This game can be a lot of fun at a birthday party. It doesn’t require a lot of room for the minimum number of players; a good-sized living room will do. It’s very easy to teach and learn, so it’s good with younger kids too.
Number of players: 6 – 30 players.
Materials needed: a slipper, a beanbag, a hacky sack, ball, small teddy bear or other small object.
To set up all the players sit in a circle, with their feet drawn up and their knees raised so the players can pass the slipper or other object from hand to hand under their knees. Girls wearing skirts or dresses have a definite advantage; it’s easy to conceal a small object under it!
The players pass the object around the circle under their knees, the goal being to keep the object away from the player who’s “it.” This person runs around the circle trying to tap the shoulder of the person who has the object.
There’s lots of ways to deceive the hunter, such as appearing to pass the slipper when it’s not in one’s hands, or holding it for a long time while the hands are idle, although this can make the game go a lot slower. The players can also “tease” the hunter. When the hunter is a safe distance away, they can hold the slipper up, or even throw it to another person in the circle or tap the floor with it.
When the hunter successfully taps the player with the slipper, they change places with that player.
When the circle of players is really large, the odd player may play in the center of the circle rather than outside the circle. Another variation is to change the size or weight of the object being passed. The larger the object, the cleverer the players have to be to conceal it. It’s also a lot more fun to watch with a bigger object.