What's involved?
A fun invasion game encouraging social play.
What's required?
You need 4 or more players but no equipment is required. They need to know each other's names.
How to play:
The children agree on a home base like a bench, section of wall or tree etc.
One child is chosen to be the defender or simply on 'it' and their role is to protect the base. All other players are the 'invaders' and their role is to try to get safely to the base without being spotted and named.
The game starts when the defender stands facing the base with their hands covering their eyes. They immediately start counting slowly to 40 whilst all the players quickly hide.
When 40 is reached the defender shouts '40-40' and now starts looking for the other players. The 'invaders' now have to try to get back to the base without being seen. If the defender spots a hiding player they race back to the base and shout '40 - 40 out' and the name of the player they've spotted. That player is then out for the rest of the game.
If the player that was hiding gets to the base before the defender they shout '40 - 40' and their name. They are then home and safe. The same rule applies to any player who gets to the base without being seen.
Play continues until all players are either home or out.
The first player safely home becomes the next defender. If no one makes it home then the last child out becomes the next defender.
Note:
If children tend to count too quickly why not try teaching them to count in a different language or in 'elephants'.
