Day 3 – “GAMES”
During the month of April, I’m writing 30 Words for 30 Days: Thoughts from Six Feet Away, one topic per day. Find out why here.
“GAMES”
Today’s post is a little more lighthearted.
Like most families these last several weeks, you may have suddenly found that you have the following:
- a lot of time on your hands
- a lot of family members present
- no idea how to pass the next four weeks, not to mention today
Fear not! Here are four of our family favorites that we created over the years and have come back to in times just like this.
Feel free to adapt these to your own family and available equipment. Be creative but have fun.
Let’s get started…
1. MASOCKEY
What is it: A mix of soccer and hockey using Nerf maces. We created this years ago when our boys were little.
Where is it played: Inside or outside
Equipment needed: A nerf mace, broom or other swingable item. A lightweight ball. Two goals (cones will work).
Object: Score goals by getting the ball through the goal
Rules:
- You can use your feet to kick the ball or mace to hit the ball but goals can only be scored by hitting the ball with the mace through the goal.
- If playing in a yard, out of bounds applies.
- Beginning of game starts as a hockey face-off at center field.
- After each goal, defending team brings the ball in and opposing team must start behind midfield.
2. BALLOON VOLLEYBALL
What is it: Like regular volleyball, but with a balloon.
Where is it played: Inside, with furniture dividing sides of the court
Equipment needed: A room, a balloon, and something to divide the room
Object: Score points by hitting balloon on floor of opposing side
Rules:
- We determine a place to serve from, based on size of room.
- Three hits per side. Can hit off walls and land on objects.
- Can use any part of body to hit.
- If balloon gets stuck, can blow on it to get it moving again.
FRISBEE GOLF
What is it: Frisbee golf, played around the house or in the neighborhood
Where is it played: Outside (unless you want to use a plastic lid from a can and play inside).
Equipment needed: Frisbee
Object: Get the frisbee to the “hole” in as few throws as possible.
Rules:
- We usually come up with 3-5 holes.
- They can be anything from just throwing from the driveway, around a tree and hitting a chair to more detailed.
- If we play out toward the street, we usually use a spotter to make sure we don’t hit a parked car or other objects.
- Play at your own discretion based on children’s ages.
- Example hole from the Washburn course: Throw from fire hydrant, slalom around trees and hit back side of a sign in yard. Par: 4.
ARMY ARROWS
What is it: Shooting rubber bands across the room (room divided into halves) to knock over all army men set up on other side.
Where is it played: Inside
Equipment needed: Plastic army men or anything else small that can be stood up and knocked over in a room.
Object: Team with last man (or object) standing wins.
Rules:
- Divide room up in half. Mark halfway line. Additionally mark lines on either side (we use blankets or rope) to indicate how far players on that side can advance toward other side to shoot.
- Each side places all of their army men (or objects) wherever they want on their side, trying to be strategic and make them as hard to knock down as possible. They can’t be leaning up against anything though.
- Each side starts with a certain number of rubber bands (can be small, regular ones or the big guys).
- Once both sides are ready, begin shooting (don’t shoot at people or eyes), trying to knock down opposing side pieces until one side gets the others all knocked over.