This is a game of Ukrainian origin and it is a fun activity that encourages younger children to exercise and keep warm when outdoors in the snow.
1Draw a large square on a flat area of snow. Use a large stick or the end of a shovel. See note under "Tips" for square size needs.
2Draw another square inside the large square. The inner square is the Big Bear's den.
3Decide who will play Big Bear first. This player must stand in Big Bear's den.
4Begin the game. Big Bear must yell "Big Bear is coming!". Big Bear must hold his/her hands together and dash out of the den into the larger square, chasing the other players. The aim is to touch another player.
5Return to the den. Once Big Bear has touched another player, the two of them must return to the den, holding hands.
6Go again. This time, both players yell out "The bears are coming!". Again, they both dash out of the den into the larger square chasing the other players. They must keep holding hands and tag another player together. The newly tagged player returns to the den with the other two and joins hands.
7Continue until all players have been tagged bar one. Each time, players must keep holding one another's hands as they run out of the den. This gets very challenging for the remaining players to dodge!
8Play again. The last player left becomes Big Bear for the next game. If you decide not to play again, that player is the winner.
- Players must stay inside the large square to make it a fair competition.
- This is a really great way to keep kids warm and enthused about outdoor play during winter.
- Make sure that the big square is large enough for chasing around, especially as the bears start holding hands. The more players, the larger the square must be.
Things You'll Need
- Snow clothing
- Stick or shovel
- Hot chocolate for after the game
Sources and Citations
- Based on game explanation in Debi Perna, Play and Learn: Educational Puzzles and Fun, 1999, ISBN 1-895688-92-2.