Fun Viking Games

Viking themed parties are becoming ever more popular.

With the advent of certain children's movies, viking themes have become a popular choice for children's parties. And of all the aspects necessary to make the viking-themed children's party work, appropriate viking games may be the most important. Keeping children entertained and happy all while retaining the viking ways is quintessential, and there are several fun viking games to achieve just this.

Viking Code

Whispering is key to the "Viking Code." Whispering image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com

Have all the children sit in a mighty viking circle and pick the mightiest, most trusted one to establish the viking code. This most trusted viking whispers the code into the ear of one of the vikings at his side, and only one. Then that viking passes on the code to the next viking, and that one to the viking after, and so on. Once the viking code reaches the last available ear, the viking code is announced aloud.

Mighty Statues

The last statue to remain completely still wins. statue 2 image by Thierry GUIMBERT from Fotolia.com

All but two vikings can participate in this game. Those who are participating gather in a circle and, on the count of three, strike the mightiest viking pose they can think of. They then remain dead still as the vikings who aren't participating attempt to catch the statues moving. They can accomplish this feat by inducing laughter, attempting to make the viking flinch, or by simply waiting and watching carefully for even the slightest cover-blowing movement. No touching of the statues is allowed, even if they are sure it is of flesh. Those who are exposed must join the other vikings in their attempts to expose the false statues. The winner is the final statue that never breaks its pose.

Oslo Says

One of the children gets to play the role of valiant Oslo the viking. Similar to "Simon says," Oslo will blurt out instructions with little warning and all his viking underlings will be required to execute his will or be cast out of and banished from the viking army. If Oslo calls out instructions that aren't preceded by "Oslo says," then those who follow this unsanctioned order will be cast out as well. The last viking standing besides the valiant Oslo will succeed him as the Viking general and take on the name and all the authority that goes with it upon the beginning of the next game.

Duck And Cover!

"Duck and cover" should resemble trying to escape an incoming dragon. Have two teams of children line up single file. An adult will blow a whistle and the children at the front of their respective lines will crawl on all fours through the legs of the children behind them until they reach the end of the line and escape the dragon. The next person in line will do the same, repeating until all of the children in a line have made their way to the back of the line. The first team to achieve this are the winners of the game.

References

• Film Education: Viking Party Games