Cat and Mouse

I can't believe it's Friday again! Here's installment #2 of Fun'n'Games Friday. Hope you enjoy it!

Cat and Mouse

Like Jump the Creek, this game was a big hit with the kids at day care. It's basically another version of tag that evolved out of a regular game of tag we were playing one day. It's great outside or in. On rainy days we played it in the gym. Have fun!

As always, supervise children while they're playing this or any other game.

Type of Activity: Running Game
Objective: Catch all the "mice"
Equipment: Kids!
Location: Inside or outside
Number of Players: Works best with from 5-10, although more can play
Age Group: 5 and up

The kids and I actually came up with two versions of Cat and Mouse, the short version and the long version. I'll give you the short version first.

Short Version

In this version of CaM the game is over when the "cat" catches all the "mice". What makes it go so fast is that every "mouse" caught turns into a "cat" and helps the original "cat" catch the other "mice". The last "mouse" caught becomes the new "cat".

Before you begin find some place to be the mouse house. This is where the "mice" will run to to be safe. The mouse house can be anything: a tree, the side of a house, a square drawn on the ground, the circle beneath a basketball net, anything. Just make sure all the players know the mouse house's boundaries. Next, pick someone to be the "cat". Now you're ready to play!

All the "mice" start in the mouse house. At the count of three off they go! The "cat" tries to catch them. The "mice" run in and out of the mouse house, teasing the "cat" as they run. Catching them isn't as easy as the "cat" thought! The "mice" run very fast, but as they get captured some will forget who's a " cat" and who's still a "mouse". This will make them vulnerable. Soon, the "cat" and his helpers will catch the last "mouse" and the game will be over. Start over again with the new "cat"! That's the short version of Cat and Mouse.

Long Version

The objective of the long version of CaM is for the "cat" to imprison all the "mice" in the mouse house. This version can be endless, like Monopoly. You may want to put a time limit on it and let the last "mouse" caught within that limit be the new "cat". Here's how you get started.

First, choose a mouse house like in the short version, only this time it'll be the "mices'" jail, as stated above. Next, chose a "cat". Now, gather the kids in a crowd, count to three, and let 'em rip!

The "cat" has to catch the "mice" and put them in the mouse house. This sounds simple; however, there's a wrinkle. The "mice" who're free can tag their imprisonned friends and get them out. This forces the "cat" to do two jobs: catch the "mice" AND guard the mouse house. Of course, the "cat" can't be two places at once. He has to decide when to chase and when to guard. No matter what choice he makes there's always a chance "mice" will be freed from the jail. So, the goal of capturing all the "mice" gets complicated. That's what makes the long version of Cat and Mouse well...long. As I said above, you can put a time limit on the game, or just let the kids play until they're tired. Either way, you'll have a lot of fun.

Play Cat and Mouse the next time the gang's over . It'll give everyone some fun filled exercise. And it might become a favorite of yours like it did for me and my kids. Have fun!