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Entertainment Topics
Classic Outdoor Games
How to Play
Kick the Can
Draw a circle and stack three cans in the center. Everyone stands on the circle. “It” chooses a kicker, who starts the game by kicking the cans. Everyone runs to hide while “It” stacks the cans back in the center. Then “It” looks for players, saying the name and place (“I see Katie behind the fence”). Katie is now in jail (inside the circle) unless she can get back to the circle before “It” does. Other players can free those in jail by kicking the cans before “It” can get back to the circle. Then “It” must stack up the cans and begin the search again. The game ends when “It” finds all the players and puts them in jail.
Sardines
This indoor/outdoor game is Hide and Seek in reverse. “It” gets a one-minute head start to hide, then everyone goes to look for “It.” When a player finds “It,” he tries to join “It” in the hiding spot without being seen by the others. As more and more players find “It,” they pack into the hiding spot “like sardines”! The last one to find “It” becomes “It” for the next round.
Freeze Tag
“It” chases players within a certain area. Tagged players are “frozen” but can be unfrozen if tagged by a free player. Also, frozen players who can touch each other (without moving their feet) can unfreeze themselves. The game ends when all players are frozen. The last one frozen becomes “It” for the next round.
Marco Polo
Choose boundaries in an open area (inside or outside). Blindfold “It” and spin “It” around five times. Everyone runs from “It” and must freeze when “It” finishes spinning and yells “Stop!” Then “It” shouts “Marco!” The players may move, but they must freeze before replying “Polo!” (A disguised voice for “Polo” is fun!) Keep up the “Marco … Polo … Marco … Polo …” as “It” tries to track a voice and tag a player. Whoever is tagged becomes “It” for the next round. This game is also fun in the pool. A player must get tagged while in the pool, or if a player is out of the water when “Marco” is called, that person becomes “It.”
Capture the Flag
Choose boundaries for two teams with a middle line. Each team hides its “flag” (a bandanna works well) somewhere on its side of the field; the flag must be visible when you approach it, not concealed. Each team also chooses an area for its jail. The object of the game is to find the other team’s flag and bring it back to the middle line. When a player crosses over to the opponent’s side to search for the flag, he can be tagged and put in jail. Players are freed from jail when tagged by a teammate. The game ends when one team captures the other’s flag.
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