Fun and Games
Do you remember the fun you had as a child? What were your favorite things to do?
I’m grateful for happy childhood memories. There were lots of things I enjoyed about my younger years, but I especially loved playing games. Board games, card games, outdoor games – they were all great ways to pass the time and have some fun. Now that I’m an adult, “Red light, Green light” and “Risk” just don’t seem to show up on my agenda too much anymore (unless, of course, we’re talking about dealing with local traffic!), but that doesn’t mean my play days are over. There are still plenty of opportunities for fun and games, no matter how many trips we’ve made around the sun.
I’ve learned a few important lessons from playing games with others. Games build bridges and forge connections; they help us learn and grow. Games spark creativity and allow us to take ourselves (and maybe even life!) a little less seriously. Play benefits us in so many ways; it’s good for the body and soul, and keeps us young at heart. Best of all, each time we play together, it’s like we’re making micro-deposits into one another’s care accounts. Over time, these little deposits pay huge dividends.
One of my family’s favorite dinnertime games was “Guess my animal”, our abbreviated version of the parlor game “20 Questions”, made popular back in the 1940’s. The object? One person chooses an animal; the rest try to guess it in 20 questions or less. After a long day of school or work, we all looked forward to squeezing in a little friendly competition over some small talk and shish kebobs.
When the kids were little, the game was fairly simple. But as our offspring sprouted up, so did the difficulty level of our gregarious guessing game. Like most of their peers, our children’s vocabulary and knowledge grew rapidly, almost as fast as their appetites and shoe sizes. As they graduated through the grades, pee wee probes such as, “Does it have fur?” and “Can it swim?” were soon replaced with more sophisticated queries such as: “Is it an indigenous species to Virginia?”, and “Is it an invertebrate?” My husband and I were often quite impressed with our small fry’s animal acumen.
And yet, kids will be kids; they say and do the “darndest” things. On more than one occasion, our little flock experienced maddening mishaps and mischievous mayhem.
For example, sometimes a child chose an animal he knew relatively little to nothing about; in these instances, the game soon went to the dogs. Conversations fizzled; interest levels crashed and burned. Once the last forkfuls of chicken pot pie had been shoveled down the hatch, diners politely excused themselves from the table, made a beeline for the couch, and geared up to spar with more rigorous competition, the likes of which could be found on Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
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“Expressions for $400, please.”
A four-letter word conveying resigned disappointment
“What is: sigh?”
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Other times, unbeknownst to the rest of us, a child changed his animal mid-flight and sent us on “wild-goose” chases, lasting well past dinner and dessert, bumping right up into bedtimes.
(Hmmm…could these have actually been cleverly designed detours…?)
At times like these, somebody usually cried foul and lodged a formal complaint; they threw down the guessing game gauntlet: “Hold your horses! You said it had feathers, now you’re telling me it’s cold-blooded?!
I demand an explanation!” Glares were exchanged; tempers flared; arguments erupted.
It was a bit comical, honestly, but we adults knew something had to be done. In the spirit of maintaining peace and harmony (and to keep everyone on speaking terms at the bus stop the next day), we decided to take the bull by the horns, and instituted some much-needed rules:
1. First and foremost, players must have one animal in mind when starting, and may not change it.
2. Players may not use any helps of any kind.
3. Players may purposefully not mislead others when answering questions.
4. No rapid-fire questions.
5. All questions asked must be able to be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”.
6. Everyone must participate.
The plan worked! It could have been because breaking a rule meant no dessert (just kidding, Nana!), or it could have been just plain luck, but our little plan worked! We may not have experienced rainbows and butterflies each time we played, but for the most part, the clearly defined expectations helped to keep us on track.
If one of us had just come through a particularly rough day, a quick round of “Guess my Animal” helped smooth out rough edges and blow off some steam. By taking the time to talk and play with one another, we were reminded of two important truths: Things were probably not as bad as they seemed; and what’s more we had someone in our corner who cared. Little deposits pay huge dividends…
Sure, we discovered lots of cool facts about animals of all shapes and sizes by playing our little game. But more importantly, we learned the value of taking turns and playing by the rules. We honed our conversational skills, we practiced being good sports, and we disagreed respectfully (most of the time). We playfully poked at one another and laughed at our own foibles. Best of all, we learned the importance of family fun time.
Playing and having fun with others speaks volumes. It says, “I enjoy spending time with you. You matter to me.”
Micro-deposits of caring. Couldn’t we all use some more of that these days?
On a recent visit to the refuge, I couldn’t help but wonder about our feathered, finned, and furry friends ….did they take time to play, too? As I cruised along the coastline, it sure seemed that way. I watched swift sanderlings playfully dive and swoop incredibly close to one another, then turbo-jet away, as if to say, “Tag! You’re it!”
Sanderlings play a quick game of catch me if you can!
Later, it seemed as though they were pretending to be 747s taxiing down the shore’s runway, using fast and fancy footwork for their “wheels”.
Ready for take-off!
We were excited to spot a pod of dolphins frolicking together in the ocean; it sure looked like they were having tons of fun as they splashed and swam southward. What a treat to witness several of them show off and surf the waves like pros!
