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Hide The Thimble - “We used to always play Duck Duck Goose - Everyone sits in a circle. this on a Sunday afternoon when our relatives One of them goes around the outside of the circle came over.” One person hides a thimble and tapping each oneon thehead calling out duck. If everyone tries to find it. The one to find the he says goose when he touches your head, you thimble hides it next. In grandma’s day the prize must chase him around trying to tag him before possession was the sterling silver thimble that he sits in your seat. If you tag him, then he’s could not remain unfound. “it”, but if you don’t get him before he sits in your seat, then you are “it” again. Comedy Come - This is a describing game. A for kids was home- person chooses an object to describe. The people Stilts - Another pastime 2x4 board approximately playing the game try to guess what the object is. made stilts. A slender on the inside of The person choosing says, “comedy come”, and 4’-5’is used. Perpendicular and is the others reply, “What do you come by? “ A each a 2x2 block is nailed. A piece of leather hold the clue is given to the color, name, place, size or used to secure the block for leverage to any other information which can help in the block onto the long stilt. A hand strap may also guessing. For example, if the object is a table, be made out of leather on the tops of the poles holding. The you may say “I come by the letter T”, and after which may be sanded smooth for of the day a few guesses they may ask again what you come object of the game is to spend as little two feet off by, and you must give them another clue. This as possible walking around at least was a popular game with grandmothers and the ground. This created many pleasurable pride grandchildren to help with learning the alphabet. moments for children and perhaps some for grandfathers. Drop The Handkerchief - This game was also Over-And-Under - Two or more teams line up. called Cat and Mouse, and was played by many The first one in each line holds a ball which he old timers. Everyone stands in a circle joining must pass on to the player behind him. He hands . One person walks around the outside of passes it over his head without turning around. the circle. The mouse, or the person walking The second player in line, now in possession of around the circle drops a cloth behind one of the the ball, passes it to the third person through his players. The cat who finds the hanky behind him legs. The ball continues to be passed over the must chase the mouse around the circle trying to head and through the legs to the end of the line. tag him before he reaches his empty space. If By this time the first person in line has moved to either of them don’t think they will make it, they the. end of the line. When he has reached the can yell “cut the butter” and everyone has to front again before the other team they are the drop hands to let them chase through. winners. 12 Spud - First give all the players a number. The Pig - This is a dice game played by two or more one who is “it” throws the ball up calling out one people. The object is to add points rolled and the of the numbers. The owner of this number runs first to get one hundred points wins. You may toward the ball saying “spud” when he has roll as many times as you like and stop grabbed it. Everyone else must run as far away whenever you’d like, but watch out for those • from the ball as possible but must stop when the ones. If you roll a “one” you pass the dice in possession of the ball getting no points for that turn. If snake eyes one says spud. He which person he can get closest to with comes up (two ones) you lose all your points on choosesthree big steps . The object is to throw the ball at the score board starting back at zero on your L person who is “it” next, hitting him, and next turn. The pig is the one with the guts who giving him the letter S , spelling s-p-u-d. If he keeps rolling and soon enough a “one” appears misses, the letter goes to him. The first one who Another game called Pig Mania may be a has spelled “spud” goes through the paddy wack. derivative for this game where as it consists of actually rolling tiny pigs and counting points for Paddy Wack - Everyone lines up with their the position in which the pigs land. legs spread. The loser must crawl through everyone’s legs as they spank his bottom. “This was one of our favorite ways to punish a loser.”

