Anishinaabe / Ojibwe (Great Lakes region, USA and Canada)
Butterfly Hide and Seek
Also known as Memengwaa
A silent version of hide-and-seek where the seeker sings a chant and then finds hiders using only observation, no calling out.
3+ playersAges 5-12OutdoorsCalmBig spaceNo kit
The rules
How to play
1
One player is the Seeker and covers their eyes, singing: 'Butterfly, butterfly, show me where to go.'
2
All other players move away and hide as quietly as possible.
3
The Seeker then opens their eyes and hunts for the others in complete silence, no talking, no calling names.
4
Players can be found by the traces they leave: disturbed ground, a shadow, a rustle.
5
The last player found becomes the new Seeker.
Keep it fair
If a player snaps a twig or makes a sound while hiding, they must freeze, no extra repositioning once the song is finished.
Good for building
stealthobservationpatiencequiet movement
What you need
Nothing at all, just the kids.
More to play
