ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gif ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/How to Play: Siamese Gift Wraphttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/13/siamese-gift-wrap-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/13/siamese-gift-wrap-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/13/siamese-gift-wrap-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wrap it up! Credit: mattbuck4950, Flickr

What you need: Wrapping paper, tape, scissors, bows and presents or empty boxes.

How to play: Pair up players, and let them know that they will be competing against each other, two pairs at a time, wrapping gifts.

The rules: What they don't know is that they are wrapping the gift with only one hand per person. Have each player stand beside his or her partner, and place each player's inside arm around the waist of his or her partner. Each pair must work together to wrap their gift. The object is to see which Siamese team can wrap the present the best in the allotted time (five minutes or less).

How to win: The pair with the best-wrapped present wins.

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]]>christmas gamesevergreenholiday gamesSiameseGiftWrapSally WorshamMon, 13 Jun 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Euchrehttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/10/euchre-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/10/euchre-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/10/euchre-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Get three "tricks" and win the game! Credit: Getty Images

What you need: You need four players and a deck of 24 standard playing cards consisting of the aces, kings, queens, jacks, 10, and 9 of each of the four suits. A standard 52-card deck can be used, omitting the cards from 2 to 8 of each suit.

How to play: The four players divide into two groups of partners. Someone is chosen to be the dealer, and deals five cards to each player. The remaining four cards are placed in a pile, and the top card is turned face up. The dealer asks each of the other players in turn if they would like the suit of the top card to be trump, which they indicate by saying "pick it up" and the top card becomes part of the dealer's hand, who then discards to return his hand to five cards. If no one "orders up" the top card, each player is given the opportunity in turn to call a different suit as trump. Once trump is declared, play starts with the person to the left of the dealer. It is his or her lead. That player chooses one of the five cards from his or her hand and plays it. Play continues to the left with each player playing a card. At the end, whoever won the trick takes the cards and now has the "lead." This continues until all five "tricks" have been played and the team that took three of the five wins the hand. Points are awarded accordingly.

The rules: Once trump is declared, the jack of trump is the highest card or "the right bower," and the second highest card is the jack of the same color as trump, or "the left bower." Value then continues from Ace to 9 of trump, then from Ace to 9 of all the other suits. The card that is led, becomes the suit of that hand, if the other players have a card of that suit, they must "follow suit" and play that; multiple cards may be chosen between. If a player does not have any of the "led" suit, that player may "trump" the trick in attempt to take it, or "lay off" and play another non-trump suit. At the end of a trick the highest trump takes the trick, or in the case of a no-trump trick, the highest card of the lead suit takes the trick.

How to win: Once all tricks have been played, whichever pair of partners has taken three tricks has "won" the hand. If the team that declared trump wins the hand by taking three or four tricks, they receive one point. Should they take all five tricks, they have "marched" and receive two points. If the team that did not declare trump takes three or more tricks, then they have "set" or "euchred" their opponents. They receive two points. If a player takes all five "alone," that team receives four points. If the player takes three or four tricks, that team gets one point. Getting euchred on a loner is still two points for the other team. The first team to amass 10 points in this fashion wins the game.

What else you need to know: Euchre has many variations and quite a complex terminology. For complete rules of variations and a glossary of Euchre terms, check out Pagat's Euchre Rules.

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]]>Anacondacard gameseuchreevergreenGin RummypokerSally WorshamFri, 10 Jun 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Passwordhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/09/password-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/09/password-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/09/password-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Don't tell the password! Credit: Getty Images

What you need: At least four players and a pack of Password cards.

How to play: Divide into teams of two - one player will be "A" and the other player will be "B." Divide the cards, giving the "A" cards to the "A" players and the "B" cards to the "B" players. Teams will take turns with the "A" players giving clues to the words on the cards to the "B" players in a time limit. Then, after going through the clues for all five words on the "A" cards, the players will switch roles. Game play continues for three rounds of both players giving the other clues.

The rules: Clue givers cannot say any form of the word in a clue. If they do, that word is thrown out and no points will be received. Guessers can pass on words and come back to them if there is time left. Players get five points for each word guessed. The last word on the card is worth 10 points.

How to win: Be the team with the most points after three rounds of play.

What else you need to know: You can make your own Password cards by writing five words per card.

