What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen kids play? Or played yourself, maybe?
I collect weird play stories, so I’d love to hear! Really, tell me! It’d make my day. I just love thinking about how kids work out their fears and curiosity in play.
Like the happy little girl who ALWAYS made me play Dead Pony whenever I came to babysit. The second her parents were out the door, she’d run behind the living room couch and die. She’d raise her four rigid legs in the air, stick out her tongue, and snap her eyes shut. If I didn’t transform into the stable girl, walking through the field of her living room, minding my own business when I came upon her, she’d flick open her eyes and yell, “YOU’RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT!” We’d have to start over. I’d seize my hand to my heart, and say, “OH NO! MY PONY IS DEAD!” It was important to use the word dead. She wanted to hear it again and again. I’d cradle that pony in my arms, her legs a bundle of sticks. I’d dig a pretend grave and end with a lovely funeral. And maybe start all over– if there was nothing good on TV.
I earned my money those nights!
Dead Pony makes me think of Skeleton Town, a game me and Steve and Patricia would play. We’d climb up into our stagecoach (my grandparents’ porch swing) and take off for Skeleton Town. When Patricia yelled, “ALL OUT FOR SKELETON TOWN,” we’d have to run across the yard and back to the stagecoach before the skeletons (or the occasional ghost) murdered us.
My grandboys love to play Lumps In My Bed. It happens every time they sleep over. I try to make up my bed, but there are all these pesky lumps in it! I push on them to smooth them out, but darn it if those lumps don’t move!
I love how play just happens with kids. No one plans it.
You can just be minding your own business one Saturday, heading to Carl Sandburg’s home to visit the goats, and the next thing you know, The Incredible Hulk shows up! He’s great with a brush and surprisingly gentle.
And BONUS! If any skeletons or ghosts appear, he’s there to save the day!
He’s probably good with dead ponies too.
Here’s hoping your day has plenty of play!
Love, Becky
Dead Pony! Sounds similar to games I know of. For a while, one young person of my acquaintance insisted that every doll or stuffed animal she was playing with had to go “to the hospital.”
I love how kids are SO DEFINITE about the rules of these games. They are the directors and they know exactly how things should go, and will correct you if you try to change the story. I guess it’s one of the few times they have that kind of power.
Yes!
It can cause problems,though. When my youngest was little, he created these complicated games which were hard for friends (and Mom!) to understand. I remember a lot of frustration!
Dead Pony was pretty simple, once I learned the rules, haha.
LOL! Dead Pony! Little kids are SO gory without intending to be!
When I was a Cubbies leader, the kids LOVED to play this game which began with me chanting “Sleeping, sleeping, Cubbies are sleeping. When they wake up they are _____!” The kids would rise from the floor and act like ants, puppies, cheetahs, monkeys, chickens, bumblebees, etc. After a minute, I’d start the chant again and as soon as I said the first “Sleeping” kids would fall to the floor and pretend to sleep. They NEVER tired of it. We’d end the night every week while parents picked up their kids by playing this game. Sometimes kids would get to call out what they’d be when waking up and kittens and puppies were always popular.
I bet they LOVED that game. It sounds fun! 🙂