Pirate ship

Purpose
High energy game, great for any time you need to raise the energy, or run off some steam!

You will need
A largish clear space. Clear any table and chairs, and other objects that could be tripped over, to the side of the rooms.

How to do it
Tell the siblings that you are all back in time and working on a pirate boat – perhaps it is similar to the one in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film. You are the Pirate Captain (try to put on some mannerisms to increase the fun) and they are the crew and all orders have to be obeyed instantly.

Designate the side walls as "Port" and "Starboard", the end walls as "In your cabins" and "On deck". When you shout out one of the areas, the siblings have to run to that part of the room.

Invent actions for other commands (the siblings will probably have lots of ideas). Favourites are: "Scrub the decks" (get down on your hands and knees and mime scrubbing the floor), "Climb the rigging" (mime climbing up a rope), "Bombs" (everyone curls into a ball), "Sharks" (everyone has to get to a wall or off the floor), "Captain's coming" (stand to attention & salute), "Walk the plank" (walk in a straight line), "Captain's Daughter" (say "Ooh-la-la", preen and generally show off!)

After a few goes together start eliminating the slowest. Those eliminated could take a turn at being the pirate captain. If you play this game every session every sibling may have a chance to be the captain.