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]]>celebrity gamecharadesevergreeni spypassword gameSally WorshamThu, 09 Jun 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Ranter-Go-Roundhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/08/ranter-go-round-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/08/ranter-go-round-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/08/ranter-go-round-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Poker chips serve as "lives" in this game.

What you need: A standard deck of playing cards and tokens (poker chips, candy, pennies). Any number of players can play this game.

How to play: The object is not to have the lowest card at the table. Aces can be high or low. Each player receives two to four tokens to count as "lives." Each player is dealt one card, face down. Starting to the left of the dealer, each in turn examines his or her card. If a player is satisfied with her or her card, it may be kept, usually simply by announcing, "I'm good." However, if the player is unsatisfied, the card may be passed to the player on the left, announcing that he or she is "not good," and he or she receives that player's card back in return.

The player to the left is obliged to exchange for the unwanted card unless he or she currently holds a king -- at which time he or she can refuse the card by showing the card. That transaction completed, privilege now passes to the player to the left who may or may not have a new card to decide on. Players who have shown a king in defense are considered to have completed their play. Play continues to the left.

The rules: After all exchanges are completed, the players' cards are all turned face up, and the lowest at the table loses a token/life -- which he or she places into the central pot. Ties lose a life each. Once players lose all their lives, they are out of the game and only remaining players are dealt in for the next hand. Each hand, the dealer rotates to the next player to the left. Play continues until only one person with lives remains.

How to win: Be the last remaining player with a life or lives.

What else you need to know: There are many variations to this game, such as aces counting double lives and the highest card being avoided instead of the lowest card.

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]]>Anacondacard gamescrazy eightsevergreenranter-go-roundSally WorshamWed, 08 Jun 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Out of the Waterhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/07/out-of-the-water-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/07/out-of-the-water-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/07/out-of-the-water-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

ball picture

Toss the garbage! Credit: Alexander Joe, AFP/Getty Images

What you need: You will need a long rope (about 30 feet), two pairs of swimming fins, 10 balls, and two trashcans.

How to play: Divide the children into two teams of three to six players. Set up the trashcans about 40 feet apart from each other.

The rules: Tie opposite ends of the rope around both of the first players on each team. These players will put on the swimming fins. Each player gets five balls, and he will try to toss them into his team's trashcan. Each team gets one point for each ball thrown into the trashcan. After these players have completed their task, the next two players will go. Play continues until all players have gone.

How to win: The team with the most points at the end of the game is the winning team.

What else you need to know: Allow enough rope so that it will be short and the competitors will have to pull against each other to reach the task.

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]]>indoor and outdoor gamesIndoorAndOutdoorGamesout of the waterOutOfTheWaterrelay raceRelayRaceSally WorshamTue, 07 Jun 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Blind Man's Bluffhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/06/blind-mans-bluff-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/06/blind-mans-bluff-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/06/blind-mans-bluff-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No peeking! Credit: Getty Images

What you need: A blindfold and a spacious area (outdoors or a large room).

How to play: Designate one person as "it." Put a blindfold on "it," spin the person around, and send him or her out into the group of people, who scatter to avoid being tagged. Players can tease "it" by trying to make him or her change direction.

The rules: Who will be "it" can be determined by a counting-out game, such as One Potato.

How to win: Avoid the person who is "it."

What else you need to know: In one variation, the game lasts until everyone has been tagged, and the last person to be tagged is "it" in the next round. In another version, "it" feels the face of the person tagged and tries to guess who that person is. Marco Polo is a variation played in a swimming pool.

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]]>blind mans bluffevergreeni spymarco poloone potatoSally WorshamMon, 06 Jun 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Cakewalkhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/03/cakewalk-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/03/cakewalk-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/03/cakewalk-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Cakewalks are popular at fundraisers. Credit: Getty Images

What you need: A path of up to 20 numbered squares, music to play during the game and prizes (typically a cake, but other treats or items can also serve as the prize).

How to play: When the music starts playing, children walk around the path, stepping on one numbered square at a time. When the music stops, everyone must stop walking, and a number is called out. Whoever is standing on that number wins the prize.

The rules: Winning numbers should be drawn out of a hat or fishbowl for the sake of fairness.

How to win: Be the person standing on the square of the number that is called out.

