# of Players: 1
Equipment Needed: Watch with stopwatch
Time per Game: 10 seconds
Age Group: 5+
Here's a game that got me through a middle school study hall or two. Get a digital watch with a stopwatch on it. Start the stopwatch. Try to stop it at exactly 10.00 seconds. After some practice, you'll get decent at it. 9.99 or 10.01 seconds is not bad. Under 9.90 or over 10.10 seconds is pretty lame.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Don't Blink
# of Players: 2
Equipment Needed: None
Time per Game: About 1 minute
Age Group: 4+
Very easy game that I enjoy playing with my kids. Basically, you just get face-to-face with another person and close your eyes. On "go", both players open their eyes and stare at each other. The person who blinks first is the loser. I am crazy good at this game.
Variations on this game include replacing blinking with:
1) Breathing (i.e., hold your breath for as long as you can)
2) Talking (especially good when you need some peace and quiet, and can be played with more than 2 players)
Equipment Needed: None
Time per Game: About 1 minute
Age Group: 4+
Very easy game that I enjoy playing with my kids. Basically, you just get face-to-face with another person and close your eyes. On "go", both players open their eyes and stare at each other. The person who blinks first is the loser. I am crazy good at this game.
Variations on this game include replacing blinking with:
1) Breathing (i.e., hold your breath for as long as you can)
2) Talking (especially good when you need some peace and quiet, and can be played with more than 2 players)
Stack 'Em
# of Players: 2+
Equipment Needed: Anything that can be stacked
Time per Game: 1 minute
Age Group: 4+
Easy game that I just played the other day with my son at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. He's 7 and maybe getting a little old for portions of the museum, including portions of the art studios. While we were there, I was looking for a way to distract him while my daughter (4) checked things out. In that room, we found a bunch of large, stuffed blocks (mostly in box-like shapes of varying sizes).
The game started with one person picking a block and putting it on the ground. The next person picked up another block and stacked it on the first. The game kept going until somebody added a block that caused any portion of the tower to fall over, with that person then losing the game. Obviously, you can then start over and play the game again, and again, and again.
When adding a new block, once you take your hands off of it, your turn is over -- you cannot put your hands back to readjust it if you start to see the tower wobble.
I guess it's basically like the house of cards game that the Brady Bunch played, only with blocks instead of cards. Watch out for Tiger!
Equipment Needed: Anything that can be stacked
Time per Game: 1 minute
Age Group: 4+
Easy game that I just played the other day with my son at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. He's 7 and maybe getting a little old for portions of the museum, including portions of the art studios. While we were there, I was looking for a way to distract him while my daughter (4) checked things out. In that room, we found a bunch of large, stuffed blocks (mostly in box-like shapes of varying sizes).
The game started with one person picking a block and putting it on the ground. The next person picked up another block and stacked it on the first. The game kept going until somebody added a block that caused any portion of the tower to fall over, with that person then losing the game. Obviously, you can then start over and play the game again, and again, and again.
When adding a new block, once you take your hands off of it, your turn is over -- you cannot put your hands back to readjust it if you start to see the tower wobble.
I guess it's basically like the house of cards game that the Brady Bunch played, only with blocks instead of cards. Watch out for Tiger!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
How Many Steps Will It Take?
# of Players: 2+
Equipment Needed: None
Time per Game: Varies
Age Group: 5+
Here's a simple game that I play with my kids when we still have a bit of walking to do before reaching our destination, and the complaints of boredom start coming. It's a great and simple distraction vehicle when you need to walk briskly from one end of the mall to another, for example. Always saves me from having to pick the kids up in my arms. It's also actually a distraction game that my wife (then girlfriend) and I sometimes played as adults trekking from one end of Boston to another in our first few years after college.
With a specific destination in mind, each player simply guesses how many steps it'll take before that destination is reached. Then, you count aloud the actual steps as you're walking them, and the person with the closest guess is the winner. If the destination is so far away that a single game won't provide enough distraction, simply break it into multiple rounds by picking interim milestones along the way and guessing the number of steps to each one.
For some reason, until you've played it a few times, I think you'll find that your guesses always underestimate the number of actual steps.
Equipment Needed: None
Time per Game: Varies
Age Group: 5+
Here's a simple game that I play with my kids when we still have a bit of walking to do before reaching our destination, and the complaints of boredom start coming. It's a great and simple distraction vehicle when you need to walk briskly from one end of the mall to another, for example. Always saves me from having to pick the kids up in my arms. It's also actually a distraction game that my wife (then girlfriend) and I sometimes played as adults trekking from one end of Boston to another in our first few years after college.
With a specific destination in mind, each player simply guesses how many steps it'll take before that destination is reached. Then, you count aloud the actual steps as you're walking them, and the person with the closest guess is the winner. If the destination is so far away that a single game won't provide enough distraction, simply break it into multiple rounds by picking interim milestones along the way and guessing the number of steps to each one.
