Summer 2003 Edition  

The Games We Play   By Jeanne Baratta (Fair Lawn's Kitchen Elf)   The calendar says that summer is here. I look forward to this time of year, I am just about sick of the school routine and I am looking forward to living a little bit more relaxed for a couple of months. Of course, by the end of August I will be singing that "They're going Back" song from the Staples commercials, but until then I will enjoy my time with my children.   I have been thinking about my childhood summers. We lived in a Fair Lawn neighborhood packed with kids of all ages. After breakfast, we just went out to play and did so until it was dark, stopping only for meals and ice cream! Unfortunately, I do not live in an area like that today. There are not many children near by that my kids can just hang out with. We are stuck with the dreaded play date! Nothing spontaneous, everything has to be planned and scheduled. I feel my kids are missing out on some great childhood memories, and it saddens me.   Recently, my two younger children had some friends over, it was a beautiful day, the little ones were outside and my 13-year-old son and his friends were sitting in front of the computer. My husband started a game of kick ball with the little ones, as I watched from the kitchen. They were having a great time, but were short a couple of players, I put on my sneakers and told my son and his friends that I was going out to play kick ball. They had a good laugh, but within minutes, they were all outside playing with us. We all had a great time. It did not seem to matter that 13 and 14 year olds were playing with 7 and 8 year olds, or that the pitcher was in his 50's, or that Mom is a really bad base runner. For those couple of hours we had a blast, no video games, no instant messenger, just good old-fashioned fun.   I started thinking about the games I played as a kid; spud, freeze tag, "putting your potatoes in", engine number 9, etc. Did my kids even know many of these games? I made a vow to teach them all the games I can remember this summer break. I asked my siblings for some input, to fill in those memory blanks on the rules and names of some of the games we enjoyed as children. Below is a small list of some of our favorite summertime/outside games; I hope they bring out some fond memories for you too.   Get out those sneakers and enjoy the summer!   Red Light / Green Light: In this game, one person plays the "stop light" or "It" and the rest try to touch him/her. At the start, all the children form a line about 15 feet away from the stoplight. The stoplight faces away from the line of kids and says "green light". At this point, the kids are allowed to move towards the stoplight. At any point, the stoplight may say "red light!" and turn around. If any of the kids are caught moving after this has occurred, they are out. Play resumes when the stoplight turns back around and says "green light". The stoplight wins if all the kids are out before anyone is able to touch him/her. Otherwise, the first player to touch the stoplight wins the game and earns the right to be "stop light" for the next game.   Crack the Whip: You need at least 6 people for this game, and it can get you a bit dirty. Everyone holds hands. Someone is picked to be the leader and someone else is the caboose. The leader starts running around and everyone else follows, making sure not to let go of hands. Eventually, because of the force and sharp turns the caboose or other players are sent flying off. The caboose tries as hard as they can not to let go. When everyone is down, pick a new leader and new caboose.   S P U D: You need a minimum of 3 players for this game (no max). All players form a circle and count off (they must remember their number.) One player is chosen to be "it" and is given a playground ball. S/he throws the ball high up into the air and calls out another player's number. Everybody runs away except for the player with that number. S/he must run to the ball. When s/he gets the ball, s/he calls, "Spud!" very loudly. Everybody must freeze when they hear, "Spud!" Then, the player with the ball can take two big steps towards any player and throw the ball at him/her. If that player is hit by the ball, s/he becomes "it." If not, the player who called "Spud!" is "it."   HORSE: You need a basketball net and ball for this game. Players shoot the basketball in order. If the first player scores a basket, the next player must shoot the same shot he did. If the second player scores the basket, the next player tries the same shot. If a player misses the shot, he gets an "H", and the next player starts over with a shot of his choice. With each missed shot (only after the previous player makes it), players add another letter until they have spelled "HORSE" and are out.   Steal the Bacon: The object of Steal the Bacon is take the "bacon" back to your own side without being caught. In this game, two teams are chosen, and one umpire is selected. One object is picked to be the bacon. (a glove can be used). The members of each team are numbered. They form two opposing lines and place the bacon in the exact center between them. The umpire then calls out a number. The players on each side who are assigned that number are the players for that round. No other team members leave their side of the field. Neither player may touch the other until someone touches the bacon. Once a player touches the bacon however, the other player may tag him/her. If a player is able to grab the bacon and carry it back over to his/her own side, that team scores a point. If a player is tagged after touching the bacon and before he/she returns their own side, the team that tagged him/her scores a point. Note that the sequence of play usually involves the two kids running out and hovering over the bacon, waiting for a slight advantage to grab it and run back before the other player can react. The game is over when a predetermined number of points are scored, or when all numbers have been called.   Some Rhymes for picking who is "It":  Inka Binka bottle of ink, the cork fell off and you stink, not because you're dirty, not because you're clean, just because ya kissed a (boy or girl) behind a magazine and You are it. Icka bicka soda cracker Icka bicka boo; Icka bicka soda cracker Out goes Y-O-U         Check out the Kitchen Elf's Other Wonderful Articles Has Spring Really Sprung  (April 2003) Happy Hour:  Rated 'G'  (February 2003) Holiday Sanity (December 2002) For The Birds  (October 2002) In My Vegetable Garden  (August 2002) What To Do With Kids on Summer Vacation  (June 2002) Family Time and Dinner Time  (April 2002) What To Give (And Not Give) Your Wife (February 2002)  Kitchen Elf on Staying Fit  (December 2001) New Market and Gourmet Apples  (October 2001)