Fox and Geese - “One of the winter games we would always play, was fox and geese. You make a big circle with the spoke in the center, like a wheel. One of the kids is the fox, and the rest of the kids are the geese. As long as you T.V. Tag - There many of were in the center, you were free. If the fox are variations tag, but this one was It’s caught you anywhere out or around that spoke or a favorite. played like regular tag, only without a base. When wheel, then you’d have to be the fox and chase the the others.” person who is “it” is about to tag you, you squat down touching the ground and call out the name of a t.v. show. If you think of one Duck on a Rock- This is a game that was used can’t or repeat one that someone has already used, then you are to improve young boys throwing skill. A small automatically “it”. This can also be played rock would be placed on top of a bigger rock, using cigarette names, popular songs, then from a set distance you would throw rocks or radio shows, etc. at it and try to knock the little rock off. Points can be given for hitting the rock so a winner can be acknowledged. Jacks - Starting with 12 jacks and a ball, the player first throws the ball in the air. While it is in the air, he picks up one jack and then catches Flying Dutchman - All the players stand in a the ball on its descent, after only one bounce. circle, boy-girl, etc. . . , holding hands. One couple After picking up all the walks around the circle and picks another couple jacks one at a time, the by breaking their hands free from player then picks up the jacks two, three, and the other four players. These people must run around the at a time and so on until he has exhausted the supply. A player may not touch other jacks opposite way racing to the empty space. The not up. If also he fails to catch the couple to get there last is “it” the next time. being picked ball, then he loses his turn. Variations of the game proceed by putting pigs in a pen (a cupped Annie Over - This game was commonly played the ball bounce twice by two or more persons standing on opposite hand on the floor) to letting and clapping hands before the pick up. Many sides of a wall, house or barn. A rubber ball is used to pitch back and forth. The person starting ways could be conjured up to make the game the game says “Annie”. The partner responds more challenging. Many old timers still have by saying “over” meaning that he is ready. The their jacks, and enjoy digging them out of popular ball is thrown. The object is to catch the ball maintain their skill at this once game. before it touches the ground, then holler “Annie” to the unseen person on the other side, and toss it back. Many times a youngster might try to claim catching the ball since the opponent can’t see for sure. A hazard of this game could entail a broken window, or a loosened roof slat. The game was really popular with boys and girls wanting to become good ball catchers.

13 Darts - Homemade darts could be made out Trampoline Games of wooden match sticks. The top of the match is Add On - One person starts the game by doing split 1/4” to place two pieces of paper one trick. The next person does the same trick as perpendicular to each other to act as a propeller. the first person and then immediately following In the opposite end of the match a pin is adds his own trick. The next person does these sharpened on both ends to make a point. A two tricks and then adds another to it. Keep homemade board can be made of a soft material adding on till one person misses or forgets and to receive the darts well. goes out of the game. This continues until everyone is out. Some used were Red Rover - Divide up into two teams, A and B. tricks seat, Team A lines un on one end of the field and team drop to a sitting position; knee, jumping on knees front, landing on your stomach, back, or B on the other. Team A locks wrists, and calls ; any other appropriate bounce. “Red Rover, Red Rover, let John (A member of the other team) come over”. John has to come Higher, Higher - Two people running over fast enough to break through the stand on each side people’s arms. If he cannot do this, he must join of the trampoline holding the ends of a rope. you the team A, otherwise he returns to his own team First let rope lay on the tramp and everyone goes by and jumps over it one bringing a member of the A team with him. at a time. Then Whoever has the most on their side wins the they raise the rope a couple of inches and everyone game. Many people I talked with remember the jumps over it again. The game is over when game from the bruises on their arms. the last person can’t jump over the rope. It finally gets so high that no one can get over it.

I Spy - Two people on the trampoline. A person with his back faced to these people calls out a challenge like seat, go. Everyone else does that jump and tries to sneak in another kind of jump without getting caught. If a player is caught doing another trick the person who’s it says “I spy”, and the one to get caught has to be “it” next. I spy may also be combined with other games to mean “you’re caught”. At times the term I spy went with the game Hide the Thimble.

War - This is a challenge to see who can break the consistency of the other jumpers. For instance, players may do, sit, stand, trying to break up the rhythm of the other jumper. By landing slightly before or after the opponent also doing a sit, stand bounce his bounce may be killed, or he may be sent way up, thus eliminating players to acknowledge a winner. two players’ hands while a third player jumps.

Spin the Bottle - An old glass milk bottle, now replaced with paper or plastic cartons, is placed in the middle of the floor. The players sit around the bottle in a circle facing each other. One person spins the bottle. It turns and twists to a stop. The person that the bottle points to may choose someone in the room to take a walk with, kiss, hold hands, or other dares.

King’s X - This is a popular term meaning time-out. In the midst of any game a player may cross the index and middle fingers on both hands and holler “King’s X”. This means that mom is calling, I have to leave for a minute, or many other situations where you need a time-out, and the players must respect this to let you go. 14 Simon Says -Everyone spreads out and faces Hop Scotch - A pattern drawn on a side walk or Simon who is giving the orders. Simon may say hard ground is also known as Potsy. This pattern “Simon Says” before the order, or he may not. may vary depending on the designer. A rock or When Simon says to the players, “Simon says other hard object is thrown to land on the hop touch your head”, then you must do it. If only scotch pattern. Then a player must jump “touch your head” is said and you are caught alternating on one foot or two depending on the touching your head without Simon saying to do places for feet. As the player reaches the box so, then you are out of the game. Simon may also with his rock he must pick it up and continue say “do this”, or “do that” instead of giving an completing the jump. After the player returns order, so you must watch him closely. These with the rock it is thrown to the next numbered orders may be given out quite rapidly to insure square. If a line is touched or stumble made, the only the best player to become Simon next. player loses his turn to the next player. Orders such as : stand on one foot, touch your feet, touch the ground, hands on hips, clap your hands.

