The little hostess or host selects two leaders. These choose sides.
Two large rugs are placed near together on the floor. A bowl of peanuts is placed in the center of each. The little players which can soonest dispose of their peanuts two inches apart on their rug, are the winners.
The hostess gives the signal at the beginning and end of the contest.
The sides may work simultaneously or singly, according as the game is played, individually or by sides as a whole. The peanuts are eaten at the end of the game, and a prize of a box of candy is given the winning side or child. This is pa.s.sed about to the guests.
PEANUT HUNT
Some peanuts must be secretly hidden in out-of-the-way places--in bric-a-brac, etc. Give a pretty bag or box to be used as a receptacle for the peanuts, and then the hunt begins. The one getting the most peanuts, receives a prize. He may eat all the peanuts he finds, after the contest is decided, but a lesson in unselfishness is here possible.
The hostess may suggest sharing the peanuts with one who _tried hard_ to find many nuts, but did not succeed; or, if there be a lame child, or one deformed, he or she should receive some of the nuts of the winners, and of those the others find.
A PEANUT PARTY
The invitations have peanuts painted on them, so have little menu cards, which are placed at each plate at the table. These designs are often funny, and even grotesque, as they represent brownies, etc.
Peanuts are strung as necklaces, bracelets, etc. Some of the sandwiches are made of mashed peanuts--called peanut b.u.t.ter--and they are delicious. Peanut candy is served, and at the end peanuts are jabbed for with hat pins. For this all gather at different little tables, or turns are taken at one table, the peanuts being piled up in the center.
A box of candy is given the winner. This he or she, of course, pa.s.ses among the guests.
A CHILDREN"S FAIR
This may be made not only enjoyable, but charitable as well. Tables holding fancy work--preferably the work of the children--candies (home-made), groceries, ap.r.o.ns, pen-wipers, iron-holders, hand-painted cards, capes, etc., etc., may be sold. Rebecca sits at the Well--a well of lemonade. A grab-bag, an orange tree, with saleable parcels on it. A post-office, where letters are sold, and finally a refreshment table or tables, the little girls and boys serving as waiters, in costumes.
SOAP BUBBLES
Making bubbles requires no great effort of the mind or body. Clay pipes for the players are furnished by the hostess. Bowls are filled with water which is quite soapy. The pipes show the colors of the side or sides, being tied with ribbons of different colors. The game contest may be decided in two ways. Either the one who makes the largest bubble is winner, or the one making the most bubbles in a given time. The sides or individuals may play in turn.
A POP-CORN PARTY
A pop-corn party, of necessity, like a candy pull, must be held in the kitchen. This can be decorated for the occasion. Each little guest brings an ap.r.o.n to be donned before the "popping" begins.
First, sh.e.l.l the corn. Second, take a dipper full of corn and "pop"
it. This popping is done in a pan over a clear fire.
Third, divide into parts, when done.
Fourth, sprinkle some with cochineal, if pink corn is desired.
Fifth, string the pop-corn on threads. A needle is used to do this.
Necklaces, bracelets, and boys" chains may be so made.
Each child receives a handsome cornucopia or box as a receptacle for his popcorn.
CANDY PULL
Candy ready to pull may be bought at a candy store, or mola.s.ses may be boiled at home until it is ready to pull, when the hands are greased and the pulling begins. As suggested for a pop-corn party, the kitchen or dining-room is the best place in which to give a party of this kind.
It may be decorated to look well, and the children doubtless would enjoy their play here more than in the parlor.
A BABY SHOW
This may be of dolls or real babies. You can borrow the babies for the occasion. A committee decides which is the handsomest baby, which the best-natured, etc. Rattiers, toys, etc., are given the babies, or you can have your parents and other lady friends take the part of babies.
Put a bib on them when they go to supper.
MISS CHILDREN
The little players sit or stand round the room in a circle. The leader a.s.signs to each some musical instrument, as harp, flute, violincello, trombone, etc., and also selects one for himself. Some well-known tune is then given out, say "Yankee Doodle," and the players all begin to play accordingly, each doing his best to imitate, both in sound and action, the instrument which has been a.s.signed to him, the effect being generally extremely harmonious. The leader commences with his own instrument, but without any warning suddenly ceases, and begins instead to perform on the instrument a.s.signed to one of the players. Such player is bound to notice the change, and forthwith to take the instrument just abandoned by the leader, incurring a forfeit if he fails to do so.
THE COOK WHO DOESN"T LIKE PEAS
The fun of this game depends on a fair proportion of the players not being acquainted with it. The leader begins, addressing the first player, "I have a cook who doesn"t like peas (p"s); what will you give her for dinner?" The person addressed, if acquainted with the secret, avoids the letter p in his answer, and, for example, says, "I will give her some walnuts." The question is then asked of the second person, who, if unacquainted with the trick, is likely enough to offer some delicacy which contains the letter p; e.g., potatoes, asparagus, pork, apple-pie, pickled cabbage, peanuts, etc., etc. When this occurs, the offender is called upon to pay a forfeit, but the precise nature of his offense is not explained to him. He is simply told, in answer to his expostulations, that "the cook doesn"t like p"s." When a sufficient number of forfeits has been extracted, the secret is revealed, and those who have not already guessed it, are teased by being told (over and over again) that the cook did not like p"s, and if they would persist in giving them to her, they must, of course, take the consequences.
MAGIC MUSIC--ANY NUMBER OF PLAYERS
One player is sent from the room. The others decide upon something for him to do, but he is not told what it is, though he is helped by a noise of some kind on metal, or on a musical instrument. When he is near an object with which he is to perform some feat, the noise is loud. If he touches the wrong object, the music is soft. Any one of the musical instruments commonly used by children may be employed in this game.
ZOOLOGY--ANY NUMBER OF PLAYERS
The leader says: "Of what animal am I thinking?" He tells that the animal has a certain number of legs, and gives other points of a like nature. From this description the guessing is done. When a player guesses the animal correctly, he scores a point. Each player has a turn. The game is played until it loses its interest.
CHAPTER XVIII
OUT-DOOR GAMES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
BEAN BAG GAMES--SKIPPING THE ROPE--VARIOUS TAG GAMES--CROSSING THE BROOK
TARGET BEAN BAG
The bags are thrown at targets. A score is made out. A prize is given the one getting the best score.
Throwing the bean bag over the head is another form of Bean Bag Game.
It must be caught by one standing back of the t.o.s.s.e.r. The one who catches it becomes the t.o.s.s.e.r.
BOX BEAN BAG
This game consists of tosses of the bean bag into boxes. The player stands at a distance. The one being successful in his throws the most times is the winner.
BEAN BAG GAMES
An equal number of players out of doors. Two parties are formed, divided by eight or ten feet of s.p.a.ce. The umpire gives a signal, and a player in one line runs to the other side--half way, and tosses his bag to the one at the end of the line; he then takes his place next to this one, and the line moves down.
This is continued, opposite sides taking turns. Then the game is reversed, until the player who first played is in his original place.
BEAN BAG RACE
A bean bag is placed on the ground and another at some distance from it. Two players, at a given signal, run to these bags. The one who can catch the bag and get to the staff placed near the umpire is the winner.
Sides may be scored instead of the individual players.
BEAN BAG AT THE SEASh.o.r.e