For some reason, until you've played it a few times, I think you'll find that your guesses always underestimate the number of actual steps.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Shoe Golf
# of Players: 2+
Equipment Needed: A shoe that you don't mind scuffing up
Time per Game: Varies
Age Group: 10+
I remember playing Shoe Golf with Jeff Keating, a childhood friend from Churchill, PA. For some reason, it never really took off with our other friends, but Jeff and I had many a good round. For those who are familiar with Frisbee Golf (or traditional golf), this game is played pretty much the same way, but with an old sneaker or shoe. I think there's a business idea in setting up Shoe Golf driving ranges across the Midwest!
For each hole in a round, there is a specified target. Typically, the target chosen might be a hundred yards or so away, and is an easily identifiable stationary object like the base of a street sign, a tree, a building fixture, or a lamp post. Obviously, you can vary the target creatively based upon your surroundings. You can also pick targets that are different distances away, maybe to simulate a par 5 or par 3.
Each player dangles his shoe from the edge of his foot -- my technique was typically to keep the laces tied and insert my foot about halfway into the shoe. Each player then takes a "shot" by flinging his shoe off his foot using a kicking motion in the direction of the target - for a little momentum, we allowed players to take a step with the other foot before firing the shot. Players walk to where their shoes land and take another shot towards the target. The objective is to hit the target with your shoe in as few shots as possible.
Since you're not playing the British Open, etiquette is a little less important than with traditional golf, but typically the player who shoe is farthest from the target is the one who takes the next shot.
You can define the entire golf course (say, 9 or 18 holes) before the round starts, or simply allow the player who wins a hole to pick the target for the next hole. As with golf, there are many ways of scoring: for example, lowest total score over an entire round or most holes won over an entire round.
Equipment Needed: A shoe that you don't mind scuffing up
Time per Game: Varies
Age Group: 10+
I remember playing Shoe Golf with Jeff Keating, a childhood friend from Churchill, PA. For some reason, it never really took off with our other friends, but Jeff and I had many a good round. For those who are familiar with Frisbee Golf (or traditional golf), this game is played pretty much the same way, but with an old sneaker or shoe. I think there's a business idea in setting up Shoe Golf driving ranges across the Midwest!
For each hole in a round, there is a specified target. Typically, the target chosen might be a hundred yards or so away, and is an easily identifiable stationary object like the base of a street sign, a tree, a building fixture, or a lamp post. Obviously, you can vary the target creatively based upon your surroundings. You can also pick targets that are different distances away, maybe to simulate a par 5 or par 3.
Each player dangles his shoe from the edge of his foot -- my technique was typically to keep the laces tied and insert my foot about halfway into the shoe. Each player then takes a "shot" by flinging his shoe off his foot using a kicking motion in the direction of the target - for a little momentum, we allowed players to take a step with the other foot before firing the shot. Players walk to where their shoes land and take another shot towards the target. The objective is to hit the target with your shoe in as few shots as possible.
Since you're not playing the British Open, etiquette is a little less important than with traditional golf, but typically the player who shoe is farthest from the target is the one who takes the next shot.
You can define the entire golf course (say, 9 or 18 holes) before the round starts, or simply allow the player who wins a hole to pick the target for the next hole. As with golf, there are many ways of scoring: for example, lowest total score over an entire round or most holes won over an entire round.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Indoor Basketball (with handicapping)
# of Players: 2+
Equipment Needed: A soft ball that can be used indoors
Time per Game: 5 minutes
Age Group: 5+
Like father, like son. I've only been writing this blog for a few days now, but it's made me more aware of my fondness for making up games and thinking through the rules. This weekend, I got a hint that my 6-year-old son may be wired in a similar way. As a proud dad, I had to make a quick posting, even though the game described here is pretty basic.
A few minutes before his bedtime on Saturday night, we placed a cylindrical clothes hamper in the middle of our family room, and with a soft ball (we were using the one that comes with the Fisher Price hoop, but any ol' ball will do), we took turns trying to shoot baskets into it. Each of us stood about 6 feet away from the hamper, with my son on one side and me opposite him. For some reason, we counted each made basket as 5 points, and we decided to play to 25 points (you can, of course, vary the points per basket and targeted winning score).
After a few attempts, it became clear that, having many more years experience shooting baskets, I'd win the game. Without hesitation, my son added a twist, handicapping things like one might a match between two unevenly skilled golfers. I had to shoot with my eyes shut. I still had a fun time with this added challenge, and it felt fair to me. But starting the game anew, he beat me 20 to 5. By the way, aside from providing a little activity, the game teaches counting by fives (or whatever "points per basket" scoring you want to use).
