KICK THE CAN

Age Level: 7 and up

Number of Players: 4 or more

What Is Needed: a tin can

Type of Game: noncompetitive

Location: outside

HOW TO PLAY

Establish a small area called "Jail" (often it is the middle of the lawn). Place a tin can in the Jail. It (the birthday child at first) gets a running start and kicks the can as far as he or she can. As soon as the can is kicked, the other players run and hide. It retrieves the can, brings it back to Jail, and counts to 50 or 100. Then It sets out to find the hidden players. When It spots one, It runs back to the can and yells, "I see Ned behind the tree!" Ned must surrender and come to Jail. When the last player is captured, another round is begun with the first player captured as the new It.

At any point while It is out hunting, a player can run to Jail and free all the prisoners there with the cry, "All-ee-all-ee-in-free!" The rescuer then kicks the can as far as he or she can, and It must come back, retrieve it, and start counting all over again. This game can go on a long time!