What else you need to know: This is a great game for school fundraisers -- sell tickets to participants.

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]]>birthday party gamescakewalkevergreenfundraisingSally WorshamFri, 03 Jun 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Forcing the City Gateshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/02/forcing-the-city-gates-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/02/forcing-the-city-gates-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/02/forcing-the-city-gates-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Celebrate Chinese New Year with this Red Rover-like game. Credit: Getty Images

What you need: All you need is enough children to form two teams of at least four people each.

How to play: In this Chinese New Year variation of Red Rover, players divide up into teams. The two teams face each other, standing a few yards apart. The first team links arms and chants, "He stuck a feather in his hat and hurried to the town. And children met him with a horse for the gates were broken down." A player from the other team runs with all of his or her force towards the first team, trying to break through the arm links.

The rules: If the player successfully breaks through, the two players who he or she broke through will join the other team. If the player does not break through, he or she must join that team. The game continues from team to team until there is a winning team.

How to win: Be able to keep players from breaking through arm links, keeping your team intact.

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]]>Chinese New Yearevergreenforcing the city gatesholiday gamesred-roverSally WorshamThu, 02 Jun 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Knocking the Stickhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/01/knocking-the-stick-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/01/knocking-the-stick-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/01/knocking-the-stick-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Knock the stick over the line to win. Credit: Getty Images

What you need: Two sticks and chalk for drawing lines.

How to play: Draw two lines with chalk on the ground 8 feet apart. On one of the lines, place one of the sticks. The object is to move the stick over the line by throwing the other stick at it.

The rules: You must stand behind the line when throwing the stick.

How to win: Be the player who knocks the stick over the line the most times.

What else you need to know: Sticks should be 10 to 15 inches long.

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]]>Chinese New Yearevergreenholiday gamesKnockingTheStickstriking the stickSally WorshamWed, 01 Jun 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Heartshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/31/hearts-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/31/hearts-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/31/hearts-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Do you heart hearts? Credit: Getty Images

What you need: Four players and a standard deck of playing cards.

How to play: All the cards are dealt to each player, so players have 13 cards. During the first round of play, players select three of their cards to pass face down to the player on their left. Once they have done that, they can pick up the three cards that are being passed to them. In the second round, players choose three cards to pass to the player on their right. The third round, players pass three cards to the person sitting opposite of them. No cards are passed on the fourth round. The cycle then repeats with the fifth hand. The player with the two of clubs must lead with it for the first trick. There are no trump cards. You should follow suit of the lead card if you are able to. The player who played the highest valued card wins the trick. Once all the cards have been played, players who have a heart score one point. The unlucky person with the queen of spades scores 13 points. If a player wins all of the scoring cards, then he or she can either reduce their score by 26 or add 26 to all of the other player's scores. Play continues until one person reaches 100 points.

The rules: It is against the rules to play a heart as a lead if a heart hasn't been played in a trick. A player who has nothing but hearts in their hand can lead with a heart. Spades can be used as a lead card at anytime during the game. It's a common practice to lead with spades to smoke out the queen.

How to win: The player with the lowest amount of points wins the game.

What else you need to know: Some people treat the jack of diamonds as a bonus card, and it counts as a negative 10 points for the player left with this card.

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]]>card gameseuchreevergreenGin Rummygo fishheartsSally WorshamTue, 31 May 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Kings in the Cornerhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/30/kings-in-the-corner-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/30/kings-in-the-corner-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/30/kings-in-the-corner-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Put your kings in the corners. Credit: Getty Images

What you need: Two to four players and a standard deck of playing cards.

How to play: Each player is dealt seven cards from the top of the deck. A game play "board" is then set up on the playing surface. Four cards are laid down, face up, in a plus pattern, with the remainder of the deck face down in the middle. In this fashion, there should be a card north, south, east and west of the deck with empty spaces in the "corners."

The player who takes the first turn is determined by each player drawing a random card from the deck; the player with the highest draw goes first. Each turn begins with the player drawing a card from the top of the deck. Players then attempt to discard from their hand by playing their cards in descending numerical order in the same suit using the cards on the "board" as a starting point. For instance, if there is a four of clubs on the playing board, a player can take a three of clubs from his or her hand and discard it onto that four, and so forth. Players can continue playing as many cards from their hand as are eligible for play in this fashion. If at any time a player has a king in his or her hand, he or she should place it in one of the empty corners. These corner stacks now become active in game play and cards can be played on them during turns in the same fashion as the normal game board.

