Summer Cookout Time

While we are out enjoying summer in our own ways, there is one thing that almost every American has in common: attendance at the summer cookout. We gather around the grill with neighbors for a block party, with the soccer team for an end-of-year celebration or with our cousins for a family reunion.

Most moms and dads, however, know that the summertime cookout takes on new meaning once you have kids in tow. Every one of us has thought at some time or another, "Remember when I used to sit and talk to the adults?"

Sometimes a little preplanning can go a long way (read: buy you some relaxation). There is no need to schedule a directed craft. Most kids are scheduled enough and really should be learning how to "play" with other kids. All you have to do is provide the supplies so that everyone can find that something fun to do and play.

What to Bring

Bubbles. Bubbles are simple, yet entertaining, for lots of age groups. You may want to open the containers, and pour about half of the bubble mix into another jar. That way, when the inevitable spill occurs, you can refill the empty container. Either that, or you can try the new spill-free type of bubble containers.

Hula-Hoops. You have done it before, and you would be surprised at how many kids nowadays never have. If the traditional waist spinning is too difficult for some, they can try spinning it on an arm or two. Hula-hoops can also be used for target games. Lay them on a driveway, and toss in pebbles for points. Hang them in a tree, and toss through footballs, foam balls or tennis balls for a game of accuracy.

Sidewalk Chalk. Kids can always simply draw, but you can also use sidewalk chalk to design game boards on sidewalks and driveways. Hopscotch and tic-tac-toe are always popular. For a twist to the regular tic-tac-toe, try playing it by tossing stones for the X's and O's. Sidewalk chalk is also useful to draw the game boundaries for other driveway and street games.

Flying Discs. In a nutshell, you pick teams, have an end zone for each team and try to toss and catch (no running with the disc allowed) to the end zone for a score. Possession changes with a drop, or interception, of the disc. Kids can also play disc golf, where they pick targets and see how many tosses it takes for each player to hit his or her target. This game works best if there is a flying disc for each player.

Rope. The rope is not to tie up the children, unless of course they are being entirely too unruly. It can be used for games like tug-of-war, or cut into small pieces for a traditional three-legged race. For those who are not aware, in the three-legged race, participants are divided into pairs, and the right leg of one is tied to the left leg of the other. Children then race, tied together, against other teams, with the third leg in between them.

Red Rubber Ball. You remember the kind of ball you used in PE class as a kid? You kicked home runs with it in kickball, you pelted the slow kid with it in dodge ball and you bounced it into the box in foursquare. The only problem with bringing the red rubber ball is that you may find yourself unable to resist the urge to join in the game, leaving your adult conversation behind and instead trying to throw the ball at a ten-year-old as he rounds third heading for home.

Game Ideas

You actually know a plethora of games; it is just that it has been so long since you played them that you no longer recall them with ease. Try suggesting these games to the kids. Most of them probably already know the rules. Some old-time favorites are Red Light Green Light, Red Rover, Hide and Seek, Simon Says and Charades.

Another favorite with many variations is Tag. In probably the simplest form of tag, once "it" tags someone, the person tagged becomes the new "it." Freeze Tag, the game in which the person tagged must remain "frozen" until someone else "unfreezes" him or her, is also popular.

If you remember Duck in the Soup, the swimming pool game you may have played in your youth, then you also understand the tag game called Sharks and Minnows. The game needs end boundaries that are the safe zone, and the minnows try to cross from one safe zone to the other without being tagged by the shark. Once a minnow is tagged, he or she then joins the shark until all minnows have been tagged and have become sharks.

Finally, there is Splash Tag. Everyone has been witness to a game of tag in which "it" claims to have tagged someone, but the other person vehemently denies being tagged. A bucket of water and a wet sponge can remedy this by providing the tell-tale proof of the tag, which is the wet sponge mark on the back of the victim.

Article provided by Homesteader