What's the time Mr Wolf?

It was play day at the People in Need centre at Boosa in Sri Lanka today. All the children were outside in the playground for the morning and they seemed really pleased to see us. We decided to coordinate their play a little and introduced a game that they could all be involved in.

It got them to exercise their counting ability, although their enthusiasm to be the wolf usually meant that their number of steps was trebled.

In case you aren't familiar with the game here's a brief overview. (Then create an image in your head of a Jo sweating like an elephant as Mr Wolf with 20 Sri Lankan children.)

All the children stand behind a line in the sand. Mr Wolf stands about 20-30 metres away. The children shout 'what's the time Mr wolf?' The reply is perhaps 3 o-clock at which the children take 3 steps forward. The wolf then lures them closer and closer with different numbers of steps until the final reply is "Dinnertime!!!' This propels the children back to their line with the 'wolf' in pursuit. Whomever he manages to catch becomes the wolf.

It was so very funny watching them. All taking huge strides forward and not counting at all in their efforts to become the next wolf.

And the laughter and fun we had was something money can't buy. Those who have known me in the past would have been astonished to see me with the children hanging off both arms.

One of the little girls is profoundly deaf but so very pretty. She was the first wolf and she did so well. I was really proud of her.