Get Kids Moving: The Game of Tails

Have you ever played Tails?  If you haven't, it's a perfect activity for those days when you're stuck indoors and your kids need to burn off some energy, which describes nearly every day here for the past three months.  The premise is simple.

First, tuck a short scarf or other small piece of fabric (say, a wash cloth or dish towel) into everyone's back pocket or pants.  These are your tails.

Then, run like mad around the house as you try to steal someone else's tail while protecting your own.

It's brilliant.  It's fun.  It's exhausting.  Throughout our 40 minutes of play I had to take three water breaks, during which my oldest daughter looked at me as if to say, "What?  You're not tough enough?"

I looked right back at her as if to say, "You better get moving, kid, because you've got a target on your back."  Then I set down my glass and wiped my mouth on my sleeve in what I hoped to be a formidable way.

Then she ran.  And then I ran right after her.


Most often, this game is stopped after someone has collided into another person.  Or a piece of furniture.  Or a wall.  Moral of the story: watch out if you or your children are injury prone.

Keep 'em moving, my friends.  Keep moving.
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4 comments

  1. I forgot about "tails" / "tail tag". I am totally going to do this with my girls. We are headed into a cold snap - might be good to do on a day we're cooped up!


    Thanks for the reminder. (Love the picture too).
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hope that the cold spell won't last long. We hit the 40's today, and you'd think it's 70 by the way people are reacting -- shorts, no jackets, etc.
    Enjoy the game, Jennifer!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Francesca WritesHereMarch 05, 2014

    I love this idea. I'm a bit wary of it as my kids are very likely to hurt themselves (as am I), but I think it will be worth a try. I'm adding this post to my Festa of Favourites for February :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just wrap everyone in bubble wrap first, and you should be good to go. :)

    ReplyDelete

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