(For
the Whole Family!)
Sorry, Wrong Number (Family Circle 8/68)
This numbers game can be fun for children just learning to count but made difficult enough to challenge budding mathematical geniuses.
The easiest version goes this way: The first player designates a "wrong number" and tells the other players. Let's say three has been chosen. Players then count aloud and in turn, clockwise around the car. The fist player says "one," the next player says "two", but the next player cannot say "three" because that is the wrong number... so that player makes a buzzing sound instead. The player following continues the count by saying "four" and the counting continues.
Players who
make mistakes are eliminated until a winner is declared. the
winner gets to choose a new wrong number.
To complicate the game, reverse the direction of counting anytime
someone goes "Bzzz".
For very young children the count may return to one after 10 has been reached. Older children may continue the count upward, but everytime a number with a three in it appears (13, 23, 30), the player whose turn it is must say "Bzzz". In a more difficult game, multiples of wrong numbers are also considered wrong. For example, if three is a wrong nuber, then six, nine, twelve, and so forth would also be wrong because three divides evenly into them.
Once Upon A Time (Family Circle 8/68)
This is an especially good game for the very young, although an all-adult version can provide fascinating late-night fun.
The first player starts off by saying "Once upon a time..." The next player then takes up the story by adding a phrase or sentence. For example, "Once upon a time there was a cowboy." Each player in turn continues the story by adding a sentence. It is fair , with older children, to try to make it hard for the next player to continue the story. For example, the third player in the above game might have added, "But he was shot dead by the sherriff." To keep the story going, the next player might say, "But he was rushed to a hospital, and after a heart transplant he was as good as new".
Mystery Guest (Family Circle 8/68)
There are two ways to play this game, one easy enough for young children, and another that can provide a real challenge for older children and adults.
In the simpler version the player who is "it" pretends to be a "mystery guest"- someone like Santa Claus or Grandfather or the little kitten that lives next door. Other players asking questions in turn, try to find out who the mystery guest is. Questions like "do you live on our street?" or "Do you have a long white beard?" will help steer young children onto the right track.
The player who identifies the mystery guest is "it" in the next game. With older children and adults the mystery guest may be any well-known personality, living, dead or fictional.
Disclaimer: The ideas on these pages were obtained from a notebook that my mom gave me when I had kids. Most of the information in this book was cut from magazines in the 60's and 70's. When possible, I will credit the magazine and published date.
Most of the stuff on these pages require very little parental supervision/intervention. Some of the ideas require using an iron or oven, they are marked clearly (in red). Please supervise your children!!! Groovynet will not be held responsible for any accidents caused by your not watching/helping your kids! Please Be responsible.
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