The JumpStart Blog

Here’s a new summer twist on an old classic that will have your kids laughing and playing outside for hours.  Everyone remembers playing “Duck, Duck, Goose” – sitting in the circle, waiting to be tagged the “goose.”  But, just in case you’re a little foggy on the rules, here’s how it goes:

1. All the children sit down in a circle on the grass – preferably with a lot of room around them.
2. One child is selected to be the first tagger.  This child goes around and gently taps each child on the shoulder, designating them as a “duck” or a “goose.”
3. When the tagger selects the “goose,” the “goose” must pop up and race with the tagger to see who gets back to the open seat first.
4. Usually, the tagger has the head start and beats the “goose” back to their seat, making the “goose” the next tagger.
5. Of course, if the “goose” beats the tagger, the tagger sits in the center of the circle (the mushpot) until someone else gets sent to the mushpot.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting! You will need a large sponge or towel and a big tub of water to get this game started.  Have all the children sit in a circle on the grass, but place the large tub of water in the center.  This is your new mushpot.  Next, give your first tagger a sponge that has been fully soaked with water.  As the tagger goes around the circle, searching for the “goose,” they dribble a little bit of water on all the ducks they pass over.  Instead of yelling “goose” to start the chase, the tagger squeezes the contents of the sponge over the head of the “goose.”  The kids are bound to have fun squeezing water all over their friends, so a swimsuit is recommended!  And as an added bonus, if someone gets sent to the mushpot, they get to sit in the tub of water.  This game is just perfect for a hot afternoon.

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Filed under: Just for Fun! Tagged: | family activities