Blind Man’s Bluff - One person is blindfolded and spun around in a circle until sense of direction is lost. Then he must search out the other players from noise or intrusion. Once a person is found, the finder must guess their name. If he is wrong he must be spun around to try again. But if the guess is right, the person who he has found is “it”.

Ghosts In The Graveyard - This is a game very similar to blind man’s bluff. The blindfolded 67 person would try to find hidden ghosts or players in absolute darkness. This game often became scary as many of the players would try to jump out and yell, scaring one another.

——-- E 1 Monkey In The Middle - This game is based on the same principle as the game keep away, but is played with only three people. The object is to throw a ball back and forth keeping it away from the monkey. If you throw it, and the monkey catches it, you must go in the middle becoming the monkey. .IflRF 5%JJ ==I-

Spools - In the days before styrofoam and plastic, grandma had her own built-in-at-home game. This game came from her industrious sewing machine. Wooden spools, empty of a thread, made excellent material for building blocks, stockade walls, heads for dolls, necklaces or bracelets and many other ingenious inventions. Spools came in different sizes and could be as adaptable in a game as the player who invented it.

Marbles - Marbles was a very popular game in 1’ Steamboat when spring came around. “The steam mine had a power plant house heated with steam. The plant ran up to Eighth and Pine Street. You see, the steam mine made those streets clear. You knew spring was here when

they started playing marbles . ‘ ‘ And as Dorothy Wither can tell you, “I was the best marble shooter in the neighborhood. 15 Jump Rope - One sport which has been very popular for years is jump rope. A rope is held in two players’ hands while a third player jumps. Also a player may jump alone by swinging the rope over the head and under the feet, jumping to miss the rope. Cleverly rhythm sayings are sung to keep the rhythm of the jump. Some popular old chants used by many a rope jumper are quoted: Cinderella dressed in yellow, Went upstairs to kiss a fellow, Made a mistake and kissed a snake How many doctors did it take? Baseball - Baseball could always be organized if there were players enough. In the event if Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear turn around there was a shortage of players the game would Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear touch the ground turn into “Scrub”. This meant the first person to Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear touch your head tag home plate was up to bat first, then catcher, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear go to bed pitcher, 1st, 2nd base etc. As a player would be Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear turn off the lights put out, the other field players rotated till they Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear say good night. reached bat and got put back out to field. Another method of deciding who goes first was. Down by the ocean hands placed on a bat on top of each other till the Down by the sea bat’s top is covered. Baseball became the hit of Johnny broke a bottle and blamed it on me. Steamboat in 1917. I told ma, ma told pa and Johnny got a whippin’ King Of The Mountain - One person gets on top Fla! I-la! Ha! of a rock, snow bank, or any other of this sort How many whippins did he get? representing a mountain. He must try to keep the “soldiers” from getting to the top of the Strawberry shortcake cream on top mountain by continually pushing them down. If Tell me the name of your sweet heart one of the soldiers gets up to the top, he becomes

A, B, C. . . (The letter you miss a jump on is the the new “King of the mountain”. first letter of your boyfriend’s name) Rubber Guns - A rubber gun was usually made I like coffee, I like tea out of wood, either carved or a sawed right angle I like in with me. to resemble a gun. A clothes pin is attached to

(That person jumps in the rope with him and the handle portion of the gun with bailing wire or sings the song next) rubber. Next, an old car tire innertube could be cut crosswise to make a circular rubber ammunition. The rubber is stretched from the barrel of the gun to the handle, and clamped into the clothes pin. When an opponent approaches the corner, the battle begins. The object is to hit your opponent without hitting him in a dangerous place. Actually more fun was derived from this game in the making than actually shooting, considering the players have to watch out carefully not to hurt other players.

Swings - A swing could always be made to hang from the old oak, willow or aspen tree. This consisted of having heavy duty rope tied just right for slippage over a sturdy branch. The seat bottom for the swing was made out of wood with the rope tied securely with knots through drilled holes or simply looped around the seat bottom. Many chants and sayings could be made up to swing by and it was always fun to parachute from the swing in mid air seeing who could make it without any broken bones. 16 in

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