Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-12-19
GAMES TO MAKE
THE CHILDREN HAPPY
Some Suggestions to Grownups
for the Entertainment of
the Little Ones.

Did you ever give a children's party,
with plenty of favors and elaborate
table decorations. ice cream. cake and
all sorts of good things, and then have
your little guests arrive and sit
solemnly and sedately Oh their chairs
in glum and self-conscious silence?
Did you ever rack your brains to
think of games for them to play, with
out being able to remember anything
but hide and seek ?"
Perhaps you asked the most intel
ligent child what she would like to
play. to have her wiggle bashfully on
her chair and murmur, II don't know
Well, here is a page of suggestions.
Where many children have been in
vited, the hostess or the mother of the
small host will do we'll to make list
of different games, grouping the child
rem according to size or age and let
ting the smaller children play at. the
simpler games, fer they are often most
unhappy If they are not occupied dur
Ing the time that the games of the
some very nr .sf ' s=7f effective fec prizes
can be made with the help of crinkled
paper and bon bons. Wrap large
bonbon or sweetnleat in paper; make
bon in the centre The outfit for rose
making may be bought for a few cents
and prizes of this description seem to
please children just as much as do
more expensive gifts. When candy is
distributed as prizes it should not be
served at the table. as children don't
value even cardy when they see too
much of it.
Delicious little foreign cakes, Italian,
German or French. pretty Japanese
rice cakes, or Chinese candied fruit can
be used for the@centers of the flowers.
All these MAX e charming prizes and are
odd enough for even the most blase
youngster. No prize should be given to
q child unless it Is done up in some
pretty way; for children do appreciate
daintiness and mystery. And 3 cents
worth OF ribbon With few cents worth
of paper add great deal to the charm
OF q children's entertainment.
f One more word about prizes. Let
all the favors be equally inexpensive
and then at least YOU will have the
knowledge that the children are all be-
ing treated alike.
Many games suitable for such q
party are what children call Sitting
down games" so before the party be-
gins, enough chairs should be provided
to go round. .i
Caterpillar is one OF these games. AS
many chairs as there are players are
ARRANGED in a circle. One player
stands in the middle OF the room. The
others seat themselves. The player
who is standing. tries to sit on the
vacant chair, but he is prevented by
the other players. who slip quickly
from chair to chair. At one time a
vacant chair is within touch Of the odd
player: at the next the vacancy is on
the other side OF the circle. At last
he is able to secure a seat, and some
Iother player who has lost his chair
takes the center of the circle.
Musical fright. which is like "Goine
to Jerusalem" calls for one chair few
| er than there are players. The chairs
| are arranged In a row down the middle
| OF the room. side by side but facing
alternately in opposite directions. The
players form In line and move around
| the chairs in single file. while some one
plays the piano. violin or other musica
"A large music box viii
| do. The players continue marching
until the music stops, when they al
scramble for seats Of course one
lp1ayer Is boundSto be left out, as there
| Is one chair short This player pays .
forfeit and retires from the game
IAnothcr chair Isl taken away, and ther
1.-THE game goes on until all are "Out'
5ut the winner. q
In neighbors there should be as many
lchairs as there are players. Tn,
lchildren Mould be divided into twt
sides Of equal number all the player,
lOf one side being blindfolded and tax
Ing possession Of the chairs in such ],
way that each player has an enipt,
chair his right hand. The other sid,
must then move silently into the mildl,
stof the circle and Mt 9 given signal the,