Slip-sliding away
Back near the Visitor Center, we observed wading birds play a friendly little game of “follow the leader” as they moved through the marsh together, respectfully giving each other safe “social distancing”.
Perhaps all creatures, great and small, engage in “play”.
Thinking back on our family game, my favorite “Guess my Animal” question was “Have we seen it in our yard?”
The possibility of finding out about a creature that one of us had seen on our property added a new dimension of fun and wonder to our competition, and often sparked convivial conversations about shared memories.
So, in the spirit of having fun and sparking memories, I thought I’d test your knowledge about a few of the animals (and other natural things) spotted in and around our communal back yard: the refuge. Are you game?!
I’m calling it “Guess my animal 2.0”. Settle in and grab a snack; if you’re playing with someone else, maybe do “rock, paper, scissors” to decide who gets to go first. Good luck, have fun, and until next time…
“See you down at the refuge!”
*Answers listed at the bottom. No peeking until you’re all done making your guesses!
- I “spotted” the pretty little feather below while beachcombing one morning as my husband
fished. Clue: This diving bird has a call that’s distinct and haunting, and in popular culture, these calls have become a “symbol of the wilderness”. What’s the bird?
- People often refer to the soft black pouch below as “a fashion accessory of a mythical half-human sea creature.” A. What’s the fanciful term they use? B. List its actual name. C. What vertebrate hatches from this pouch?
- This shell absolutely fascinated me (it still does!). What do you think caused all the tiny holes?
B. What other organism do you see evidence of on the shell? (“zoom in” to see some cool “remnants”!)
- Check out these tracks we saw on the trail near the Visitor Center.
What nocturnal mammal do you think made these tracks? B. What is this animal’s
most heightened sense? C. What is the male of this animal called?
- This wading bird uses its long curved bill to feel around below the water’s surface for tasty treats. When it detects something, it plucks its prey out, using its bill like a pair of tweezers.
What is the name of this bird? B. What do these birds like to eat? (List 3 things)
C. What is a group of these birds called?
ANSWERS
- Common loon. What beautiful birds! I had no clue what bird this feather came from! Thankfully, I discovered this cool feather atlas – check it out! Use the “identify” tab if you have a feather you’d like to match to its owner.
- 2A. mermaid’s purse; 2B. skate egg case; 2C. a skate. Read about the difference between skates and rays and other interesting facts.
- 3A. boring sponge. So cool! Read more about what makes these holes
3B. barnacles
- 4. raccoon 4B. touch 4C. boar
- 5A. white ibis; 5B. insects, crustaceans, crayfish, earthworms, marine worms, crabs, fish, frogs, lizards, snails, and newts (you name it!)
5C. congregation, stand, or wedge
Thanks for playing!
The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society depends on donations to fund programs and projects that directly support the Refuge. To make a donation click here .
The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society (Society) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote and support Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (BBNWR) in its mission to conserve, protect, and enhance natural resources; through advocacy, outreach, education, fund raising, and projects for the betterment of BBNWR. For more information regarding how to become involved, click here.
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Posted: February 13, 2021 by Back Bay NWR Society
Fun and Games by Laura McMahon
Fun and Games
Do you remember the fun you had as a child? What were your favorite things to do?
I’m grateful for happy childhood memories. There were lots of things I enjoyed about my younger years, but I especially loved playing games. Board games, card games, outdoor games – they were all great ways to pass the time and have some fun. Now that I’m an adult, “Red light, Green light” and “Risk” just don’t seem to show up on my agenda too much anymore (unless, of course, we’re talking about dealing with local traffic!), but that doesn’t mean my play days are over. There are still plenty of opportunities for fun and games, no matter how many trips we’ve made around the sun.
I’ve learned a few important lessons from playing games with others. Games build bridges and forge connections; they help us learn and grow. Games spark creativity and allow us to take ourselves (and maybe even life!) a little less seriously. Play benefits us in so many ways; it’s good for the body and soul, and keeps us young at heart. Best of all, each time we play together, it’s like we’re making micro-deposits into one another’s care accounts. Over time, these little deposits pay huge dividends.
One of my family’s favorite dinnertime games was “Guess my animal”, our abbreviated version of the parlor game “20 Questions”, made popular back in the 1940’s. The object? One person chooses an animal; the rest try to guess it in 20 questions or less. After a long day of school or work, we all looked forward to squeezing in a little friendly competition over some small talk and shish kebobs.
When the kids were little, the game was fairly simple. But as our offspring sprouted up, so did the difficulty level of our gregarious guessing game. Like most of their peers, our children’s vocabulary and knowledge grew rapidly, almost as fast as their appetites and shoe sizes. As they graduated through the grades, pee wee probes such as, “Does it have fur?” and “Can it swim?” were soon replaced with more sophisticated queries such as: “Is it an indigenous species to Virginia?”, and “Is it an invertebrate?” My husband and I were often quite impressed with our small fry’s animal acumen.
And yet, kids will be kids; they say and do the “darndest” things. On more than one occasion, our little flock experienced maddening mishaps and mischievous mayhem.
