Games are an important activity of many children's get-togethers
--birthday parties, family reunions, picnics and holidays.
Sometimes getting these matches started can be a little
unnerving. Who is going to be "It?" What about teams? Timid
players? Bullies? However, once underway, contests usually take
flight on their own. Then we adults can contentedly sit back and
absorb the youngsters' joy. "On the playground of life, game
playing equips each of us with the 'rules...'" Bob Keeshan,
Captain Kangaroo Following are suggestions for getting started
and easing sticky points: Most youngsters do not want to be
"It." " It," of course, is the runner, chaser, chooser, or
guesser. Since volunteers are rare, be ready with one of the
following methods of picking "It." 1) Simple--Everyone yells,
"Not It!" The last one to say, "Not It" is "It." 2) Another
stand-by--Someone shouts, "Last one to the _______(insert tree,
bench, porch, etc.) is a rotten egg." --that is, "It." All race
to the named spot; the last one to reach i