Bear/Hunter/Nanny

Equally important to teaching children time management is presenting chores and homework as a means to an end—an end of fun! (No, Mr.Man, not the end of fun,an end of fun! Fun at the end!) Once Kiddos are done with their lists of chores, they are “free men” and can head outside, read, play with me—whatever they want. Having that motivation for completing tasks is invaluable.

Sometimes, especially midweek, I’ve found that I have to up the ante. For example, on the way home from school I told Big Cat and Mr. Man that they had to get all of their chores and homework done “super fast and super right” because I was dying to show them a little game I like to call Bear/Hunter/Ninja…because that’s what the game is called. (It is worth noting that when I told them they better “burn through their lists because Bear/Hunter/Ninja is awesome,” Big Cat requested some matches.) Immediately intrigued, both boys raced to finish their chores and met me outside.

Bear/Hunter/Ninja is a game that I think my Texas State friends made up, but I’m sure has been around for centuries. Just as in Rock/Paper/Scissors, each character beats one and surrenders to another. Bear kills ninja, hunter kills bear, ninja kills hunter. But even more awesome than Rock/Paper/Scissors is the full body component of Bear/Hunter/Ninja; it’s the reason why it appeals both to young children and tipsy adults alike! It’s one of those timeless games that brings people together and crosses generational lines. The game starts when you put your back to your opponent. After shouting “Bear! Hunter! Ninja! GO!” in unison, you and your partner hop up and whip around with both hands either held high above your head (Bear), holding an imaginary rifle (Hunter), or in mid-karate chop (Ninja). Let me tell you, this game slays! The kids were dying laughing and stayed outside playing for fifteen minutes straight, which for a 6 and 8 year old is AMAZE-balls!

Of course Big Cat, being the creative force that he is, wanted to make up another version, so Miss Cheryl created Shark/Surfer/Dolphin. Imagine the possibilities!