All the Balls in the House

That's right, all of them!

ADDED June 01, 2010

kids activities Among us parents, I'd like to share a little secret: today's game can really help tire your kids out. Use as necessary.

And, as a bonus, it's really fun for kids, too.

It's something of a "silly sport."

In soccer, the object is to get one ball into the goal.

In basketball, the object is to get one ball into the basket.

In hockey, the object is to get one puck into the . . . well, you get the idea.

In today's silly sport, though, your kids will score only when they get all the balls in the house into the goal.

First, gather all the balls in your house. By all balls, I mean just that: baseballs, footballs, basketballs, tennis balls, soccer balls -- all are needed. (Ideally you'll find at least six balls to use. And if you feel that you guys have too many balls for ths activity, well, of course you're allowed to pare the number down a bit.)

Choose a place in the backyard to be the goal, and point that out to all the players. You don't need expensive, regulation goal posts, of course. The space between two patio chairs will work fine.

Put all the balls in the house about ten or fifteen feet away the goal.

One team -- the kids' team -- needs to get all the balls into the goal.

The other team -- the parents' team -- needs to stop the kids. If the kids get a ball into the goal, the parents are allowed to take the ball out. The kids win only when all the balls in the whole house are in the goal.

Of course, you guys should switch roles after a point, and the kids should defend the goal from you.

This game should be silly and crazy, high energy fun. If it's not going over well, though, adjust it. Use fewer balls and a bigger goal!

Also, this game gets better with more players -- especially more kids.

One slight drawback that I neglected to mention above. Your kid won't be the only ones tuckered out. You, too, will need to rest up after this one. But have fun, anyway!