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Keeping your kids entertained during the holidays can be a challenge, here are some fun ideas for games you can play with your children or ones they can play with their friends.
What Am I?
Age suitability: 5+
You will need: Post-It notes
Take a Post-it note for each person playing and write down a different animal on each one. Stick one note on each player's forehead, so that they cannot see what animal they are, but everyone else can. Get them to write one for you, too. Each player now takes it in turn to ask a question which can only be answered yes, no or sometimes. Questions along the following lines will give you the information you need. Do I have four/two/eight/no legs? Do I have fur/feathers/scales/prickles? Do I eat other animals/plants/Cheerios? Keep going until you know which animal you are. If anyone is having real difficulty, give the first letter as an extra clue.
Raisin Racing
Age suitability: 8+
You will need: some raisins, one cocktail stick per player
Either count out an equal number of raisins on to each child's plate, or dole out a few more to older players to even things out a little. On the word "Go!", each nibbler must have one hand behind their back and pick up and eat the raisins using only a cocktail stick (watch out for sharp ends). Different techniques may be applied, gathering lots on to the stick before having a mouthful, or collecting and eating one at a time very quickly, whatever suits. Also try with peas, grapes, sweet corn or baked beans.
Alphabet Conversations
Age suitability: 6+
Decide on a scenario, for example a trip to the zoo, then take it in turns to start a short phrase with the letter A, then B, then C, etc, keeping the thread of conversation flowing. So the first person might say, "Animals everywhere!", and the next person will add, "Bring a picnic!" Continue all the way to Z, allowing X-rays and xylophones to enter the story line unexpectedly.
Straight-faced Detectives
Age suitability: 5+
One person starts as the detective and asks the person on their left (the suspect) any three questions they like ("What were you doing at 3 o'clock this morning, sir?"; "How many times have you been to the loo today?"). The player on the left of the suspect (the snitch) answers on the suspect's behalf. The snitch should invent false answers; be as silly as you like. The suspect must listen with a straight face. If they smile or laugh, they notch up penalty points. The suspect then becomes the detective, the snitch the suspect and the player to their left the snitch. Play until everyone has had a few goes; the person with least points is the winner.
Atichoo!
Age suitability: 3+
You will need: a straw for everyone and one paper napkin
Get everyone to put a straw in their mouths and hands behind their back. Using his straw, the first player picks up the napkin by sucking. Keeping the napkin on the end of his straw, he passes it to the person on his left. This player must then suck the napkin on to their own straw and pass it to the player beside them. Keep going around the table until the napkin falls.
Cheese & Onion Challenge
Age suitability: 2+
You will need: at least three packets of crisps, all different flavours.
Everyone shuts their eyes while each bag of crisps is emptied on to the table into separate piles and the empty bags are hidden. Open your eyes again, take a crisp from each pile and try to identify the flavouring.
50 Cent Flick
Age suitability: 5+
You will need: one coin for each player
For a simple competitive game, look no further than 50 Cent Flick. Everyone has a coin and places it on the edge of one side of the table. Taking it in turns, each player must now get as close as possible to the other side of the table by flicking their coin three times. If you flick too far and your coin shoots off the other edge of the table you are eliminated for that go. Score points for each round and award the champion flicker another glass of orangeade.
The Forgetful Waiter
Age suitability: 3+
Study everything on the table for a few minutes. The first player closes his eyes and the person opposite them removes an object from the table and hides it in his lap. Player One now has ten seconds to open his eyes and spot what's missing. Win a point for a correct guess, but lose two if you peep. Replace the item before the next player gets a turn.
Chef Du Jour
Age suitability: 4+
Younger ones will probably need help. Someone picks a letter, say B, then says, "I prefer..." He picks a foodstuff and a reason why he likes it beginning with B. So the first person may prefer butter because it's brilliant, and the next player may choose baked beans because they make you burp! Go around the table before changing the letter for a new round. Announce your tastes in your finest faux French chef accent for extra laughs.
Take-Off
Age suitability: 6+
Everyone uses a different coloured pen to write down the name of ten celebrities on pieces of paper. These are then folded and placed in a bowl. The first player randomly selects a name, says what colour pen was used to write it (so the author knows not to answer), then performs his best impersonation of the celebrity. Whoever guesses correctly first wins the piece of paper. Continue until the bowl is empty, then count up the papers to see who has won.
