alpine life ~~~ fun, family games
Here's some fun outside games for your family time at alpine
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Games For Family Gatherings
KICK THE CAN
Any can will do in this game. One player is deemed "it" and it is his/her responsibility to protect the can. This player counts to 30 while closing his/her eyes. All of other players - called "kickers" - hide in the vicinity of the cabin. The "it" player must stay at least 15 feet away from the can unless he/she sees a hiding kicker. Once he/she sees a kicker, he/she runs to the can, places his/her foot on top of the can and yells "one, two, three - I see (insert kicker's name here) hiding (insert hiding spot here)!" That kicker must come out of hiding and sits out. If a kicker makes a mad dash to kick the can and the "it" player gets to the can first, that kicker is out. If a kicker actually gets to the can and kicks it, then the "it" player must remain "it" for another round. If the "it" player captures every kicker then the first player captured becomes the new "it" person. The game ends when all players are either caught or one actually kicks the can. This game is usually played at night.
GHOST IN THE GRAVEYARD
This game is a cross between traditional Tag and Kick the Can, minus the can. First, establish where "base," "goal," "home" or "T" is located. The "graveyard" is your playing area around the cabin and the "ghosts" are the players hiding around the cabin. The "it" player must quietly seek out the ghosts and tag them before one of them gets back to "goal."
SEVEN STEPS AROUND THE CABIN
One player is designated as the "it" player. The remaining players start together in front of the cabin. The player who is "it" hides. The goal is for the players to make it all the way around the house without the "it" player seeing them advance. They are allowed seven running big leaps to get them started around the house. The "it" player tries to see any one of the players advance by randomly popping out of his/her hiding place. The "it" player must hide long enough to allow opportunity for each player to advance. When a player moves and the "it" player catches him/her moving, that player must start over again.
KING OF THE FOREST
Badges with animal names are pre-made out of paper and yarn. The animals are from smallest to largest on the food chain. "Life cards" are also pre-made out of paper. The kids choose an animal badge at random and tie it to their wrist or clothing. Each child carries with them three life cards. To play - for example: Five children have the animal badges of mouse, rabbit, badger, bobcat and human. The human can eat/tag any of the animals below him/her, the bobcat can eat/tag any animal except the human, the badger can eat/tag the rabbit or the mouse, and the rabbit and the mouse want to hide and not get tagged at all. A child who is tagged can turn in a life card to continue playing. Once all of a child's life cards have been redeemed, he/she are out of the game upon being tagged again. The game ends when the majority of participants run out of life cards. There really are no winners, but the kids learn an important lesson on what it's like to be an animal in the wild.
SCAVENGER HUNT
Group the kids into two teams. Provide an identical list to each team consisting of objects that each team must find. The winning team is the one that finds all the items the quickest. Some sample items are: old birds nest (for a winter game), leaves, sticks, a mitten, rope, spoon and charcoal. Just be creative.
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Games For Family Gatherings
KICK THE CAN
Any can will do in this game. One player is deemed "it" and it is his/her responsibility to protect the can. This player counts to 30 while closing his/her eyes. All of other players - called "kickers" - hide in the vicinity of the cabin. The "it" player must stay at least 15 feet away from the can unless he/she sees a hiding kicker. Once he/she sees a kicker, he/she runs to the can, places his/her foot on top of the can and yells "one, two, three - I see (insert kicker's name here) hiding (insert hiding spot here)!" That kicker must come out of hiding and sits out. If a kicker makes a mad dash to kick the can and the "it" player gets to the can first, that kicker is out. If a kicker actually gets to the can and kicks it, then the "it" player must remain "it" for another round. If the "it" player captures every kicker then the first player captured becomes the new "it" person. The game ends when all players are either caught or one actually kicks the can. This game is usually played at night.
This game is a cross between traditional Tag and Kick the Can, minus the can. First, establish where "base," "goal," "home" or "T" is located. The "graveyard" is your playing area around the cabin and the "ghosts" are the players hiding around the cabin. The "it" player must quietly seek out the ghosts and tag them before one of them gets back to "goal."
One player is designated as the "it" player. The remaining players start together in front of the cabin. The player who is "it" hides. The goal is for the players to make it all the way around the house without the "it" player seeing them advance. They are allowed seven running big leaps to get them started around the house. The "it" player tries to see any one of the players advance by randomly popping out of his/her hiding place. The "it" player must hide long enough to allow opportunity for each player to advance. When a player moves and the "it" player catches him/her moving, that player must start over again.
Badges with animal names are pre-made out of paper and yarn. The animals are from smallest to largest on the food chain. "Life cards" are also pre-made out of paper. The kids choose an animal badge at random and tie it to their wrist or clothing. Each child carries with them three life cards. To play - for example: Five children have the animal badges of mouse, rabbit, badger, bobcat and human. The human can eat/tag any of the animals below him/her, the bobcat can eat/tag any animal except the human, the badger can eat/tag the rabbit or the mouse, and the rabbit and the mouse want to hide and not get tagged at all. A child who is tagged can turn in a life card to continue playing. Once all of a child's life cards have been redeemed, he/she are out of the game upon being tagged again. The game ends when the majority of participants run out of life cards. There really are no winners, but the kids learn an important lesson on what it's like to be an animal in the wild.
Group the kids into two teams. Provide an identical list to each team consisting of objects that each team must find. The winning team is the one that finds all the items the quickest. Some sample items are: old birds nest (for a winter game), leaves, sticks, a mitten, rope, spoon and charcoal. Just be creative.
Gee, thanks for the great ideas. I'll certainly use them when the "grands" come to visit. Keep the good ideas coming. We grandparents are going to be very grateful.
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Some of you may not know this, but I was the director of a daycare center for many years. The problem solving skills I learned from dealing with 3 year olds has also served me well here at alpine. LOL!!! Here are two fun inexpensive ways for young'uns to have fun playing in the snow:
Fill 2 or 3 spray bottles with water~ add a drop or two of food coloring, different color in each bottle. Spraying the colored water on the snow makes beautiful, temporary art.
Colored bubbles are amazing! Drop 2 or 3 squirts of food coloring into a jar of bubbles. When the colored bubbles burst on the snow, they leave gorgeous prints behind.
Spray bottles are less than a buck each at Wally World...bubbles are a dollar or so a jar. ENJOY!!
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Has anybody been to the dog sled site in Accident? We are thinking of taking the family to visit the kennels and learn about the art of dog sledding. From what we understand it is pretty educational and the older kids can even take a real dog sled ride regardless of whether there is snow or not.
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Hey Alpinenoob! Check out the sidebar for info on Pleasant Valley Farm. They do farm tours for $5 (under 3 is free). That sounds like a lot of fun! The farm is close by~ the couple, Ray and Rachel, are good folk.
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In today's Washington Post, back page of travel section, is a very informative article about the Garrett County dogsledding business called Husky Power Dogsledding. , 2008 Bumble Bee Rd, Accident, MD 301-746-7200 or www.huskydogpowersledding.com. Check it out....sounds great!
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