Today I would like to try an experiment. Before you read this get a piece of paper and write down all of the simple games that you can think of. Many of them require a minimum of equipment. After you have made your list, then read and compare.

First, I begin with a tag. There are all types of tags. One of my favorites is freeze tag. Someone calls out the word “freeze” and you have to stop right where you are and in whatever pose you are in. the person who is “it” may take three steps. If they can touch someone, then they are it. If not, it starts all over again.

My children used to like to play Red Light, Green Light on the sidewalk near Grandma’s house. If they make it to the porch, then they are it.

Simon Says is another one the children liked. If Simon says do this, they do it. If Simon does not say it but the one who is it does anyone they catch is out.

Leap Frog is an active game. Teams lean down and whoever is in the back jumps over them. When the first person is at the back of the line the game is finished. That team wins. Of course, this can be done with just one line and just for fun.

Farmer in the Dell is a circle game. Children take turns being the farmer and choosing friends to come into the circle.

Then, there is Bingo. You sing the song through once. The second time you leave off a letter to the dog’s name – for instance clap, INGO. You repeat until you just clap the five letters.

If you are having a party try Musical Chairs. This takes a source of music. When the music stops, whoever does not get a seat is out.

One chair is removed. The game continues until there is just one person left.

Magic Carpet is another one. All you need for this game is a piece of chalk to draw a rug. Once again you use music. When the music stops whoever is on the rug is out. You may find several people on the rug at a time. This game goes faster than Musical Chairs.

Duck, Duck, Goose is done with all seated in a circle. The person who is it goes around the circle repeating duck, duck, goose. The person touched when the word goose is said then chases the person around the circle until that person is back to his place. I have done this saying different things for various holidays – such as tree, lights, bells. With bell being the key word.

The next couple things can be done with a small group. Make up a scavenger hunt. I did this one Easter so that the grandchildren each got to find things. It was such a hit they asked for it again the next year. Since they were young at the time I drew pictures of where they had to go. The last clue took them to their basket.

Often the last week of school I came up with some of these simple games to keep the children busy. They loved to do an alphabet hunt. They could be inventive to get the toughest letters. We would go outside and they would take their bag and fill it with items. I checked each bag at the end of the activity. I allowed inventive answers as long as they were not too far out. This worked for all ages.

Some of you may entertain young ones over Easter. All of these activities can be accomplished with a minimum of equipment. Choose your activity according to the age group you are entertaining.

Jump ropes make good prizes. So do sidewalk chalk and bubbles. My grandchildren drew roads on the blacktop by my house then rode the little car and the bicycles around. Sometimes they turned that into red light, green light.

Jump rope activities are also fun. We used to recite rhymes to see who could get the furthest without missing a beat. A child may jump alone or with friends. Think way back to your early days and you can probably come up with one of the rhymes you used to say.

The best part is that you get the children outdoors and away from electronics. They just may find out they can have fun without them.

Several people have called me about the Akeley Christian Fellowship Church Pancake Supper. It is this Saturday, April 12, at the church on Akeley Rd. from 4 – 6:30 p.m. Serving pancakes, eggs, sausage, apple sauce, and real maple syrup. There will also be a bake sale up in the church.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell. Contact her at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.