was invented by my ten-year-old daughter Margaret tonight.
The children love to run around and play freeze tag (even in the house), but Margaret was bored by the usual endless periods of standing still or attempting to "unfreeze" team mates. She suggested a new rule to break up the monotony:
To get unfrozen, players must do one small job for Mommy.
I could hardly believe my good fortune when I heard this proposal, particularly because I had just been sitting on the couch surveying a rather disorderly room. Each time a player was caught, I would hear an eager, "What can I do for you, Mommy?" It was no trouble finding small jobs: "Please pick up that puzzle piece, and put it away"; "Please return that book to the shelf"; "Throw that scrap of paper in the garbage, please." They couldn't get enough of these little tasks, requesting two if the job was especially small. Even baby Eileen demanded in emphatic baby talk, "What I do, Mama?"
With five players (ages 10 and under), the room was cleared in minutes, but the game was still in full swing with eight-year old Marie chasing and tagging everyone in sight. No problem--we moved the action to the next room. There is never a shortage of things to be put away around here.
My only regret is that I did not think to take before and after shots of the room! It was a painless transformation worth seeing.
I like that game!
Posted by: Jennie C. | March 31, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Can your kids come over to play at my house for awhile???
Posted by: Theresa | April 01, 2008 at 12:38 AM
Oh - we are so going to play this at our house tomorrow!
Posted by: Mary M | April 01, 2008 at 03:17 AM
I'm mentally noting down this game to play at MY house!
My kids play Sleeping (Whatever) - where they are sleeping little lions/princesses/you name it, and the first person to move or make noise loses. I LOVE that game.
Posted by: Beck | April 01, 2008 at 07:44 AM
Oh, Alice, it reminds me of when we used to do "naptime" from the Ramona and Beezus books while I read aloud. The girls had to lie still and be quiet (this was actually their idea) while I read, and whoever remained completely quiet the whole time got to be the "wake up fairy." :-)
Posted by: Karen Edmisten | April 01, 2008 at 08:13 AM
Great game, Alice!
Posted by: Jennifer | April 01, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Sounds like a fun time!
Posted by: KC | April 01, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Uh, yeah, loaner kids??? Love it, get her a job at Hasbro :))
Posted by: Meredith | April 01, 2008 at 10:27 AM
I'm definitely suggesting this one tonight! :)
Posted by: Amy | April 01, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Can we borrow her for a few days?
Posted by: michelle waters | April 01, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Alice, morning chores will never be the same!!! :))
Posted by: Cheryl M. | April 01, 2008 at 01:46 PM
How amazing! How perfect! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Sarah | April 01, 2008 at 03:22 PM
I love it!!!!!!!
God is good!!!
Posted by: Heather - Doodle Acres | April 01, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Please let them come to my house and play!! :-) They could help me pack for Ireland and they good at folding!!
Hugs,
Lee
PS good to see some posts today.
Posted by: Leona | April 02, 2008 at 12:13 AM
Wow! We need to place this game over here!
Posted by: aussieannie | April 02, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Oh Alice, what a hoot!! I think I need to introduce that game here.
Posted by: Theresa ♥ | April 02, 2008 at 10:49 PM