Games for Everybody Part 23

A cherry tree may be represented by using a branch of any tree and decorating it with small candy cherries. If these cannot be obtained, any kind of candy may be wrapped in red tissue paper and tied to the branch. The players are blindfolded one at a time, given a pair of scissors, and requested to "cut off a cherry."

To add to the fun small paper hatchets may be hidden around the room for the players to find, as in a peanut hunt.

The head of a hatchet may be drawn on a sheet which is tacked to the wall, and the players are given cloth handles which they are to pin to the sheet while blindfolded. The one who succeeds in pinning his handle nearest to the proper place may be awarded a prize.

APRIL FIRST.

For an April Fool's Day gathering, ask each guest to come prepared to do some sleight of hand trick. When all are a.s.sembled, each one in turn performs his trick. A vote is taken for the most clever and a prize is awarded.

Each one present endeavors to fool someone else during the evening. The one who has not been fooled once during the whole evening receives a prize; the one who is fooled the most times is given a prize, too.

EASTER EGG RACE.

Color an even number of eggs, half the number one color, the other half, another. Place all the eggs of one color on the floor in a line at intervals of one foot. At the end of the line put a basket. Form a similar line, a little distance from the other, of the remaining eggs.

For convenience, we will say one line is of green eggs, the other of pink.

Choose two players as leaders, who select their sides. One side chooses the green row, and the other, the pink. Two, one player from each side, play at a time.

When all is ready the two leaders stand by their respective rows, each is given a large spoon, and when told to "go," each one spoons up the eggs, one at a time, and carries them to the basket at the end of the line. The one who succeeds in spooning up all his eggs first wins for his side.

Thus each player in turn works for his side until all have had a chance and the side whose players were the most successful is the winning side.

SUSPENDED EGGS.

After an egg hunt, several eggs may be gathered together and a string or ribbon run through each and hung in different lengths from a chandelier. Candy eggs and little baskets of eggs may be suspended, too. Place a tablecloth or sheet underneath to prevent the carpet from being spoiled by the downfall.

Each child in turn is blindfolded and given a cane with which to strike the suspended eggs. Whatever is knocked down is his. If he fails to knock something down the first time, he may have another turn.

EGG RACE.

Give each child a tablespoon and a hard-boiled egg. The children form in line and one is the leader. Each one holds the spoon with the egg in its bowl at arm's length and hops on one foot, following wherever the leader leads them.

The leader may take them up stairs, over stools, and any place hard to reach on one foot. To drop the egg or rest on both feet prevents one from continuing in the game. She must stay out until the next time round.

ROLLING EGGS.

Mark on the table, or on the floor, if preferred, with chalk, four parallel lines, eight or ten feet long, and four or five inches apart.

Thus there are three narrow s.p.a.ces. At the end of each s.p.a.ce make a circle, numbering the middle one 10, and the other two, 5. The middle s.p.a.ce is marked 3, and the other two, 1.

The object of the game is to have each child roll five eggs, one at a time, down the middle s.p.a.ce to the circles at the ends. If the egg goes into the middle circle, it counts 10, but if it stops in the middle s.p.a.ce, it counts only 3, and so on, counting the number of the place where it stops.

Tally is kept for each child, the one scoring the most points wins the game.

BUNNY'S EGG.

On a sheet draw a rough-sketch of a good-sized rabbit, the regular Easter bunny, standing on its hind legs, and holding its paws as if it were carrying an egg.

Stretch the sheet on the wall and tack it firmly in place. Cut eggs out of different colored cloth to represent Easter eggs. The eggs should be as large as the s.p.a.ce between the rabbit's paws. In each egg stick a pin.

Blindfold the children in turn and give each an egg, which is to be pinned on the sheet, and right in "Bunny's" arms, if possible.

As the children take their turn, no matter how straight on the way they were started, "Bunny" will be surrounded with eggs, until some child pins the egg in his arms. This child deserves a prize.

JULY FOURTH.

Aside from the enjoyment of firecrackers, etc., there are a few games to amuse the children on this day. If a party has been planned for the Fourth, the rooms should be appropriately decorated for the occasion.

As soon as all the children arrive choose two leaders, who in turn select sides. A line is marked on the floor and the sides stand on each side of this boundary line. A few feet from the line on each side is placed an American flag. Any flag can be made to stand up by placing the end of the stick securely in the hole of an empty spool. Each leader guards his own flag.

The children endeavor to secure their opponents' flag. If a leader tags anyone who crosses the boundary and comes too near the flag, that child is out of the game. However, if one does succeed in capturing the other's flag, and carries it over the boundary into his side, that side is victorious.

FLAGS OF ALL NATIONS.

Flags of all nations are collected and displayed around the room. Each one is numbered. The guests are given pencil and paper with numbers down the left hand side.

Opposite each number the guest writes the names of the country which the flag bearing the corresponding number stands for. Allow a certain length of time for guessing, then collect the papers, read the correct list, and correct the papers. Prizes may be awarded, but the satisfaction of having guessed the most seems to be enough reward.

OUR FLAG.

Other games for the Fourth are as follows: Each child is given a piece of white paper or cardboard 6-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches in size. All sit around a table on which are red and blue paper and a pile of stars by each one's place. Scissors and a bottle of mucilage are handy. The children are given a certain length of time in which to make their flags, putting the blue field and stars and stripes correctly on their pieces of cardboard. The one who completes his flag first deserves a prize.