Hunger Games Tag

Last year, when we first read The Hunger Games we knew that there would be repercussions.  The book was really not appropriate to read with an 8 year old.  He was almost 9, but still.  The thing was, once we got in far enough to realize that it was not a great idea, we were too far in.  We could hardly leave poor Theo there- on the brink before the games.  He needed to see what happened to Katniss.  So we plowed on.  And finished.  Book 1.  Then books 2 and 3.  We had to see that thing through to the end.

And there were repercussions.  Some hard questions, some late nights.  And some new tag games out in the yard with the neighbor boys.  It didn't get violent, really.  They just incorporated all the nerf weapons they used anyway into more themed play.  They put all the weapons in the center, a la the cornucopia, and started the game with a mad dash to the weapons.  Then the melee ensued, as usual.  One time, as they were playing, and all the adults were sitting chatting around a fire, one kid did say, "Can we play some other game of tag, instead of the one that hurts?"  But he said it as he was running by with a fierce grin on his face, so we didn't intervene.  Then kids got busy with summer plans and the games fell off.

Until the release of the movie.  I don't know how many of the boys have seen the movie or read the books, but there's such a level of common knowledge, that they're all on board with Hunger Games Tag.  I don't know the rules.  I don't really want to.  I've had some talks with myself about the need to interfere with their play.  But so far I haven't.  As the screams come through the windows I listen for the ratio of thrill to panic.  So far it seems to be running at a ratio of about 70% thrill, 30% fear/panic.  And that seems just about right for kids playing outside in the near dark during the golden years of outside game playing.  If the panic ratio increases, I'll think about stepping out there.  But for now, they are handling it themselves.  No tears, no whining, and most importantly, this game seems to be free of any of that "Well, he's breaking the rule!  He called a T and he can't call a T because...."  I hate that.  Maybe the rules are clear enough with this one:  Kill or be killed?  Not really.  They're not killing each other.  Just tagging.  With nerf swords.  And some that are made out of wood.  No metal.  I should know.  We are the ones who own the armory.

Last weekend, they had a daylight game going on.  Not as fun as running wild in the dark, but still better than screen time, for sure.  I was eating lunch when I glanced out the back window to find Theo clinging to branch of the tree. Quite a ways up.  With a rabid pack of boys lunging at him from below.  With weapons.  Gave me pause, I admit, but mostly because I couldn't figure out how Theo had gotten himself into the tree- the lowest branches had always been way out of his reach.  Eventually he came down, and when he went to re-climb, I saw how it all worked. Somewhere he had found a chain. Don't know where.  He had also found a belt.  He put the belt loosely around his stomach and attached the chain to it.  He then threw the chain over the branch and got his friend to hoist him up.  All very precarious.  And fabulous and great.  That's just he kind of fairly safe risk taking that kid needs.  I did tell him chains and trees were off limits when no adults were around, we need to be close enough to hear the thud if he falls.  He's ok with that.

Last night, during one of the dark tag sessions I overheard this conversation after teams had been chosen:
Boy 1- Man!  We have the best team ever!
Boy 2- How can that be?  We're the two who are scared of everything!

I loved that.  The optimism v. realism of childhood.  And the best part is that they looked at each other and grinned, grabbed some weapons, and launched themselves out into the dark.