There is nothing as aggravating as being stuck on a long car trip with nothing to do during that long interminable ride. It is especially hard for the driver, as he/she has to pay close attention to the road and not watch the portable DVD player, play handheld video games, play those travel-sized board games, and sometimes has to put up with the, “Are we there yet?” from children who have exhausted the entertainment options mentioned above. Let me give you some ideas on how to entertain yourself and often the kids too.

Around the campfire you can only talk so much before you’ve covered all the topics you can think of. This is especially true when with family, and you know all the family gossip already. Since nobody thought to bring any games - and where would you put them anyway? – You need some ideas on games to play that are fun but not boring or unintelligent.

While sitting around the dining room, living room, kitchen, and generally around the house for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other get-togethers was always an opportune time for games. It isn’t fun to lug your board games from house to house all the time, so games that don’t require any set-up are a great way to spend time with the family.

When you are babysitting or tutoring, it is great to have some games in mind to keep your charges entertained and learning. Skip down the page to view some suggestions that could help you.

FOR ADULTS AND TEENAGERS

FAMOUS NAMES

This game can get very challenging after you play for a while; you will play for a while, as this game can go on and really has no determined end. My family and friends have enjoyed this for many, many years, and it increases in fun value the more times you play.

The goal of this game is to keep the game alive as long as possible and to show your knowledge of famous names. Though it is a group game, it allows for individual battles within the game.

Rules:

1. Players? You need at least three people to make a successful game, though two will do, if you ignore rule #4.

2. How to Play? The person selected to start names any famous person they can think of. Example: Lebron James the next person must name a famous person whose first name begins with the same letter as the last name of the person mentioned in the previous turn. Example: Jim Carey. Repeat this step to play for every additional tern.

3. Special Names? When a person uses a name where the first letter of the first name and the first letter of the last name are the same, the direction of play reverses direction. If you are very competitive, keep score for every time a person uses a name that reverses the direction of play. Example: Cindy Crawford and Olive Oil

4. What qualifies as a “famous” person? Any actor, recording artist, sports star, celebrity, and pretty much any person that is commonly known. Also, cartoon characters and TV show characters count as famous people such as Donald Duck and Hannah Montana. Famous names with more than two words involved are allowed like William Jefferson Clinton (not the same as Bill Clinton) and Felix the Cat. If you decide to, allow names of family members in the game as well.

5. What is not allowed as a famous name? Your name must be a person and not the name of a group of people such as Jonas Brothers (music group) and Cleveland Browns (sports team). Your addition to the game must have at least two words in his/her name; for example, Madonna, Popeye, and Goofy will not work, because they do not have last names (although you could use Madonna’s last name if you know it to have it considered acceptable). You cannot repeat a name that someone else has used.

6. Questions about the name given? When in doubt of whether a name starts with a particular letter - usually a question between “C” or “K” like in Cathy and some last names – the majority vote of the group will determine the correct letter. If no one in the group recognizes the name that you give, they can call for you to give another name; this failsafe keeps players from making up names.

7. Length of the game? As can happen around campfires or at a party, players may need to come and go and may not be able to sit around for an entire game. This game is great for that situation, as players can jump and out of the game anytime. The only drawback to leaving the game and coming back is that the player that left does not know what names have been used during the absence – Don’t worry too much about this, because the players that stayed are sure to let you know if you say a name that has been used already! Keep the game going as long as you can!

8. How do you end the game? The game really has no determined end – no winner or loser. The way we always ended it was to wait for a turn needing a “T” as the first letter of the first name and saying, “The End.” You can stop the game anytime you want, so play it until you feel like stopping.

Sample Game:

Dan: Tony Hawk
Susan: Henry Ford
Paul: Frank Sinatra
Dan: Sammy Sosa (Reverses Direction)
Paul: Sandra Bullock
Susan: Bill Clinton
Dan: Celine Deon
Paul: David Duchovny (Reverses Direction)
Dan: Donald Duck (Reverses Direction Again)
Paul: David Davies (Reverses Back Again)
Dan: Daffy Duck (Reverses Again)
Paul: Doris Day
…

Note: Notice how Dan and Paul have somewhat of a personal battle when they use a strategy of the first letter of the first and last name of their person to keep reversing the flow of the game. This becomes rather a highlight of the game, especially with the letters “D,” “M,” and “S:” Mickey Mouse, Mark Maguire, Mary Magdalene,… Susan Serrandan, Sammy Sosa, … You can really have a lot of fun with this!

WORD BUILDER

This game requires you to really think at times. One of the benefits to playing is that each game lasts a short amount of time, but can be played again and again without providing boredom.

The goal of this game is to trap your friends into having to forfeit their turn or be forced to spell a word.

Rules:

1. You will need at least two people, though more players make the game more interesting.

2. How to play? The first player says any letter of the alphabet. Example: A. The next player says a letter that would help build a word when added on to the first letter. Example: P (Now you have A-P). The next player (person #1 again if you only have two persons playing) says another letter. Remember that the letter given must, when added to the letters already named, continue to spell a word. Example: P (Now there is A-P-P). Each person continues to add a letter when it is his/her turn. Odds are this example game word will turn out to be spelled A-P-P-L-E. The word builds itself as you go along.

3. How do you win? The person that adds the last letter to
the word is out of the game. Also, a round is ended when a person does not know what letter could possibly come next. The remaining players will participate in other rounds until only one person remains – the winner!

