Duck, duck, goose
 The 'picker' (left) and the 'goose' (right) in action | |
| Players | 4 or more |
|---|---|
| Setup time | none |
| Playing time | a minute or two per round |
| Chance | None |
| Age range | 3 and up |
| Skills | Running; chasing; logic |
| Though no formal setup time is needed, it may take a while to get all the kids to stop running around and sit down in a circle! | |
Duck Duck Goose is a traditional children's game often first learned in pre-school or kindergarten.
Basic concept
A group of players sit in a circle, facing inward, while another player, the 'picker' (a.k.a. the 'fox'), walks around tapping or pointing to each player in turn, calling each a 'duck' until finally picking one to be a 'goose'. The 'goose' then rises and chases and tries to tag the 'picker', while the 'picker' tries to return to and sit where the 'goose' had been sitting. If the picker succeeds, the 'goose' is now the new picker and the process begins again. If the 'goose' succeeds in tagging the picker, the goose may return to sit in the previous spot and the 'picker' resumes the process.
Alternate versions
Stew Pot
In the Stew Pot variant — also known as Mush Pot in much of the American midwest — It also called a "cookie jar" in other parts of America - the one who is tagged is 'out' and must sit in the center of the circle (the 'stew pot'); when the resulting circle becomes too small, a new game may be started. In a variation of this version, when a new person is put into the stew pot, the previous one rejoins the circle.
Duck Duck Gray Duck
Duck Duck Gray Duck is played in the north central part of the United States, specifically Central and Southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. Two versions of the regional rules exist. The first is played exactly as the original, with the picker saying 'gray duck' instead of 'goose'. In the second version, the 'picker' describes the 'ducks' as being different colors, or with other adjectives — for example, 'blue duck', 'white duck', 'lazy duck'. This adds educational and psychological elements to the game. In addition to teaching vocabulary, this variation gives players the opportunity to confuse their opponents, thus gaining a head start, with phrases that sound similar to "gray duck" (e.g. "May duck," "gr...een duck"). With the full range of adjectives available to them, players might also easily insult one another.
Duck Duck Splash
"Duck duck splash" is an alternative to the traditional game. This alternative is typically played during the summer months. The "picker" carries a small bucket of water around the ciricle and uses it to splash the person who will be the goose.
Rag Tag
In Rag Tag, the players sit in a circle facing inward, while another child, the 'picker', walks around the outside of the circle carrying a rag or handkerchief until finally dropping it behind one child. This child then rises, grabs the rag, and chases and tries to tag the picker. The picker tries to return to the spot where the picked child had been sitting and sit in that spot. If the picker succeeds, the other child is now the new picker and the process begins again. If the child succeeds in tagging the picker, the same child may return to sit in the previous spot and the picker resumes the process. In some versions, the one who is tagged is 'out' and must sit in the center of the circle; when the resulting circle becomes too small, a new game may be started.
Connecticon Duck Duck Goose
A version played primarily at Connecticon, convention attendees, many of them cosplayers, often substitute Duck Duck Goose for things like Ninja Ninja Shinobi, or Black Mage Black Mage White Mage. The substitutions often relate to the costume, but substituting is not a requirement.
Extreme Duck Duck Goose
This variant is played the same as regular duck duck goose, except in how the goose and picker try to get back to the empty spot. Instead of the goose chasing after the picker, he or she goes the opposite way and tries to intercept the picker on the other side of the circle. Physical contact is allowed(but not required); this usually involves wrestling and soft tackling. Throwing of limbs or fists is encouraged, the intent is always to only temporarily slow down your opponent so you can be first back to the empty spot.
Duck Duck Animal
This variant can suddenly be applied to a standard game of duck duck goose if the picker decides to tag someone as an animal other than a duck or a goose. The picker then chooses a relevant form of movement or charade, and the picker and the animal race back to the spot using that form of movement or charade. Some examples include hopping around the circle for duck duck kangaroo, or pulling oneself around on one's stomach for duck duck amoeba. The motion does not necessarily have to correspond to an actual animal, as the picker may choose to roll around the circle for duck duck rock.
Unnamed alterations
- When the 'goose' is picked, the 'picker' runs in one direction of his or her choice around the circle, while the 'goose' runs in the other direction. The first person who gets to the vacant space rejoins the circle, while the other person becomes the 'picker'.
- In many cases, the picker will tap heads and say other birds, like 'hummingbird', or 'crane'. When they do that, however, they aren't actually choosing a 'goose'.
See also
Kagome Kagome (A related Japanese game.)