Celebrate your child's love of learning

© Wondertime

Although it sounds vaguely like a brand of transition diapers, Johnny Jump-Ups is a simple version of Simon Says — and with its springtime theme, a superb game to either welcome the season (if you're lucky) or boost the morale of winter-weary kids (if you're not).

How to Play

Step 1
A leader is chosen and designated "Spring." The other players are "seeds," and count off into two equal-as-possible groups. The seeds spread out and crouch down.

Step 2
Spring then claps once, twice, or three times. If she claps once, Group 1 seeds "sprout" by jumping up. If she claps twice, Group 2 seeds sprout. Three times, everybody sprouts.

Step 3
Anybody who sprouts (or fails to sprout) at the wrong time is out; the last sprout standing is the next Spring.

Most fun with:

• 4 or more players
• Kids ages 3 and up
• A yard or playground