by Tonya L. Howe

Created on: June 12, 2008   Last Updated: June 13, 2008

Independence Day makes me think of the olden days; when things were simpler. Schools only had one room and lunch was in a tin pail. It's a good time to introduce children to the simple games of yesteryear.

Tug-of-War

I'm sure you already know how to play this one. If it's a particularly hot day you could put a small pool filled with water in the middle so the losers get wet.

Don't have a rope? No problem, a similar game that does not require a rope is called, "Americans and English" where each team's leader lock arms and the team members hold on to each other and the leader, much like a train, and attempt to pull the other team across the line.

Shinny

Similar to ice hockey but played in an open field or yard. Each player finds a stick, tree branch, or whatever and uses it to hit a ball or a crushed tin can or anything, attempting to score points by knocking it into the opposing team's goal.

Marbles

Kids of yesteryear played marbles a lot. You can pick up bags of marbles at the dollar store and pass them out. The most popular marble game was called Ring Taw. Draw a large ring and a smaller ring inside it and place some marbles in the smaller circle. These are the nibs. Players crouch outside the larger circle and shooting from outside the larger circle, using a big marble, (shooter or boulder) shoots at the nibs attempting to knock them out of the large circle. Each player keeps the marbles he/she knocks out. The winner is the player with the most marbles.

Hot Potato

You can set a timer for two minutes and have the children toss a potato back and forth to each other, whoever has it in their possession when the timer rings, is out. Keep going until one winner is left standing. If someone tosses it to someone just before the timer rings, the toss has to be reasonably close or it falls against the one who tossed it last if the person catching it has to go get it, and the timer rings during that time. If the catcher touched it and lost it, the catcher is out.

Relay Races

Set up a race course, include some patriotic themes and have everyone run it, one at a time, keeping track of the times. Award the winner a prize and give 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons, easily obtainable from the dollar store or a party supply store.

Treasure Hunt

A full description of how to make a treasure hunt is in this article, which is themed for Easter, but you can change the theme to 4th of July:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/128840 /easter_treasure_hunt.html

Gunny Sack Races

Also known as Potato

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