Remember back in the day, you played outside all through the spring and summer with the kids in your neighborhood. Today, kids are more attached to their electronics and seem to avoid playing outside, but as parents, you can encourage outdoor play by teaching your kids the games from your childhood. Last time, we revisited these awesome games – Tag, Hide and Seek, Kick the Can, and Red Light, Green Light. This time, the Camp Live Oak Staff takes you back to all the fun of Simon Says, Mother May I, Capture the Flag, Fourscore, and Hopscotch. Each of these games is the perfect choice when played with family or friends. Are you ready?

Simon Says

It simply doesn’t get more classic and fun than Simon Says. This game can be played in a wide open space or small space, inside or out, but outside is definitely the most fun. Simon Says needs no special equipment, and can be played with any number of players. To start the game, a person is chosen to be “Simon.” Simon then begins play by saying, “Simon says ‘take this action’.” (Use your imagination here, ‘stand on one foot, hop like a bunny, roll on the ground’.) Everyone must perform the action. If Simon makes an action request without beginning the request with “Simon says,” anyone caught performing the action is out. Play continues until a single player remains – the winner – and Simon for the next round of play.

Mother, May I?

With a set up similar to Red Light Green Light, Mother, May I? is a fun game that can be played anywhere, with any size group, and requires no special equipment. One player is chosen to be “Mother” and stands at the front while the remaining players form a line some distance away (players determine the starting line). One person on the line begins by asking, “Mother, may I take XX steps forward?” Mother may then respond, “Yes, you may” or No, You may not.” In subsequent plays, players may request steps, leaps, hops, or any imaginative way to move toward Mother. The goal is to be the first person to tag Mother. The winner then becomes “Mother” for the next game.

Capture the Flag

Capture the flag is great outdoor fun for a large group of players. The game only requires two flags or some other form of marker. The players are divided into two teams, each with a flag or marker. The game’s mission it to run into the opposing team’s territory, capture their flag, and head safely back into your team’s territory. “Enemy” players can be tagged while in your territory landing them in your jail. They can escape if one of their team members runs into your territory, tags them, and they run back to safety (only one jail break at a time – meaning an “enemy” player can’t tag everyone in jail on a single trip). The game is won by the team who successfully captures the flag of the opposing team or when all of the “enemy” team’s players are captured.

Hopscotch

Hopscotch is a game which is played on a sidewalk, driveway, or other hard surface. The game can be played alone or with friends. To play you’ll need sidewalk chalk to draw the hopscotch grid, a rock or bean bag to mark your progress. Draw the hopscotch grid with blocks numbered to nine or higher. Choose a rock or bean bag to toss. Play begins, as the player tosses his or her rock into Square 1. The player then hops over the rock, following the hopscotch pattern and landing on one or two feet accordingly, down and back, stopping at Square 2 to retrieve the rock while balancing. Continue the sequence with Square 2, and so on. If the player tosses the rock and misses the next square, their turn ends, and the next player goes. The winner is the first person to make it through to the final square successfully.

Now, get out there and have fun!