Mrs Bargewell’s Traditional Toys and Games Challenge

This week the challenge is to think about ‘traditional’ toys that your parents, grandparents or great grandparents may have

had or the games they may have played. The challenge has two parts :– 1 - Play a traditional game (ideally a new game you

have not played before) OR 2 - Make a traditional toy or game yourself.

Do one or the other, or both if you want…..or simply just play some games / board games with your family and have fun…..

I am trying to keep it simple this week! ……Oh………and electronic games are not allowed for this challenge!!

Games - Here are some ideas of simple games that I remember playing when I was young – I am sure your

grown-ups can think of some more or some different games that they played when they were young.

Noughts and crosses – Who can be the first to get 3 in a row?

Hangman - Maybe start with simple, 3 letter words though!

Battleships – Start with simple grids perhaps? Can you find the other players ships on their grid? No peeking!!

Hunt the thimble - Hide a thimble, or something similar, and then give ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ hints as someone hunts for the hidden item

Card Games – Patience (also known as Solitaire in the US) / Clock patience (Great for number recognition and ordering !) I loved playing these

games as a child and was taught to play them by my Nan when I was 6!! ! I have attached instructions below for those who do not know how to

play. There are electronic versions (Freecell etc) but it would be nice to play ‘traditionally’ if you have a pack of cards. If not, could you make

your own pack of cards maybe?

How to play Patience

Shuffle the pack and mix the cards up. Place seven cards face-down in a line, next to each other. Turn the card on the far left face up.

Place six cards face- down on top of the six that are already face-down. Turn over the card on the far left of the second row.

Repeat this until you only put one card down, and turn this face-up. Place the remaining deck to one side, facedown.

Place any aces (from the ‘face-up’ cards) above your game to make new piles for each ‘suit’ of cards. Turn

over the top card of the deck.

Attempt to place the card on one of the columns. Cards must alternate between red and black in each

column. Cards must be in order in each column (K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A).

The goal is to move all cards onto the ace piles / ‘suits’ piles to make 4 complete piles.

(spades, clubs, hearts, diamonds).

The ‘suits’ piles must be in order (A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K).

You can move an appropriate card to the ‘suits’ / aces piles at any time.

Toys

There were lots of different toys around years ago but I have chosen just a few that are simple to make at home.

Spinning tops – Cut a circle out of card / cereal box etc. Carefully push a cocktail stick or pencil through the middle

(ask a grown-up to help you) and you now have your own spinning top !! Make a few and decorate them.

Spinner – Cut a circle out of card and decorate each side with spirals, dots or lines. Using a needle, make two holes

near the middle of your spinner. (Ask a grown-up to help). Thread cotton through each hole, leaving quite a long

piece of cotton each side. Tie a knot in the ends to stop them unthreading from your spinner. Alternatively make

two small holes on the edge of your spinner (one on each opposite edge) Top tip – don’t make the holes too close to

the edge or it will rip the card. Thread cotton through each side and tie a knot to stop the thread coming out of

the hole. As you hold a piece of thread in each hand, gently pull and twist the thread between your

finger and thumb to make it spin. The spinner with the thread in the middle, spins round on the

centre thread, but the spinners with thread on the edge spin over to show both sides

quickly – so each type of spinner has a different pattern / effect when spun. Hopefully the pictures will help you see what I am

trying to explain!!

Dress-Up Doll – Draw a person on cardboard or paper and cut them out. Now draw lots of different clothes to fit your doll –

tops, bottoms, dresses, costumes etc. (make sure they will be the right size!) Decorate and cut them out. What costumes will you

make for your doll?

Spin drum – Cut a circle from an old cardboard box - Use thick card or ‘double up’ thin card, it has to be strong enough to cope

with being hit by beads! Make two small holes in the card circle, one on each opposite edge. Use wool or cotton to thread a bead,

button or dried pasta (or anything suitable you can thread on to make a noise!) and do this on both sides and tie securely. Use a

stick / old pencil etc and attach it to your card disc. When the stick is turned backwards and forwards, between the palms of your hands, the

‘drum’ should twist from side to side and the threaded beads will ‘bang’ the drum ! The photo shows animal decoration but

you can choose your own…maybe a person with ponytails?…Maybe just a fab pattern?…..You choose! There are lots of other ideas on the internet….I have suggested just a few…..enjoy…have fun…..happy creating!

Mrs Bargewell……xxx

And don’t forget to take photos of what you create or the games you choose to play !!

Clock Patience

� Shuffle the full deck of cards and place face down into 12 piles of 4 cards each, in the form of a clock.

� One pile lies at each position from 1 o'clock to 12 o'clock.

� The last pile of 4 cards goes in the middle.

� Turn over the top card from the middle pile.

� Place the card next to where it belongs on the clock face.

(Ace = 1, 2=2 etc, Jack = 11, Queen = 12 and Kings = middle pile.)

� Now turn over the top card from the pile where you have just put your last card.

� Place this new card where it belongs on the clock and take a new card from that pile.

� Repeat as many times as possible, until the middle pile of cards have all been turned.

� The game of clock patience has only been won, if no card remains face down.

If you still have cards that have not been turned over, but there are none face-down

in the middle….it’s game over I’m afraid!

You cannot always finish this game !! Perhaps that’s why it’s called patience?? Who knows ?!!

Hope you enjoy playing !

Mrs Bargewell xx

PS …..This is a great game to help with number recognition and telling the time / number positions on clock face etc…..so have fun learning!!