The rules: The twist in the game comes when a space in any one of the four main game play slots becomes vacant. This happens when the highest card in the chain of cards in any slot is applicable to be played on top of the lowest card on any other slot on the board. For instance, if the cards on the northern slot are "five of diamonds, four of clubs, three of hearts" and the cards on the southern slot are "two of clubs, ace of hearts" then a player may move the cards from the Southern slot on top of those on the northern. Now there is a "vacancy" in the southern slot on the board. If a player accomplishes such a move during a turn, he or she now has the privilege of also being able to play cards from his or her hand in ascending order (in alternating colors) underneath the highest card in any stack on the board.

This method of play can only happen when a vacancy is in existence and only during the turn for which the vacancy exists. The player ends this turn by filling in the vacancy with any card or combinations of cards from his or her hand. If a player fails to pick at the beginning of his or her turn, another player can call him or her on it and the person loses his or her turn. Also, if a player fails to notice a move that could be completed on the open board, as soon as the active player "knocks" that he or she is finished, the first player to slap the cards that could have been played gets to complete the turn and set out as many of his or her cards as possible and still gets his turn when regular play resumes.

How to win: The first player to play all of his or her cards onto the board is the winner.

What else you need to know: Another way to play is to be dealt seven cards, and play the cards in your hand or draw from the deck until you have something to play. Each row of cards may be moved to another row if it is playable. That will also count as your turn if you have no more cards left. If another player finishes before you, you may make an attempt to tie. If playing with two people, the loser shuffles. If there is a tie, anyone can shuffle.

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]]>card gamesevergreenGin Rummykings in the cornerpokerSally WorshamMon, 30 May 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Old Maidhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/27/old-maid-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/27/old-maid-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/27/old-maid-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Don't get stuck with the Old Maid! Credit: Getty Images

What you need: Two to eight players and a pack of Old Maid cards or a standard pack of playing cards. When using a regular deck, a card is either removed or added, resulting in one unmatchable card. The most popular choice is to remove the ace of clubs or queen of clubs or to add a single joker. The unmatchable card becomes the "Old Maid."

How to play: The dealer deals all of the cards to the players. Some players may have more cards than others; this is acceptable. Players look at their cards and discard any pairs they have (for example, two kings, two sevens, etc.) face up. Players do not discard three of a kind. Beginning with the dealer, each player takes turns offering his or her hand face down to the person on his or her left. That person selects a card and adds it to his or her hand. This player then sees if the selected card makes a pair with his or her original cards. If so, the pair is discarded face up, as well. The player who just took a card then offers his or her hand to the person to the left, and so on. A player is allowed to shuffle his or her hand before offering it.

The rules: In common variants, the suit colors of a discarded pair must match: spades with clubs and diamonds with hearts.

How to win: The object of the game is to continue to take cards, discarding pairs, until all players except one have no cards left. That one player left with the lone unmatchable card -- the "Old Maid" -- loses.

What else you need to know: There are many variations of this game, such as any card can be removed at the start of the game. That card is revealed at the end of the game, and the player left with its partner loses.

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]]>card gamescrazy eightsevergreenGin Rummyold maidSally WorshamFri, 27 May 2011 08:00:00 ESTHow to Play: The ABC Gamehttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/26/the-abc-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/26/the-abc-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/26/the-abc-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Spot the letter "A," win a point. Credit: Getty Images

What you need: This is a game to play while riding in a car on a road trip, but you do need pen/pencil and paper to keep score.

How to play: As you see letters on billboards, license plates and highway signs, players take turns shouting out the letter and pointing.

The rules: Once a letter has been claimed, it cannot be used by other players. If a player cannot find an unclaimed letter within a minute or two, his or her turn is over.

How to win: The person who finds the most letters after the alphabet has been completed is the winner.

What else you need to know: This game can be made more difficult by limiting letters to only billboard signs or license plates or highway signs.

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]]>car gamesevergreeni spylast letter gamethe ABC gameSally WorshamThu, 26 May 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Charadeshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/25/charades-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/25/charades-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/25/charades-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Two words: Charades rule! Credit: Getty Images

What you need: At least six players, slips of paper, pens or pencils and a hat or box.

