Classic Games Played in a Circle

There are many childhood games involving sitting or standing in a circle that are great for parties and gatherings.

The following are two classic examples:

Duck, Duck, Goose

All children sit in a circle except the player chosen as IT. IT walks around the circle lightly tapping players on the head, either saying "duck" or "goose". Ducks are safe, but as soon as IT taps a player as goose, IT starts to run. Goose gets up and chases IT around the circle. IT must to sit down in the vacated seat before getting tagged by Goose. If successful, Goose becomes the next IT. If not, IT goes again. (For a twist, try changing the words - such as salt, salt, pepper or hot dog, hot dog, hamburger.)

London Bridge

Two children are selected to be London Bridge. They hold hands, raising them high enough in the air for the other children to go under. The remaining players walk in a circle around the bridge, passing under it one at a time, while singing the rhyme.

At the last line of the first verse, the bridge falls down around someone. As players sing the second verse, the bridge gently sways the caught player back and forth. At the end of the second verse, the player is freed and the song starts again.

Variations:

1. The captured player switches places with one of the bridges and the game resumes.
2. The caught player is out of the game.

London bridge is falling down,

Falling down, falling down,

London bridge is falling down,

My fair lady.

Take the key and lock her up,

Lock her up, lock her up,

Take the key and lock her up,

My fair lady.

By Rochelle Strauss