Non-Technolgical Game Ideas

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A month ago I started to babysit my younger sister's three children, ages 12, 10, and 9. One girl, two boys. Now the boys have an X-box game with their video games, but often they fight constantly when playing the game. The youngest loses his temper with the older brother while they played a game together, and often I'd have to take them away from the game due to arguments and fights and screaming. So then after four days of dealing with it, I came up with an idea. Why don't I just get the kids involved in some non-technological games that they can all enjoy and play? Thus, I came up with these games on the spot. I want to share them with all of you so that you may try them with your kids. My niece and nephews and their friends really love these games we do, so I am certain others will too. 1. Hide It, Find It: Take a small item, roughly the size of a child's palm. Let them see what the object is. Then make them all stay in one room and hide it in another room. Give them a couple clues, either said, or sing them out. First child to find it, gets to hide it the next round, and the cycle repeats. Each person to hide it should speak or sing out clues. 2. Blind Man Find: Show the object to be "hidden." Then blindfold one child whose turn it is. Place the object on the floor somewhere away from them, and have two other children gently spin the blind folded child two times. The blindfolded child should be gently put into a crawl position to allow him or her to search the floor with his or her hands. They must not remove their blindfold, and it should be tested to make sure they can't see. Gently spinning them while blindfolding them helps to make the game more challenging. 3. Bucket Bowling: Get three to seven colorful sand buckets. Turn them upset down and line them up, or put them in a pyramid. Take a small soft rubber ball, about the size of a child's two hands. The children can then take turns rolling the ball to make a bucket strike. 4. Object Puzzle Find: Have the children cover their eyes and make sure they aren't peeking. Take several items that an object can be hidden under, and arrange them in a mismatch formation. Choose one of the items to hide the object under. Then allow the kids to search for the item with their eyes open. 5. Blind Man Object Puzzle Find: It is like the above, only you let the kids see the items they must search under. After they've seen the items, have them cover their eyes, then hide the object. They then search for the object under the items with their eyes closed or with a blindfold. 6. Scavenger Hunt: These are pretty much explanatory, but I've taken them up a notch. First Take paper and write down some questions. On another piece of paper, write down the answers without the kids looking or seeing the answers. Cut the answers out and hide them. Once they are hidden, let the kids see the questions and tell them to find the answers on the pieces of hidden scrap paper. The first child to get the most correct answers should be given some type of prize, such as getting to choose the next game, or anything you would like to give them. 7. Sacrifice: This game sounds scary, but it's not. The kids love this game and constantly want to play it. There should be four to eight players minimum. The game involves one victim, two or more "priests", two or more "rescuers", and two or more "witnesses." How the game works is that the victim lays down on the floor with their legs close together, and their arms laying against their sides. They must not speak nor move. On either side are the "priests" and the "rescuers." The "priests" must be next to the "victim", and the "rescuers" must be a few feet away. The two "priests" must have a pretend "knife." We generally use a non-working glow stick. The "witnesses" must be near them, but not close enough. They are there to watch and see all that happens so that no one can cheat this game. Now here is where it gets interesting. You as the adult must give each "priest" and each "rescuer" a question to answer. It can be a question of school related (good way to test their knowledge at home), their favorite movies, shows, celebrities and then some. You can look on line for good questions and answer ideas. If the "priests" get the answers right, they can gently slide the "knife" over the victim. They then pass it to the next priest to answer the next question. When it is the "rescuers" turn to answer the questions, they are allowed to slide toward the victim each time they answer a question correctly. There should be an equal amount of questions asked for every "priest" and every "rescuer" to give them all a fair chance. The "victim" depends on the "rescuers" to save them from being "sacrificed". It is up to the "rescuers" to answer all their questions correctly, and they must be given the last questions. If they answer the last of the questions correctly, they can gently pull/roll the victim toward them. However, if they answer the question incorrectly, the "priests" are able to make their "sacrifice." When the first round is over, give the kids a chance to switch positions to ensure everyone has a chance as a "priest", "rescuer", "victim", and "witnesses." This game represents several elements: First, it teaches cooperation. Second, it teaches the kids to think of what they learned or to share what they know. Third, it teaches the kids about the past with different religions and cultures. Fourth it teaches them fairness. This game does have its warning sides to it though. No sharp objects, no slapping or hitting, and definitely no playing without an adult present. Young children under the age of eight should NOT play sacrifice. The game is best played inside, but can be played outside on a blanket in the yard. Make sure the "victim" is as comfortable as possible during the game. As always an adult must be present for all the above games, particularly for the last game. Remember to have a talk with your children before and after the games to talk about them. They must remember to not play any of the games without an adult's presence and permission. Remember to set rules and boundaries for each game to ensure safety at all times.