by Peggy Strickland

Created on: February 08, 2010

With the first signs that dismal wintry days are giving way to warmth and sunshine an interesting thing happens.   Nature seems to throw a switch and our bodies respond with the undeniable urge to get outside, to feel the rush, to welcome the new season with fun and frolic.

And since food goes right along with frolic, likely a picnic is in order.

While some among us revel in provisioning the occasion with the necessary food and drink - and thank goodness for them - others are quite happy to muster the more rambunctious for games and physical activities.  Fortunately choices for fun and games are almost limitless.

Organized Games

Depending on the surroundings, unsupervised play with no boundaries might not be the best idea, so have ready some games to play.  

Some games for young children never go out of style, like “Red Light, Green Light” or “Mother, May I?” These both require a leader to monitor the children’s progress and to maintain a measure of order.  Children can take turns being leader, or an adult can be sole leader. 

For “Red Light, Green Light,” the children are lined up in a straight line across, some distance from the leader.  The leader hides his eyes, counts as fast as he can, one to ten, then yells “Red Light!” and opens his eyes.  The children will have raced to advance as far and as fast as they can, coming to a complete stop before the leader yells.  If the leader spots any child still in motion, that child must return to start.  The winner is the child who reaches the leader first.

“Mother May I” is similar except that no speed is involved.  Children line up the same, a distance from the leader.  The leader gives an instruction to each child, one by one; like “child one (substitute a name), take two giant steps.”  The child must ask, “Mother, May I?” before advancing.  The leader gives permission and the child moves forward as instructed.  If the child forgets to ask, he or she forfeits that turn.  (In the case of very young children, consider a gentle reminder and allow the turn to continue).  Vary the instructions, using terms like baby steps, hops, jumps, etc.  The winner is the child who reaches the leader first.

For older children set up equipment or structures for games like badminton, volleyball, jump rope or horseshoes.

Running and Catching Games

Throwing

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