AFTER the Thanksgiving dinner, it will be a good plan to have some
lively games for the whole family. Otherwise it’s more than likely that
you’ll get into some mischief, at least, the boys will. So here are
some games which you’ll all enjoy:
First of all, suppose you try “It.” This is just as foolish as it
sounds, but it makes a great deal of fun for all. Choose some person
for “It.” He must leave the room, and when he comes in again, must
do his best to make the others laugh. They, on their part, try their
best not to, for the first who laughs becomes “It.” So the unfortunate
“It” dresses up in some queer style and tries to win a smile from his
audience, while they watch him very gravely. It is discouraging, indeed.
Suddenly there will be a titter, a giggle and then a burst of laughter
from every one, and whoever starts the laughter must change places with
“It.”
Next try “Telegrams.” This calls for pencils and paper. Give each
player eight letters of the alphabet. From these letters he must
arrange a telegram, each word of which must begin with the given
letter. For instance, if the letters “S F M B H S A P” are given, the
telegram may be, “Send for mother. Billy has swallowed a pin.”
Dumb Crambo is a good game for older people as well as young folks.
Divide the company into two groups and let each choose a captain. One
group must remain in the room, while the other goes out. The inside
group decide on a word of one syllable which can be acted. Perhaps they
choose “chat.” Then they tell the others that the word rhymes with
“bat.” The second group tries to guess the word, but must act out their
guesses in pantomime. They may try “hat” or “mat,” but not until they
have acted “chat” will the others applaud them. Then the groups change
places and the second group becomes audience.
“Spin the Platter” is a lively game for Thanksgiving afternoon. The
players must draw up their chairs in a circle, and each must have a
number, odd numbers for the boys and even numbers for the girls. One
child stands in the center and spins a wooden plate or tray, calling
at the same time a number. The one whose number is called jumps up and
tries to catch the platter before it has stopped spinning, and if he
fails to do this he must pay a forfeit.
Other games which you will enjoy playing on Thanksgiving afternoon
will be found in the chapter on “Additional Games.”
So Thanksgiving afternoon, which you children are apt to find rather
long, will pass very pleasantly, indeed.