GIANT STEPS (ALSO CALLED: MAY I?)

Age Level: 4 and up

Number of Players: 3 or more

What is Needed: nothing

Type of Game: competitive (sort of)

Location: outside

HOW TO PLAY

Establish a start and finish line. The leader (usually an adult for young children, but this could be the birthday child) stands behind the finish line.
The children spread out across the start line. The leader gives the first command, such as "David, you may take three baby steps." David then must ask, "May I?" If he doesn't say this, his turn is over. If he does, the leader can say "Yes, you may," in which case David takes three baby steps toward the finish line. The leader can arbitrarily change his or her mind and give another command: "No, you may not. You may take five giant steps." Again David
must ask, "May I?" If the leader says, "Yes, you may," David moves five giant steps toward the finish line. The first child to reach the finish line wins, but since the leader can manipulate the game so that certain children win, this is
a good game to soothe unhappy children. Various steps are baby steps, giant steps, hops, jumps, twirl steps, backward steps, and leaps. Make up new ones.