Forty forty facts for kids

Forty Forty (also known as 123 Home, Forty Forty In, Mob Mob and other names) is a fun children's game. It mixes parts of the games "Tag" and Hide and Seek. One player is "It." Their job is to find the other players by "spying" on them. They do not tag players like in regular Tag.

How to Play Forty Forty

Setting Up the Game

First, one player is chosen to be "It." Then, everyone picks a special spot called the "base." This can be a tree, a lamppost, or another clear landmark.

Hiding and Counting

All the players who are not "It" run and hide. While they hide, "It" counts to a certain number. This number changes depending on the game version. It is often 40, 44, or 100. "It" stays at the base while counting.

Finding Players

After counting, "It" starts looking for the other players. The hidden players try to reach the base without "It" seeing them.

Becoming Safe

If a player reaches the base without being seen, they are safe. They shout phrases like "forty forty I'm free" or "forty forty home." Once safe, they wait at the base for the rest of the game.

Catching Players

To catch someone, "It" must see the player. Then, "It" runs back to the base. "It" must touch the base and say, "forty forty I see [player's name]." If the player is behind an object, "It" must say where they are. For example, "forty forty I see [player's name] behind that tree," while pointing.

What Happens When Caught

Players who are caught by "It" must return to the base. They wait there until the game ends.

Who Is "It" Next?

The last person caught in the game becomes "It" for the next round. In some versions, the first person caught becomes "It" instead.

Freeing Caught Players

Some game versions allow caught players to be freed. A player who reaches the base can shout, "Release, one, two, three!" or something similar. This can free one or all of the captured players. If the very last player reaches the base without being seen, they can shout, "Forty-forty, one, two, three, all saved!" This frees everyone to play again.

Choosing 'It' with Ping Pong

Sometimes, the first "It" is chosen using a method called Ping Pong. All players stand in a circle. They hold out their arms so their index fingers touch. A chosen selector says "Ping" (zero, once, or many times). Then, the selector says "Pong."

When "Pong" is said, everyone quickly breaks the circle. The first person the selector can touch becomes "It." If the selector cannot touch anyone right away, they can chase a fleeing player. If someone breaks the circle before "Pong" is said, they automatically become "It."

Other Names for the Game

This game is known by many different names around the world. Some of these names include:

• 44 home
• Blocky 123
• 52 Bunker
• Hobby Hobby lightfoot
• 123 and In
• 45 In
• 99 In
• Pom Pom
• Raleigh 123
• Lurkey Lurkey
• Flicky 123
• Tip the can, Billy the can
• Billy 123
• Rin Tin Tin
• Pom 123
• Ackey 123