Supplies Small buckets (either 1 per team or 1 per person) Small items (marbles, pens, pencils, paper clips, hair ties, beads) Setup You can play this game as an individual competition, or a group race. The set up is almost identical in either sense. 1. Each person or team needs a bucket to deposit the items collected. This bucket should be about 10 feet away from the center of the game area. (If the kids are playing individually, it might be best to label the buckets so the kids can easily identify which bucket is their own) Either way, the buckets should be in a circular formation around the center of the play area. 2. Players in teams or individually should stand behind their bucket as the starting position. 3. A bag of small materials, I suggest marbles, are spread out in the center of the play area. If you don't have enough marbles you can also use, beads, erasers, rubber bands, hair ties, pencils, etc. Anything that is small enough to be picked up by toes. You should have enough items so that each player/team can grab multiple of them. How to Play 1. The game leader begins by pouring the marbles on the floor. The pile of marbles should be poured in the center of the play area, providing equal chance and access for each team or player. 2. Then the team leader shouts "GO!" 3. The first person on each team (if a relay race) or all children (if an individual competition) run to the pile of marbles and try and pick one up with their toes. 4. Once they have a grasp on a marble, they have to hobble on one foot to their designated bucket with marble still in toe, and then drop the marble in the bucket. 5. The child will then tag the next person on their team to repeat the task (if on a team) or run back to the pile for another marble (if no teams). 6. The individual or team with the most marbles in their bucket, once all marbles have been cleared, WINS the game! Variations 1. If you have just played a game with a bunch of popped balloons, you will most likely have balloon pieces everywhere. Use this game to pick up the balloon pieces. 2. The same concept applies if you have just played a game involving small pieces of food or candy that might be all over the floor. Tips Be careful to watch the children so that they don't slip on any loose marbles! Stats Activity Length 5 - 15 minutes Age Preschool School-age Tween Teen Adult Competitiveness Either/or (can be played either way) Difficulty Easy peasy (fun and simple) Indoor/Outdoor Either Mess Factor Clean and tidy Noise Level Semi-rambunctious Number of Players 5 to 10 10 to 20 20+ Prep Time No prep time needed! Space Needed Medium (a clearable open space the size of a 2-car garage) Team Division Every man for himself (individual players)
