All aboard for a game at sea.
Child development opportunities
* To listen to instructions and respond physically
* To talk about boats and how to steer them
* To talk about the sea and good and bad weather at sea
* To find out about dramatic play How to play
* One child becomes the captain.
* The other children stand behind a line which represents the seashore and a safe home.
* The captain comes up to the children and says: 'Get on my boat and come to sea with me.'
* Children climb on the boat and stand in a line behind the captain.
* The captain says, 'Off we go. The sea is calm,' and guides the boat while running round the playground calmly, the children copying the captain as they go.
* The captain says, 'The weather is changing. The sea is getting rough.'
The captain now skips and jumps up and down to show the rough sea.
* The captain says, 'The boat is sinking. Swim to the shore.' Children use their arms to swim as they run to the shore as quickly as they can.
* The last to reach the shore is out.
Tips
* Change the number of children who drop out to speed up the game.
* Add to the captain's remarks about the weather conditions: 'The sky is blue, the sun is shining, the sea is calm' and 'The clouds are black, the wind is blowing, the sea is rough.'
For more games, see Acker Backa BOO! - Games to Say and Play From Around the World by Opal Dunn (Frances Lincoln, 10.99) ) Opal Dunn. The author disclaims responsibility for any adverse effects resulting directly or indirectly from the game outlined.