How to play: Players are divided into teams of three or more. Each player receives several slips of paper and must write a word or phrase for the other team to guess on each slip. Slips are kept secret and placed in the hat or box. One team is chosen to go first, and that team selects someone to be the actor. The actor picks a slip out of the box or hat and must act out the word or phrase without talking. The object of the game is to use physical language to convey the meaning to the team. If the team cannot correctly guess the word or phrase within the time limit, that team receives no points and it becomes the other team's turn. The game continues until all players have had a turn at being the actor.

The rules: Rules can vary about which words or phrases are allowed; however, the secret phrases are often confined to names of books, movies, TV shows and songs. The actor cannot make any sounds or lip movements. Nor can the actor point out objects that are in the room. The actor is allowed to make any gestures other than blatantly spelling out the word or phrase. The guessers can ask questions to which the actor can respond by nodding or shaking his or her head.

How to win: The team that guesses the most words or phrases by the end of the game claims victory.

What else you need to know: There are many standard signals than can be used in Charades, such as pretending to open a book for book title, cranking a movie camera for movie title and drawing a rectangle in the air for TV show title.

Related: Celebrity, Twenty Questions, I Spy

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]]>20 questionscelebrity gamecharadesevergreeni spytwenty questionsSally WorshamWed, 25 May 2011 08:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Ghosthttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/24/ghost-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/24/ghost-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/24/ghost-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lose the game, and become a "ghost." Credit: Getty Images

What you need: All you need for this game is at least two players.

How to play: This is a word game in which players take turns adding letters to a growing word fragment, but they cannot complete the word. A player who completes a word loses that round and receives a letter of the word "ghost," as in the basketball game Horse. Each fragment must be the start of an actual word.

The rules: The person whose turn it is may challenge the previous player to prove the current fragment is actually a word. If the player can name the word, the challenger loses that round. If the challenged player cannot name a word, that player loses the round.

How to win: The first person who receives all the letters in the word "ghost" is the loser of the game.

What else you need to know: In some versions of the game, players that have gotten out of the game continue to participate by trying to distract other players and turn them into ghosts. If a player does not have all the letters of the word "ghost" and he or she talks to an existing ghost, they are immediately out of the game and become a ghost.

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]]>evergreenghost gamehorsepasswordword gamesSally WorshamTue, 24 May 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: My Father Owns a Grocery Storehttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/23/my-father-owns-a-grocery-store-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/23/my-father-owns-a-grocery-store-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/23/my-father-owns-a-grocery-store-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What items are in your "grocery store?" Credit: Getty Images

What you need: This is a game to play while riding in a car on a road trip.

How to play: One person begins the game by saying, "My father owns a grocery store, and in it he sells (something that begins with the letter A, like apples)." The next person says, "My father owns a grocery store, and in it he sells apples and (something that begins with the letter B, like bananas)." The game continues with each player having to recite the entire list and adding a new item for the next letter of the alphabet.

The rules: If someone forgets an item or is completely stumped, that player is out of the game.

How to win: Be able to recite the entire list, A to Z.

What else you need to know: This game can be altered by changing the store. For example, say "My father owns a record store..." and name bands, song titles and album titles.

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]]>car gamesCarGamesevergreeni spyISpylast letter gameLastLetterGamemy father owns a grocery storeMyFatherOwnsAGroceryStorethe ABC gameTheAbcGameSally WorshamMon, 23 May 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Flashlight Taghttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/20/flashlight-tag-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/20/flashlight-tag-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/20/flashlight-tag-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lighten up with a game of Flashlight Tag. Credit: Getty Images

What you need: Of course, you will need a flashlight. This game is best played at night, either indoors or outdoors.

How to play: In this variation of Tag, the person designated as "it" tags players with a flashlight instead of physically touching them.

The rules: Who will be "it" can be determined by a counting-out game, such as One Potato. Once the game begins, whoever is tagged can either be out of the game or become "it."

How to win: Play the game without being tagged.

What else you need to know: There are many variations on this game, including Ball Tag and Freeze Tag.

