Home Occupations for Boys and Girls Part 17

AIMING GAMES WITH b.a.l.l.s

The games just described may be played with b.a.l.l.s as well as with bean-bags, and thus require more co-ordination on the part of the child's muscles. We give a few other games in addition.

=Counting-Ball=

Let one child bounce the ball, striking it from above with the palm of his hand and counting one, two, etc., until he fails to hit it, when another child takes a turn.

=Guess-Ball=

A row of players number off from one end 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. The last number steps in front of the row a distance such as may be needed to secure certainty of aim and touch on the part of those who throw the ball. The player in front stands with his back to the others. Those in the row now begin to pa.s.s the ball sideways from one to the other. The player in front having counted a given number, the one who happens to hold the ball at the time must at once throw it at the player in front.

If struck, the latter turns quickly and tries to judge from the att.i.tudes of the various players which one threw the ball. If he is right, places are exchanged. If he guesses wrong, the game continues as before.

=Cup and Ball= (_Cardboard_, _worsted_, _funnel_)

Make the ball by cutting from cardboard two circles about two inches in diameter. Inside the large circles draw smaller ones about one-half inch in diameter. Cut the smaller circles entirely out, thus leaving a hole in the middle of each large circle. Keep these two large circles together. Now, with a needle, wind worsted round and round through the opening in the two circles until it is completely filled, so that the needle cannot be pushed through. Hold in the left hand, and with sharp pointed scissors cut the worsted at the edge of the circles, spread the circles a little apart, and tie a strong thread firmly around the worsted between the two cardboard circles. Then tear the cardboard circles away and a pretty ball remains. Tie this ball, with a string twelve inches long, to a kitchen funnel, and let the child try to catch the ball in the funnel.

AIMING GAMES--MISCELLANEOUS

=Ring-Toss= (_Small wooden box_, _broom-handle or dowel_, _nail or glue_, _embroidery rings or hoops of small keg_)

Saw a foot from a broom-handle or dowel (a child's broom will best serve the purpose). Glue or nail this to a box. Let the child practice tossing over this post rings taken from a small keg; or embroidery rings may be used. These may be wound around with bright colored strips of lining or with ribbon. The rings should be graduated in size.

=Grace-Hoops= (_Basket reeds_, _raffia_)

Make a wand of three or four basket reeds cut into two foot lengths.

Wind these more or less loosely with string, just so as to hold them together. Then wind around and around closely and smoothly with a strand of raffia so as to bind firmly together. If held smoothly, several strands of raffia may be used at one time. If reeds are not to be had lilac branches may be used instead. The result should be a wand firm and stiff.

Make the hoops by soaking the reeds first in water for an hour to make flexible. They should be cut into lengths of about 2-1/2 feet. Curve several into a hoop and tie. Then wind smoothly and firmly with the raffia. The ends of the latter may be disposed of by threading upon a large needle and running it a short distance in and out of the part already wound.

Two wands and one hoop are required for each player. One tosses a ring from her two wands to her opponent, who must catch it upon her own wands.

This once popular game cultivates both alertness and grace.

In the kindergarten the children use wand and ring in playing "knights."

One child holds the ring while the little knight gallops around the circle on an imaginary steed and tries to capture the ring on his lance (wand), as at an old-time tournament.

=Croquet with Peas= (_Peas_, _hairpins or double-headed tacks_, _nail or match_, _toothpick_, _cork_, _cover of starch-box_)

Bend hairpins into shape or use double-headed tacks as wickets. Insert into the cover of a wooden starch-box for ground. For a stake use a nail or a painted match-stick. Sharpen this to a point and insert it in a hole previously made by hammering in a nail. Make mallets by inserting matches or toothpicks into heads made of small pieces of cork. Use peas for b.a.l.l.s.

Put the whole outfit in a box and give to little sister for her doll's birthday.

