Mother May I (also known as Captain May I)

How to Play

This game is a simple childhood action game that might be good for reinforcing the use of manners. One person is chosen as the “mother” (or “captain” if it is a male). She or he stands facing away from a line of kids and selects a child at random, or in order. The mother/captain calls out a direction, step type, and number of steps. For example, the mother/captain can say: “Scott, you may take seven (or any other number)’ baby/normal/giant steps forward/backward.” The child then responds with “Mother may I?” (or “Captain may I?” if it is a male player in charge). The mother/captain states “Yes” or “No”, depending on her whim, and the child obeys and takes the steps. If the child forgets to ask “Mother may I?” then he/she goes back to the beginning of the line. The first one to touch the Mother/Captain wins and becomes the new Mother/Captain.

An alternate version of the game is similar: each child takes turns asking, “Mother/Captain may I take [x kind of] steps?” The child who is mother (or captain) replies yes or no.

There are other kinds of steps possible for this game – be creative and come up with your own. For example, there are:

* Bunny hops: hopping like a bunny.
* Frog hops: going down on all fours and hopping up like a frog.
* Scissors steps: jump while crossing your feet, then jump while uncrossing them was one step.
* Skip steps: steps as though one is skipping.
* Banana step: the child lies down with his or her feet at current spot, noting where the top of his or her head is, and standing up there for the new spot