When was the last time you played darts? Don't worry, I couldn't remember either, but I did remember that hitting the bullseye was a buzz, so I thought we'd recreate the pub version outdoors.
I don't know whether it's because I didn't make it to Glastonbury this year, or whether it's because I'm reading Iron John or whether it's because the entire planet is watching Game of Thrones, but for some reason stone circles have been on my mind, so the other day we made a target using stones we found under my parents' porch. The kids, in their excitement, tried to carry more than they physically could and ended up dropping quite a few en route - some on their knees - but it didn't deter them one bit.
As there were plenty dotted about the garden, the kids used fir cones as darts (pointy and aerodynamic) and to finish it off, the finger paint came out to create the scores. Always a belter, as it pretty much goes everywhere but the desired spot, but mercifully it washes off really easily.
Our circles looked nothing like Stonehenge, nor like anything Obelix would have been proud of, but it did create a Zen-like sense of peace in the garden. For at least an hour.
What you need:
- Stones
- Paper and paint to create a number target
- Fir cones or other aerodynamic shaped objects to throw into the circle
Top tip: It's probably best - if the rocks are on the larger side - to get the kids to carry them one by one.
Top quote: "And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones and good in everything." William Shakespeare