Counting Out Games: A Playground Tradition for Choosing Players
Simple games using rhymes and counting to select someone from a group, often used before playing another game.
Description
Counting-out games are a collection of traditional children’s games that use rhymes and counting to randomly select a player from a group. These games are often played before the start of another game, such as tag or hide-and-seek, to determine who will be “it” or have a specific role. The rhymes can be silly, nonsensical, or even hold historical roots. They are a fun and social way to involve everyone and add a touch of anticipation to choosing someone.
Categories
- Children’s Games, Selection Games
How to Play:
- Number of Players: Multiple Players (intended for groups)
- What You’ll Need: Nothing! Just your voice and a group of people.
- Gameplay:
- Players stand in a circle or huddle together.
- One person starts chanting the chosen rhyme while pointing at each player in turn. There are many variations, but a common example is:
Winning Criteria:
(Not applicable for counting-out games themselves) Counting Out Games are used for selection, not winning. The winner is determined by the game that follows the counting-out selection process.
Estimated Playtime: Very Short – Takes less than a minute.
Make it Your Own:
- Regional Variations: There are countless variations of counting-out rhymes used around the world. See if you can find rhymes used in your region or culture to share with others.
- Create a New Rhyme: Get creative and come up with your own silly or themed rhyme to use for counting out!
- Multiple Rounds: If you have a large group, you can play multiple rounds of the counting-out game to winnow down the players until you have the chosen number.
Ready to Play Counting-Out Games?
Counting-out games are a fun and social way to add a little excitement to choosing players for your favorite games. So the next time you’re gathering with friends or family, consider using a counting-out rhyme to kick things off!
Tags
Playground Games, Traditional Games, Selection Method
Similar Games:
- Eeny Meeny Miny Moe: A classic counting-out rhyme.
- Rock Paper Scissors: A hand game using gestures to determine a winner.
- Drawing Straws: A selection method where the shortest straw “wins.”