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So in a previous post I talked about how when the kids and I went to the park we made up a game to play and called it “Treasure Hunter.”  It was something pretty fun and while they both had a few periods of crying because they thought they lost, it was clear they had a great time.

To help visualize the thrilling tale I’m about to relate I’ve used the new advanced Google Maps 2.0 to provide a map of the park and how we played.

Hi-Res Satellite Photo of Treasure Hunter Park

The Map

On the left you can see a climbing area with a red slide and the monkey-bars mentioned in the other post.  Also on that structure is the circle device the kids were using to spin themselves around.  The play structure in the middle has a set of stairs, two slides and an elevated area.  That was the center of the area and designated as the “safe zone” where the kids were safe.  It was also the place that they needed to return the various “treasure” that was scattered around the park.  Most of the park was covered with those safety wood chips and had a sidewalk running along one side.

The Treasure

The treasure for the game was three small rocks about the size of their fist.  They weren’t sharp and they weren’t allowed to throw them.

The Object

The object of the game was to collect the three treasures and get them back to their safe zone before they were caught by the Hunter.  Daddy was the Hunter and if he tagged you you then lost one of your three lives and had to go back to the safe zone before you could try for the treasure again.  If you lost all three of your lives you were out and had to wait until the game was over to play again.  It was allowed for both kids to run around at the same time so it encouraged cooperation and planning.

Round 1

So we start off the game and at this point the kids are still thinking it’s the typical game of monster and that they just needed to run from Daddy.  I had to tell them a time or two to go for the treasure and they also made the mistake of running together.  I was able to catch each kid once which was promptly resulted  in passionate yet brief crying and frustration until I reminded them they still had 2 lives left and just had to go back to the safe zone.

On William’s 2nd try he took off for treasure 3 but then turned and headed for treasure 2.  He managed to get it but fell down behind the green bench and tried to say that falling down meant time out.  As anyone who’s watched a horror movie knows, falling down is most definitely not a time out and I told him he better run.  He ran around the side of the safe zone and when trying to get up the stairs slammed his knee into the metal ramp VERY hard.   He had to sit down because it hurt so bad and when I tried to get him up he had a slight limp.  I do think the limp was more dramatic than actual and you’ll see why in a bit.

Katie can be described as a determined opportunist and while the Hunter was taking care of the fallen Treasure Hunter she promptly grabbed the other rocks and won Round 1.

Round 2

So I announce it’s time for Round 2 but William says his knee hurts too much.  I tell him I understand completely and he can go rest by the bench (near treasure 2).  He sits down and has some water while Katie and I get started.

Round 2 is underway for an estimated 40 seconds before William is up and headed to treasure 3.

Katie was headed to treasure 3 as well but quickly realized that the Hunter would get her and she doubled back to treasure 2 and ran for the safe zone.  I let her go and switched to chasing William as he headed for treasure 3.  He didn’t quite get to treasure 3 before I chased him to the corner of the park and we played a game of cat and mouse while he decided if he could make a break for it.

By now Katie had collected treasure 2 and was smart enough to run and get treasure 1 while the Hunter was distracted.   However, the keep-away game between William and the Hunter seemed like too much fun because instead of dropping off the treasure at the safe zone she brought it with her to treasure 3 and the stand-off between the Hunter and William.  She gets a little too close and the Hunter tags her so she has to drop treasure 1 where she’s standing (near treasure 3) and then head back to the safe zone.  Again there is a small amount of crying until I remind her she still has two lives left.

At this point William smartly grabs treasure 1 and 3 for the win (treasure 2 was already in the safe zone) and heads along the sidewalk and gets near the water fountain before the Hunter is chasing him again.  Now that I’m between him and the safe zone he realizes he’s stuck and not sure what to do.

Katie has returned to the safe zone and is back in the game and William tells her to come over to him.  I could see the wheels turning and I remind William he can’t throw the rocks.   He tells Katie to run around the left side of the water fountain to get to him.  Once they get together William tells Katie he has a plan; he hands her a rock and tells her to run that way while he runs the other.

Of course at this point I’m really impressed and proud since he was able to assess the situation, come up with a counter-strategy and implement it.  Katie heads left while William heads right.  I chase William but he ducks around the playscape on the far left and then runs around the other side.  I try and get him but he makes a good leap and makes it to the safe zone.  Katie has taken the long way around and I chase after her at which point she drops the rock right by the safe zone.  She picks it up before I get her and touchs the safe zone and wins the game.  She thought she lost because she thought she lost by dropping the rock but once I explained it to her she was immediately happy.

I give both kids a handshake and tell them “congratulations” as we’ve been teaching the kids to do when they lose at a game and then we pack up and head home.    It was a good time and I’m looking forward to future treasure hunts.

Posted on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 3:12 pm in Family   |  RSS feed |  Respond  |  Trackback URL