Flirgan Elf

Big Foot Relay. Get the children fetch two shoeboxes with them. Tape the hats onto the boxes, then cut a one-inch-wide and four-inch long slit in each top. Have the contestants slip their feet into the slits in the boxes and race.

Name-It Ball. Have players form a circle. Present one player a rubber ball. That player selects a class, such as “candy bars.” He or she then bounces the ball to another player in the circle, who must catch the ball, submit an item from the category, such as “Snickers,” and keep the ball flying to the next player. If the player can’t name an item, holds the ball too long, or repeats an item, he or she is out.

Cross Step. Draw a ten-by-ten grid on the sidewalk or patio with chalk. Have each player stand on a different square. One at a time, each player must move to a new square after crossing out the square she or he was once standing in. The magic is that players cannot step into a square that is populated or crossed out. If a player cannot move to a new square, he or she is out. The game extends until one player is left.

Blind Snakes. Set up a amount of sprinklers in between a starting line and a finish line. Have the kids try to run from one end to the other without getting sprayed. Have one of the kids control the faucet, turning it on and off at random. Present ribbons to the tikes who play the gangliest without getting wet.