4. You may challenge the player whose letter came before you, if you believe that person is not building up to a word that exists. An example would be a player saying “Q” after the word is W-E-E already. If you catch someone making this mistake, they are kicked out of the game and the round is ended, while you remain in the game. However, if your challenge is proven that you were wrong and a word can eventually be spelled, then you are out and the round is over. If you simply don’t know what letter could come next, be sure to make a challenge; after all, you would otherwise absolutely lose by forfeiting your turn.

5. How long can the word go? The word must have at least four letters before you can count anyone out of the round for putting on the last letter; this means you have to keep going when C-A-N is spelled, because it does not have four letters yet (The end word might be C-A-N-D-L-E or C-A-N-C-E-R). A very important rule to remember is that any word formed with four letters or more gets someone out of the game; if you are aiming to spell D-R-A-G-O-N, you will spell D-R-A-G first, sending the person that put the “G” out of the game.

6. What words can be used? You can spell any word that is not a proper noun; a proper noun is a word that is always capitalized (Chris, Hellen, Ohio, Atlanta, Cherokee,…) or an abbreviation (I.Q., U.S.A.,…). Remember that some names can be words too, such as “Mark,” so they are allowed.

7. Who starts each round? You determine who starts the first round. For each additional round, the person whose turn comes after the person who is out of the game begins the next round.

8. Strategy? When it is your turn to give a letter, think ahead to make sure the word you are thinking of will not end on you!

Sample Game:

Round #1:

Susan: D
Paul: R
Dan: I
Susan: N
Paul: K

Paul is out, because he finished the word D-R-I-N-K! Dan starts the next round.

Round #2:

Dan: K
Susan: I
Dan: T (He isn’t out since there is only three letters so far)
Susan: T
Dan: E
Susan: N

Susan is out and Dan Wins!

GAMES THAT KIDS CAN PLAY

ALPHABET WORDS

Children often need entertaining when either they have lost interest in their toys are there are no toys around at the moment. Keep them from getting into mischief and help teach them at the same time.

The goal of this game is to find a word that begins with each letter of the alphabet for the category you decide on. This game will help teach them as you go along.

Rules:

1. Players? You need at least one adult and one child for this game.

2. Select a category? For each game, select a category on which to base the words you will use in the turns. Since this game is mainly for children, make sure the category is broad enough enough to provide plenty of choices for words but small enough to provide a bit of challenge. Examples for younger children: Food and Drink, Plants and Animals, Things in a House (or at school); Examples for older children: Verbs, Adjectives, Proper Nouns, Words with four letters (or five, or six,…).

3. How to play? Take turns with the players giving a word for each letter of the alphabet that fits the category of your game. The first person selects an “A” word; the second person selects a “B” Word; the third person selects a “C” word and so on until the “Z” word.

4. What do you do when you reach difficult letters of the alphabet? For younger children, have them think hard about letters they are having trouble with. After a suitable time, either suggest an answer to them or tell them that you cannot think of one either. Especially difficult letters are often “Q,” “V,” “X,” “Y,” and “Z.”

Sample Game :
(Food and Drink Theme)

Mom: Apple
Dad: Butter
Tommy: Candy
Jennifer: Doughnut
Mom: Eggplant
Dad: Fish
Tommy: Grapes
Jennifer: Honey
Mom: Ice cream
Dad: Jell-O
Tommy: I can’t think of one. Mom reminds him that something he likes on his hot dogs starts with the “K” sound: Ketchup
Jennifer: Lemon
…

SPELLING AROUND

When you need a way to work on spelling with your kids, make it into a game. This is another great game for tutors and babysitters to entertain the children!

The goal is to reach a specified number of points first.

Rules:

1. Players: You will need at least two players. Both players may be children, if one has sufficient spelling skills to judge if all the words are spelled correctly.

2. Points? Select a number of points that must be reached to win the game. Ten points is good for a ten to fifteen minute game. Select a higher number of points for children with more patience to play or a general love of games.

3. How to Play? The first player says a word to start the game. As he/she spells the word aloud, he/she counts off each letter with a person, beginning with the person to the right and continuing to circle to the right. If the word is spelled correctly, the player gets a point. The person who receives the last letter must come up with a word that begins with that last letter. Beginning on his/her right, the player spells the word, pointing to a knew person with each letter. The process repeats until a player reaches the desired number of points.

Sample Game:
(Four-player example)

Molly spells “nature”. As she spells, she points to a person with each letter she says, circling to her right.

Beth: gets “N”
Chris: gets “A”
Andrew: gets “T”
Molly: gets “U”
Beth: gets “R”
Chris: gets “E”

Molly spelled correctly. Chris gets the next turn, because the last letter - “E” – fell to him. Chris spells a word beginning with “E:” “egg.” HE points to a person for every letter spelled, circling around to his right.

Andrew: gets “E”
Molly: gets “G”
Beth: gets “G”

Chris spells correctly and receives one point. Beth must spell a word beginning with “G”. She spells “giggles.”

Chris: gets “G”
Andrew” gets “I”
Molly: gets “G”
Beth: gets “G”
Chris: gets “L”
Andrew: gets “E”
Molly: gets “S”

Beth spelled correctly and one point is awarded to her. Now Molly has another chance for a point and must spell a word beginning with “s.” This process repeats until someone receives the winning point.

Please feel free to suggest other games. Let this blog/xombite be a helpful guide of games that do not require anything to play them except the players themselves!!!