=Egg-Sh.e.l.l Game= (_Egg-sh.e.l.l_, _long table_, _four tumblers_)

Blow an egg-sh.e.l.l and paint with some college colors as a foot-ball.

Take four tumblers and place two at one end of a long table for goals and two at the opposite end for goals, the two which make a pair being four inches apart. Divide the party into two competing groups. Those on one side must try to blow the sh.e.l.l between the tumblers of their opponents. These must try to defend their end of the table and at the same time try to blow the sh.e.l.l between the tumblers of their opponents.

This makes a merry game for young people.

=Cherry-Stone Game= (_Save and dry a dozen or more cherry-stones_)

Scatter the stones lightly on the table. They will fall so that some lie closely together, others far apart. The first player selects any two stones and draws his finger between them so that he touches neither. If he succeeds thus far he must then try to snap one (with thumb and middle finger) so that it strikes the other. If this succeeds also the two stones belong to him and he has another turn, continuing until he either touches a stone in trying to draw a finger between two or fails to make one of the two hit the other. The second player will not fare so well, because the remaining pairs will lie closer together than those first chosen, so that great care will be needed in drawing the finger between two. Sometimes it is necessary to use the little finger. At the end the player having most stones wins the game. The stones may be dyed or painted if desired. The game suggests tiddledy-winks and crokinole.

=Donkey Game= (_Picture of a donkey, minus a tail, and one dozen separate tails. These may be bought in large sheets for ten cents, but may be cut out of paper if drawn first by skilful hands_)

Pin the picture to the wall in some spot where it will not deface it.

Give each player a tail with a pin sticking through it. Blindfold him.

Turn him around three times and send him in the direction of the picture to pin the tail on the donkey. The one who succeeds in fastening a tail nearest to the proper place wins the game.

=Blowing Out the Candle= (_Candle in candlestick_)

Place a candle on the table. Blindfold a player, turn him around three times about six feet from the candle. Then let him try to find his way towards it and blow it out. He may have three trials.

MISCELLANEOUS PLAYS

=The Countess of the Huggermuggers= (_Two candles in candlesticks_)

Give two players each a candle. They take places about eight feet apart.

Then each takes a step forward at the same time and makes a solemn bow without smiling; then another step and bow; and then a third. Then one says solemnly, "The Countess of the Huggermuggers is dead." The other one rejoins, "I am very sorry to hear it." The first one replies, "So am I." Then each takes three steps backward, with a bow each time, and all without a smile. Whoever smiles must give up his place to another player.

=Rope and Sandbag= (_Rope ten feet long, with handle at one end which may be made by knotting the rope, and a sandbag or other weight at the other. Sandbag may be made of strong goods sewed into a bag and filled with sand. In a kindergarten a weight has been improvised out of a child's rubber shoe_)

Some one stands in the center of a circle of children and swings the rope so that the weight just grazes the ground. The children must be sufficiently attentive and agile to evade the rope by jumping over it as it pa.s.ses them. Do not begin until the rope has acquired momentum enough to move with a degree of regularity.

=Omnibus Swing= (_Strong rope or chain_, _staples_, _soapbox_, _wooden plank_, _nails_)

If fortunate enough to have a barn or summer-house, or a playroom with a strong beam in the roof or ceiling, place a pair of strong staples in the beam (hammock hooks would serve the same purpose) a few inches apart. Six feet from these place _another pair_ of staples in the beam.

From each pair of staples or hooks suspend a loop of rope so that it comes about one foot from the floor.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Omnibus Swing.]

Take a plank about eight feet long and one foot wide and cut four notches in it, two on each side, about six inches from the ends. Place the plank so that it hangs held by the two ropes, which slip into the notches in the plank, the notches keeping the ropes in place. Upon this several children can swing back and forth lengthwise, and so play at rowing, riding, trolleying, etc., as imagination dictates. If a soapbox be nailed at one end the baby may be put into this for a safe ride.

=Anagrams= (_Tinted Bristol board_, _black ink or paint_, _heavy pen or brush_)