• Take time to play games with your kids.games image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com
  
  Simple games are a great way for children to learn and have fun at the same time. Many fun and simple games for kids can be easily adapted for play inside or outside. Take time to engage your children in entertaining games that can be enjoyed with the whole family.
  
  

Doggy Doggy

• One player sits in a chair in front of the other players with her back to the others. This player is the “doggy.” A small object representing a bone should be placed under the chair. While the doggy faces the front, one of the other players sneaks up and takes the bone away and hides it. When that player has returned, the players call out together, “Doggy, doggy, where's your bone? Somebody stole it from your home.” The doggy then turns around and has three chances to guess which of the other players has stolen the bone. If the doggy guesses correctly, she gets to be the doggy again. If she doesn't guess correctly, the player who stole the bone becomes the doggy.
  
  

I'm Thinking

• One child begins by thinking of an object. It can be a person, place, animal, or thing. When the child is ready he announces to the other players which he has chosen. For example, he might say, “I'm thinking of an animal.” The other players then ask the child yes or no questions about the animal until someone guesses what it is. The player who correctly guesses the animal first gets to be the next one to think of something.
  
  

Mother May I?

• This game works outside or inside in a large room. One player is the “mother” and stands at one end of the room. The other players line up on the opposite side of the room. The goal is to be the first player to reach the mother. Each child takes a turn asking the mother if they can do a certain action. For example, the player might say, “Mother, may I take three hops forward?” The mother can answer yes or no. If the mother says no, she must give another action that the player can do. Before the player moves, he must ask, “Mother may I?” and get a yes answer. If the player forgets to ask the question, she must return to her previous position. The first player to reach the mother wins and becomes the mother for the next round.