Hide and Giggle

Name and Purpose

• Hide and Giggle is a gentle hiding game that builds group laughter, body-awareness, and calm excitement.
• It works especially well as a wind-down or cozy evening activity.

a.k.a.

• Blanket Hide, Sleeping Bag Seekers

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 6-20 players | 20-30 minutes | Large indoor space such as a cabin common room, gymnasium, or large tent. Floor must be clear and soft.

Materials

• Multiple blankets and open sleeping bags (at least 1-2 per player)
• Optional: stuffed animals placed in the pile to make guessing harder
• A small bell or soft toy as the signal object for “It”
• Clear floor space with no hard furniture nearby

Quick-Run Card

1. Clear the floor and lay out a large, loose pile of blankets and sleeping bags.
2. “It” waits outside or faces a wall while everyone hides under the pile.
3. Staff calls “Ready!” when everyone is settled.
4. “It” returns and gently presses and pats the pile to find and name players.
5. Correct guess: that player becomes the next “It.” Round ends after 3-4 correct guesses or 5 minutes.

Setup and Boundaries

• Clear the play area of furniture with hard edges before laying down blankets
• Signal: staff calls “Freeze” to pause the game at any time
• Remind “It” before every round: hands only, gentle pressing and patting, no jumping or kneeling on the pile
• Ensure every player can breathe comfortably; blankets should be loose, never pulled tight

How to Play

1. Spread blankets and open sleeping bags across a clear section of floor to make a large soft pile.
2. One player is “It.” “It” steps outside or faces the wall and counts to 20 slowly.
3. Everyone else finds a spot and hides under the pile. Stuffed animals can be tucked in to create decoys.
4. Staff calls “Ready!” when all players are settled and breathing comfortably.
5. “It” re-enters and gently presses and pats the pile using only their hands to find lumps and guess names.
6. “It” calls a name. If correct, that player emerges and becomes the next “It” in the following round.
7. If “It” guesses wrong, they keep searching. After 5 minutes or 3-4 correct guesses, the round ends.
8. Players who have been found can sit at the edge and cheer, or help staff manage the blanket pile.

I-OPt Options

• Start
  • A (Active): Find a deep hiding spot quickly and stay very still
  • S (Support): Help arrange blankets so everyone is covered well
  • Q (Quiet): Choose a spot near the edge where you can peek out if needed
  • O (Observer): Watch the first round as a spotter who helps “It” if they get stuck
• Mid
  • A (Active): Be “It” and search the pile carefully
  • S (Support): Quietly encourage “It” without giving away hiding spots
  • Q (Quiet): Stay still and enjoy the suspense of waiting to be found
  • O (Observer): Sit at the side and count how many have been found
• Late
  • A (Active): Take a turn as “It” to finish out the round
  • S (Support): Help players who want to re-hide get settled quickly
  • Q (Quiet): Stay tucked in for the final round
  • O (Observer): Help staff call “Ready!” when everyone is settled
• End
  • A (Active): Fold blankets and reset the play space
  • S (Support): Gather stuffed animals and stray items
  • Q (Quiet): Fold one blanket at your own pace
  • O (Observer): Direct others to where folded blankets should go

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players who find being fully covered uncomfortable can hide with just a blanket draped over their shoulders, sitting near the pile’s edge
• A player who prefers not to be touched can hold a small bell under the blanket; “It” rings the bell instead of pressing to confirm the guess

Stewardship Moment

• Fold and store blankets and sleeping bags carefully after every round so they stay clean and dry for campers at night
• Reflection: “These blankets are for sleeping. How do we take care of shared gear so everyone benefits?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “In this game, ‘It’ will gently press and pat the blanket pile to find you. ‘It’ uses hands only and presses softly. For those not comfortable with any contact, holding a small bell under your blanket is another option. ‘It’ will ring it instead of touching.”
• Mid-game check: Before “It” starts each round, staff does a quiet thumbs-up check with the group under the blankets.
• Opt-out/re-entry: Any player can leave the pile at any time by sitting up. They can rejoin the next round whenever they’re ready.

Risks and Mitigation

• Breathing difficulty under heavy blankets: keep blankets loose; staff checks that all players can breathe before calling “Ready!”
• “It” pressing too hard: brief “It” every round on gentle hands only; staff models correct pressure before play
• Players startling or feeling trapped: remind everyone they can sit up at any time; no one stays under longer than they choose
• Pile collapsing on a player: keep blankets loosely draped, not piled high; no player should be under more than 2-3 blankets

Warm-Up Suggestions

• “Statue Freeze”: everyone walks around the room and freezes on a signal, practising stillness
• “Blanket Sail”: the whole group holds the edge of one blanket and flaps it together, then sets it down gently

Debrief Questions

• What? “What was it like to be hidden and wait to be found? What was it like to be ‘It’?”
• So What? “What did you notice about staying still or staying calm? Was that easy or hard?”
• Now What? “When in daily life do you need to be patient and wait for something? How do you stay calm?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Fold all blankets and close sleeping bags
• Return stuffed animals to storage
• Clear and check the floor for any items left behind