What's the time, Mr Wolf?
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- For the album by Noisettes, see What's the Time Mr. Wolf? (album).
| What's the time, Mr Wolf? | |
|---|---|
| Players | 3 or more |
| Setup time | <1 minute |
| Playing time | No limit |
| Random chance | Low |
| Skills required | Running, Strategy |
What's the time, Mr Wolf? is a form of tag played in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the English-speaking Caribbean. It bears some resemblance to Red light, green light and Dahrumasan ga koronda.
[edit] Basic rules
One player is chosen to be Mr Wolf (the name usually remains "Mr Wolf" irrespective of the gender of the player). Mr Wolf stands at the opposite end of the playing field from the other players, facing away from them. A call-and-response then takes place: all players except Mr Wolf chant in unison "What's the time, Mr Wolf?", and Mr Wolf will answer in one of two ways:
- Mr Wolf may call a clock time - usually an hour ending in "o'clock" ("Three o'clock!").
The other players will then take that many steps towards Mr Wolf, counting the steps out loud as they go ("One, Two, Three!"). They then ask the question again.
- Mr Wolf may call "Dinner Time! (or, occasionally, "Lunch Time!"). "Midnight!" may also be used.
At this point, Mr Wolf will turn and chase the other players back to their starting point. If Mr Wolf successfully tags a player, that player becomes the new Mr Wolf for the next round.
[edit] Variants
It is not uncommon for Mr Wolf to be allowed to look around at the other players, before answering the question.
There is also a simpler version of the game where Mr Wolf faces the other players, who must remain stationary until "Dinner Time!" is called. If any player moves on an "o'clock" call, that player becomes Mr Wolf.
Another common name for the game in the U.S. is "What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?"
I may also be known in the U.S. as Captain Midnight and everyone has to start running at midnight.
[edit] Strategy
There is generally no mandated length for a "step"; in theory, players may shuffle forward a few centimetres at a time, and be virtually guaranteed to reach safety when "Dinner Time!" is called. However, in practice, most children enjoy the thrill of approaching and then running away from Mr Wolf, and so will take average-sized steps. Some will even take huge exaggerated strides to demonstrate their boldness.