For example, sometimes a child chose an animal he knew relatively little to nothing about; in these instances, the game soon went to the dogs. Conversations fizzled; interest levels crashed and burned. Once the last forkfuls of chicken pot pie had been shoveled down the hatch, diners politely excused themselves from the table, made a beeline for the couch, and geared up to spar with more rigorous competition, the likes of which could be found on Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
A four-letter word conveying resigned disappointment
“What is: sigh?”
Other times, unbeknownst to the rest of us, a child changed his animal mid-flight and sent us on “wild-goose” chases, lasting well past dinner and dessert, bumping right up into bedtimes.
(Hmmm…could these have actually been cleverly designed detours…?)
At times like these, somebody usually cried foul and lodged a formal complaint; they threw down the guessing game gauntlet: “Hold your horses! You said it had feathers, now you’re telling me it’s cold-blooded?!
I demand an explanation!” Glares were exchanged; tempers flared; arguments erupted.
It was a bit comical, honestly, but we adults knew something had to be done. In the spirit of maintaining peace and harmony (and to keep everyone on speaking terms at the bus stop the next day), we decided to take the bull by the horns, and instituted some much-needed rules:
1. First and foremost, players must have one animal in mind when starting, and may not change it.
2. Players may not use any helps of any kind.
3. Players may purposefully not mislead others when answering questions.
4. No rapid-fire questions.
5. All questions asked must be able to be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”.
6. Everyone must participate.
The plan worked! It could have been because breaking a rule meant no dessert (just kidding, Nana!), or it could have been just plain luck, but our little plan worked! We may not have experienced rainbows and butterflies each time we played, but for the most part, the clearly defined expectations helped to keep us on track.
If one of us had just come through a particularly rough day, a quick round of “Guess my Animal” helped smooth out rough edges and blow off some steam. By taking the time to talk and play with one another, we were reminded of two important truths: Things were probably not as bad as they seemed; and what’s more we had someone in our corner who cared. Little deposits pay huge dividends…
Sure, we discovered lots of cool facts about animals of all shapes and sizes by playing our little game. But more importantly, we learned the value of taking turns and playing by the rules. We honed our conversational skills, we practiced being good sports, and we disagreed respectfully (most of the time). We playfully poked at one another and laughed at our own foibles. Best of all, we learned the importance of family fun time.
Playing and having fun with others speaks volumes. It says, “I enjoy spending time with you. You matter to me.”
Micro-deposits of caring. Couldn’t we all use some more of that these days?
On a recent visit to the refuge, I couldn’t help but wonder about our feathered, finned, and furry friends ….did they take time to play, too? As I cruised along the coastline, it sure seemed that way. I watched swift sanderlings playfully dive and swoop incredibly close to one another, then turbo-jet away, as if to say, “Tag! You’re it!”
Sanderlings play a quick game of catch me if you can!
Later, it seemed as though they were pretending to be 747s taxiing down the shore’s runway, using fast and fancy footwork for their “wheels”.
Ready for take-off!
We were excited to spot a pod of dolphins frolicking together in the ocean; it sure looked like they were having tons of fun as they splashed and swam southward. What a treat to witness several of them show off and surf the waves like pros!
Slip-sliding away
Back near the Visitor Center, we observed wading birds play a friendly little game of “follow the leader” as they moved through the marsh together, respectfully giving each other safe “social distancing”.
Perhaps all creatures, great and small, engage in “play”.
Thinking back on our family game, my favorite “Guess my Animal” question was “Have we seen it in our yard?”
The possibility of finding out about a creature that one of us had seen on our property added a new dimension of fun and wonder to our competition, and often sparked convivial conversations about shared memories.
So, in the spirit of having fun and sparking memories, I thought I’d test your knowledge about a few of the animals (and other natural things) spotted in and around our communal back yard: the refuge. Are you game?!
I’m calling it “Guess my animal 2.0”. Settle in and grab a snack; if you’re playing with someone else, maybe do “rock, paper, scissors” to decide who gets to go first. Good luck, have fun, and until next time…
“See you down at the refuge!”
*Answers listed at the bottom. No peeking until you’re all done making your guesses!
fished. Clue: This diving bird has a call that’s distinct and haunting, and in popular culture, these calls have become a “symbol of the wilderness”. What’s the bird?
B. What other organism do you see evidence of on the shell? (“zoom in” to see some cool “remnants”!)
What nocturnal mammal do you think made these tracks? B. What is this animal’s
most heightened sense? C. What is the male of this animal called?
What is the name of this bird? B. What do these birds like to eat? (List 3 things)
C. What is a group of these birds called?
ANSWERS
3B. barnacles
5C. congregation, stand, or wedge
Thanks for playing!
The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society depends on donations to fund programs and projects that directly support the Refuge. To make a donation click here .
The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society (Society) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote and support Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (BBNWR) in its mission to conserve, protect, and enhance natural resources; through advocacy, outreach, education, fund raising, and projects for the betterment of BBNWR. For more information regarding how to become involved, click here.