Play by your own rules this summer and invent a new game
Is it time for something new? Your child might not find it easy to follow the rules of some games, but you can make this easier by making your own version of old favourites with some family rules. Take inspiration from The Hundred and make up new games to play together this summer.
This will be the second year of The Hundred, a cricket tournament which changed the rules of the game to make it more family-friendly.
The Hundred creators made up a whole new set of rules to make the game faster and more exciting to appeal to people who don’t usually watch cricket. It’s a good reminder that all sports were once invented by someone making up or changing the rules of the game.
Get creative
We love to see how creativity and new ideas make life more playful and bring fun to families. This summer, hold on to how important it is to play freely and make up your own rules that bring joy to all the players.
As a family, try having a summer of silliness and creating your own rules to invent brand new games, or change old favourites. You never know, what you come up with could become a new family tradition passed down through the generations.
You don't have to invent a whole new sport, of course. You can start by adding a new rule to a simple game, perhaps saying everyone must stand up and twirl around when they shout ‘snap’ or adding a dance to a game of catch. You could invent a new boardgame or find a funny way to race around the house and collect points.
If your child is old enough, you could ask them what rules they want to add. They might even be able to show you some ideas for games they have already made up with their friends.
Don’t worry too much if the game is chaotic or the rules don’t quite work at first. The more you play, and adapt the game to suit the players, the better it will become.
The Hundred will be shown on TV throughout August, so tune in if you need a bit of inspiration or want to see how their new rules are working out.
Share your ideas
We would love to hear about any games you and your family create. You can share your ideas with us and other parents in our community Facebook group, or through any of our social media channels.