A variant on the game: instead of shooting baskets through the air, play the same game requiring that the ball bounce on the ground 1 time before entering the hamper.
Equipment Needed: A soft ball that can be used indoors
Time per Game: 5 minutes
Age Group: 5+
Like father, like son. I've only been writing this blog for a few days now, but it's made me more aware of my fondness for making up games and thinking through the rules. This weekend, I got a hint that my 6-year-old son may be wired in a similar way. As a proud dad, I had to make a quick posting, even though the game described here is pretty basic.
A few minutes before his bedtime on Saturday night, we placed a cylindrical clothes hamper in the middle of our family room, and with a soft ball (we were using the one that comes with the Fisher Price hoop, but any ol' ball will do), we took turns trying to shoot baskets into it. Each of us stood about 6 feet away from the hamper, with my son on one side and me opposite him. For some reason, we counted each made basket as 5 points, and we decided to play to 25 points (you can, of course, vary the points per basket and targeted winning score).
After a few attempts, it became clear that, having many more years experience shooting baskets, I'd win the game. Without hesitation, my son added a twist, handicapping things like one might a match between two unevenly skilled golfers. I had to shoot with my eyes shut. I still had a fun time with this added challenge, and it felt fair to me. But starting the game anew, he beat me 20 to 5. By the way, aside from providing a little activity, the game teaches counting by fives (or whatever "points per basket" scoring you want to use).
A variant on the game: instead of shooting baskets through the air, play the same game requiring that the ball bounce on the ground 1 time before entering the hamper.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
What Number is That?
# of Players: 3+
Equipment Needed: A set of keys on a keychain
Time per Game: Varies
Age Group: 12+
I learned this game during a high school summer at the PA Governor's School for the Sciences and then used it as an icebreaker while meeting friends early freshman year in college, both of which show you where I stood on the social competence spectrum at that time. I think this is more of a parlor trick than a real game, but it's a fun way to kill time with a mid-sized group, particularly as some people start figuring out the trick while others are still struggling with it.
Everybody sits in a circle, and the emcee (probably you, since you're the one reading this) takes the set of keys. Put the keys so they're in front of you, towards the middle of the circle so everybody else can see them (maybe a foot or two in front of you). Fidget with the keys a bit so it appears that you're arranging them in some symbolic pattern. Then, pull yourself back to an upright seated position and ask "So what number is that?" Before asking the question, with one of your hands, nonchalantly stick out a number of fingers (from 1 to 5) on your lap (and not too close to the keys) so everybody in the circle can see them. People will guess a number, but the first few times through it, anybody who guesses correctly will most likely be doing so at random -- everybody will be diligently trying to figure out what number is represented from the mystery pattern in the keys rather than noticing the number of fingers you're showing in plain sight. After a few guesses, announce the correct number, maybe even congratulating anybody who guessed correctly. Then, fiddle with the keys a little, sit back, stick out a few fingers, and ask "So what number is that?" again.
Keep going until people figure out the trick, potentially putting your fingers closer to the keys as the game progresses. People who figure out the trick early will take great joy in the frustration still faced by the others. Oh, and be prepared to be pummeled at the end of the game for wasting everybody's time.
Equipment Needed: A set of keys on a keychain
Time per Game: Varies
Age Group: 12+
I learned this game during a high school summer at the PA Governor's School for the Sciences and then used it as an icebreaker while meeting friends early freshman year in college, both of which show you where I stood on the social competence spectrum at that time. I think this is more of a parlor trick than a real game, but it's a fun way to kill time with a mid-sized group, particularly as some people start figuring out the trick while others are still struggling with it.
Everybody sits in a circle, and the emcee (probably you, since you're the one reading this) takes the set of keys. Put the keys so they're in front of you, towards the middle of the circle so everybody else can see them (maybe a foot or two in front of you). Fidget with the keys a bit so it appears that you're arranging them in some symbolic pattern. Then, pull yourself back to an upright seated position and ask "So what number is that?" Before asking the question, with one of your hands, nonchalantly stick out a number of fingers (from 1 to 5) on your lap (and not too close to the keys) so everybody in the circle can see them. People will guess a number, but the first few times through it, anybody who guesses correctly will most likely be doing so at random -- everybody will be diligently trying to figure out what number is represented from the mystery pattern in the keys rather than noticing the number of fingers you're showing in plain sight. After a few guesses, announce the correct number, maybe even congratulating anybody who guessed correctly. Then, fiddle with the keys a little, sit back, stick out a few fingers, and ask "So what number is that?" again.
Keep going until people figure out the trick, potentially putting your fingers closer to the keys as the game progresses. People who figure out the trick early will take great joy in the frustration still faced by the others. Oh, and be prepared to be pummeled at the end of the game for wasting everybody's time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
