Games Without Music for Children Part 5

A house with garden is needed; to make this the children join hands and stand as shown in diagram, p. 32. In the 'house' there should be a 'mother,' and in the 'garden' a number of children playing with ball or skipping-rope. A smaller 'house' is required at some distance from the first. In this, also, there should be a 'mother'--(Mrs. Day), and a little girl--(Nell). A cla.s.sroom may be used for this 'house' if more convenient.

As the play proceeds the 'mother' comes to the 'door' to watch the children's game. Presently one of them--a boy--runs up to her and says:

Mamma, please, may we ask Nell Day To come and have a game of play?

[The other children come and cl.u.s.ter round.]

MOTHER Oh, yes! I will a message send-- An invitation for your friend.

Just go and ask if Mrs. Day Can spare Nellie to come all day.

ALL THE CHILDREN Thank you, mother.

The boy runs off to Mrs. Day's house and knocks. Mrs. Day answers the door.

CHILD Please, Mrs. Day, may Nellie come To play all day with us at home?

If Mrs. Day says 'Yes,' Nell should reply, 'Thank you, mother,' and Mrs.

Day should also send a message of thanks to the boy's mother. When Nell is ready, they run off hand in hand.

19. _INVITATION TO DRIVE_

The house and garden described in Game No. 16, p. 32, will do quite well for this also, but the children are to be at work instead of play. One child may be fetching water, another minding the baby, and another watering the garden or going errands. A gentleman (boy) comes to the garden-gate (a s.p.a.ce is left for the gateway), with 'carriage' and 'horses'; the 'carriage' is made in the same way as the 'coach' (Game No. 24, p. 48), and has two horses instead of four. Gentleman walks through the 'garden,' knocks at the door, and says:

Good morning, madam; if I may, I'll drive your children out to-day.

MOTHER

I thank you, sir [_beckons children to her_]; come children!

[_children run to her_].

GENTLEMAN Such busy, happy children, they Shall drive with me far, far away.

CHILDREN Oh, thank you, sir, 'twill pleasant be To ride with you nice things to see.

Children enter carriage, waving hands to 'mother,' and saying:

Good-bye, dear mother, off we go, The horses gallop fast, we know.

20. _GETTING READY FOR BED_

This game may be used for a cla.s.s of children, or for a few only. In the former case, the majority of the scholars would, of course, be lookers-on.

Half a dozen boys and girls should be playing in different parts of the room; one might be drawing, another building, and a third looking at a picture-book; or they might all be joining to play a game together. A big girl or the teacher represents the elder sister, who repeats (or sings to the tune of 'The Campbells are Coming') the four lines following:

Come, children, get ready for bed, bed, bed, And sister must wash you, as mother said, The hands and the faces will all be clean, Such nice, happy children, shall ne'er be seen.

The children instantly put toys and books away in their proper places, and reply:

Some folks they do cry, when they're washed, oh dear! dear!

Pray where do they live? We do not want them here.

Merry, happy little children, come and get well scrubbed, But do not cry when you are washed and rubbed.

The 'sister' pretends to wash all the children; then they say:

Some folks they do cry when they're told, 'Time for bed,'

Some folks pout and say, 'Oh! let me play instead.'

Merry, happy little children, laughing go away, Good-night, good-night, we'll play another day.

The children go out of the room kissing hands to those who are left, or to the elder 'sister.'

21. _WAs.h.i.+NG ONE'S SELF_

The teacher may repeat the lines, accompanying them with the actions, which the children imitate, or the children may learn and repeat the words themselves.

[1]Wash your hands, dear children all, [2]Palms we rub and [3]backs as well, [4]Round the wrist we leave no mark, Else a sad tale that would tell; [5]Rub the knuckles, [6]brush nails, too, Clean, bright[7] hands nice work can do.

Now 'tis time to [8]wash your face, [9]Soap your hands, and [10]rub away, [11]Gently round the ears we go, [12]Don't forget your eyes, I say; [13]Nose, and [14]mouth, and [15]forehead high, [16]All to make quite clean we try.

_Actions._--

[1] Pretend to wash hands.

[2] Rub palms together.

[3] Rub back of left hand with palm of right.

[4] Wash left wrist, then right.

[5] Rub knuckles of both hands.

[6] Brush nails of left hand with right fist.

[7] Show hands.

[8] Touch face with both hands.

[9] Pretend to rub soap on hands.

[10] Rub hands together.

[11] Wash the ears.

[12] Wash eyes.

[13] Rub the nose.