Giant Steps and Baby Steps with Mother

To start off, one person is designated the “King” and he/she stands on the top of a small hill or mound, ready to guard against attacks from the other players. The other players try to push or pull the King down from the hill so that they can take over the “Kingdom.” This game results in a continual turnover in who rules as the “King of the Hill,” because players are constantly dethroning each other. This game usually turns into plain roughhousing if it goes on too long.

MOTHER, MAY I?

Choose a player to serve as “Mother” and designate start and finish lines, about twenty-five feet apart. The player selected to be Mother stands at the finish line, the others line up at the start. One at a time, the players suggest how they would like to move toward Mother, and Mother tells the players how they may move. For example, Carol asks, “Mother, may I take two giant steps?” Mother may respond, “No, Carol, but you may take five baby steps.” Carol must then ask, “Mother, may I?” If Mother replies, “Yes, you may,” Carol is allowed to take five baby steps toward the finish line. Mother also has the option of refusing Carol permission: “No, Carol, you may not.” In this case, she is not allowed to move. This continues along the line of players until all are moving toward the finish. Any player who advances without asking, “Mother, may I?” must return to the starting line and begin again. The first player to reach Mother wins. This game is admittedly controlled at the whim of Mother, but if each player is given a chance to be Mother and direct the game in his or her own fashion, all will end well.