a great time. Games come from a number of different sources, and we can learn a lot about the cultures they come from if we think about where they came from. There are many rites and rituals included in a number of games. For example, the singing game “Draw a Bucket of Water” comes from old well-worship rites. Games depict any number of daring tales; gods that preside over the fertility of fields; survival of border warfare, old … Continue reading →

Bear in the Pit and Bull in the Ring

These two games are very similar. Bear in the Pit is like women’s hockey – there’s not a lot of contact, but a lot of skill and finesse. Bull in the Ring is like men’s hockey, but without the fistfights and lockouts. Bear in the Pit can be played on just about any surface, but Bull in the Ring should be played on grass because there’s a lot of potential turf crashing. To start the game, the players join hands in a circle with one person in the middle as a bear. The bear tries to get out by breaking … Continue reading →

Hunt the Slipper

This game can be a lot of fun at a birthday party. It doesn’t require a lot of room for the minimum number of players; a good-sized living room will do. It’s very easy to teach and learn, so it’s good with younger kids too. Number of players: 6 – 30 players. Materials needed: a slipper, a beanbag, a hacky sack, ball, small teddy bear or other small object. To set up all the players sit in a circle, with their feet drawn up and their knees raised so the players can pass the slipper or other object from hand … Continue reading →