Mother May I?

A.K.A. Captain May I


One game I remember is Mother May I. One person (it could be Mom) stands facing away from a line of kids. She then chooses a child (at random, or in order), and announces a direction. These follow a pattern, such as, "Brian, you may take' x' giant/regular/baby steps forward/backward." The child responds with "Mother may I?" Mom then states "Yes" or "No", depending on her whim, and the child complies. If the child forgets to ask "Mother may I?" he/she goes back to the starting line. First one to touch Mother wins.

Contributed by: Gary Swanson

OR

In one variation I learned, each child takes turns asking, "Mother may I take . . . steps?"  And the child who is mother replies yes or no.  In addition to baby, regular, and giant steps, we had ballet steps which were kind of like fake ballet turns.

Another way we played the mother would say, "Take __  ____________ steps [always] forward."  And each child in turn would reply,  "Mother, may I?"  Then, Mother tell each child whether they could or couldn't.

Contributed by Erika Salomon

Other steps:

Scissors step- jump while crossing your feet, then jump while uncrossing them was one step

Banana step-laying down with feet at current spot, marking where the top of your head was, and getting up there for new spot.

Bunny step - a hop

Contributed by Dea

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