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]]>evergreenflashlight tagfreeze tagindoor gamesoutdoor gamesSally WorshamFri, 20 May 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Musical Chairshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/19/musical-chairs-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/19/musical-chairs-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/19/musical-chairs-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last one sitting wins! Credit: Getty Images

What you need: A group of children, a bunch of chairs (one fewer than the number of children playing) and music.

How to play: The chairs are arranged in a circle, facing outwards, with the players standing outside of the circle. Once the music starts, players begin walking around the circle. When the music stops, the players must sit in a chair as fast as they can. The person left standing is out of the game, one more chair is removed and the game continues.

The rules: Any pushing or shoving by players to get to a chair when the music stops will result in that player leaving the game.

How to win: Be the last person left sitting.

What else you need to know: Chairs also can be set up back to back, forming a double line, facing outwards. In another variation, you can play this game without chairs - the last person to sit down on the ground or floor is eliminated.

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]]>birthday party gamescakewalkevergreenmusical chairsSally WorshamThu, 19 May 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Spithttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/18/spit-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/18/spit-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/18/spit-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Get your spit piles lined up. Credit: Getty Images

What you need: Two players and a standard deck of playing cards.


How to play: Shuffle the cards well, and deal out all of the cards so that both players have 26 cards. From these cards, each player deals out five piles, each pile containing one, two, three, four and five cards, respectively. Turn the top card on each pile face up - these are the "stock piles." The remaining 11 cards are placed face down in a stack - these are the "spit cards." When players are ready to begin, both shout "Spit!" while turning over the top card in their respective stockpiles. Each player then draws the top card from their spit cards, and they're placed side by side between the players' hands. These two cards and the cards that will be played on top of them are the "spit piles." The players now play simultaneously as fast as they want. The object is to get rid of all your spit cards and place the stock pile cards onto the spit piles.

The rules: Moving only one card at a time, you can play the face up card from the top of one of your piles onto either spit pile. To play a card on a spit pile, it has to be either next in sequence up or down, or the same number as the original card. Suit and color do not matter. Always be sure you have five cards face up. If you run out of cards in one of the five stock piles, you can take a card from another stock pile and place it in the empty spot. If two face-up cards in different piles are identical in number (for example, ace of spades and ace of hearts) you can move one card and stack it on top of the other.

A card counts as played as soon as it touches the spit pile or space onto which it is to be placed. A played card cannot be retracted and as soon as it is played the opponent is entitled to play on it. If a position is reached where neither player can play (for example, none of the exposed pile cards can be played to either of the spit piles and it is not possible to turn up another card from a pile after moving cards into spaces) then both players shout "Spit!" and each places the top card from his or her respective stockpile on top of the spit pile he or she started. Play then continues as before until either player has removed all of his or her cards from play. As soon as he or she has placed down the last card, then either player has the opportunity to be the first person to place his or her hand on whichever pile he or she wants. They must yell out "Spit" at the same time. You should choose the pile with fewer cards, as the aim of the game is to be the first to get rid of all cards.

How to win: The first player to get rid of all of his or her stock pile is the winner.

What else you need to know: This game is also known as Speed or Slam. You may want to use an old deck of cards as cards can get damaged in this game.

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]]>card gamesevergreenslapjacksnapspitwarSally WorshamWed, 18 May 2011 07:00:00 ESTHow to Play: Football Toss Contesthttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/17/football-toss-contest-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/17/football-toss-contest-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/17/football-toss-contest-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Swing it! Credit: Getty Images

What you need: You need a tire, a rope, four or more footballs, and a place to hang the tire (tree, jungle gym or monkey bars).

How to play: Hang the tire at a level that all players can pass a football through. Divide the children into two teams, and have them line up on each side of the tire so that the teams will be facing each other. Give each team at least two footballs.

The rules: The first player in each line will throw all the footballs through the tire, trying to block the opposite team's ball. When a player throws the ball through the tire, his team receives one point. After the first player has gathered his footballs, he will give them to the next player to throw. Play continues until all players have thrown the footballs.

How to win: The team with the highest points at the end of the game is the winning team.

What else you need to know: You can use Nerf footballs to prevent injury if someone gets hit. If you use regular footballs, you may want players to wear bike helmets.

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]]>ball gamesBallGamesfootball toss contestFootballTossContestoutdoor gamesOutdoorGamesrelay raceRelayRaceSally WorshamTue, 17 May 2011 07:00:00 EST