#141: Tag

Number of players: Best with 4 or more.

One player is ‘it’. The ‘it’ player tries to tag (lightly touch) one of the other players making them ‘it’. Once another player becomes ‘it’, the used-to-be ‘it’ player has to get away from the ‘it’ player just like everyone else or they will be tagged and become ‘it’ again.

Variations:
Freeze tag: When a player is tagged, they become frozen (can’t move). Frozen players stand with their arms spread out until someone who isn’t frozen can run under their arms to unfreeze them. Play until everyone is frozen or until the ‘it’ player gets too tired.

Blob tag: When the ‘it’ player tags another player, they also become ‘it’. ‘It’ players hold hands to make a blob and try to make all the players part of the blob. The last player tagged is the new ‘it’ player for the next game.

Can’t tag your butcher: You need at least 5 people to play this version. Once a player becomes ‘it’, they can’t tag the player who made them ‘it’.

Shadow tag: ‘It’ tags shadows by stepping on them instead of touching players.

Flashlight tag: It must be dark for this one. Agree on where the game boundaries are (fenced yard or basement). Each player gets a flashlight. Nobody but the ‘it’ player turns theirs on. The players run around and the ‘it’ person turns on their flashlight for 1 second here and there to see if they can tag a player by shining the light on a part of them. Once tagged, that player can help the ‘it’ person by shining their flashlight on players.


Make it a family activity: The whole family can play tag, and I think Dad should be 'it' first.

This activity promotes physical activity and observation skills.

#140: Pretend You Are Blind

Close your eyes or blindfold yourself and walk around. Make sure you do this in a safe place (for example, away from hot stoves, stairs, and breakable objects).




To help keep you safe, you can have a friend be your guide. Allow them to give you directions. Follow their directions and see where they lead you. Take turns being blind.


This activity promotes processing sensory clues other than sight to navigate.

#139: Play with Action Figures or Dolls

Get out your action figures (Spiderman, Luke Skywalker, or Wonderwoman) or your dolls (Barbies, Polly Pockets, or Bratz) and play!




Have your friends bring their action figures/dolls over and have an adventure!


This activity promotes imaginative play.

#138: Find a Fossil

What is a fossil? A fossil is a plant or animal that's shape has been preserved in rock. Generally, fossils are over 10,000 years old.



If you live in an area with a lot of fossils, you might be able to find fossils right in your playground! Or, maybe the local museum has fossil digging camps, tours and day expeditions. If you don't have fossil beds (places with a lot of fossils) in your area, check out science museums. Sometimes interactive museums will have 'false' fossil beds where children can 'dig' for fossils.


Make it a family activity: Everyone goes on a fossil hunt together!

This activity promotes Earth and geological awareness.

#137: Eat Something New

Try something you haven't eaten before. How about squid? Jackfruit? Okra? Dragonfruit? Eggplant? Chocolate covered grasshoppers? Maybe it is something more common like guacamole or olives. Pop it in your mouth and see if you have a new favourite. (Need some ideas? Try this site.)




How about a food you don't like? Give it a try, maybe your tastes have changed and you like it now.


Make this a family activity: Everyone picks something they want to try and make a whole meal out of wonderful, new foods.

This activity promotes exploring with your senses/taste buds and expanding your culinary tastes.

#136: Soccer

Let's play soccer!





Make it a family activity: Break into teams and play!

This activity promotes teamwork, physical activity and coordination.

#135: Skip Stones

Find a stone that fits nicely in your hand. A good skipping stone is flat on the bottom and slightly rounded on top.

Try to get the stone to skip along the top of the water in a lake or pond (smooth water without waves works best). If you throw the stone side-arm, it helps the stone bounce along the water’s surface. See how many times you can get it to skip.

Safety First: watch out for people and animals.


Make this a family activity: See who can skip their stones the most or the farthest.

This activity promotes motor control and angle calculation development.