Light as a feather, stiff as a board facts for kids

Light as a feather, stiff as a board is a fun game often played by kids at slumber parties. It's a bit like a magic trick where someone seems to become super light. This trick is sometimes called "abnormal lift" in the world of magic.

How to Play the Game

This game involves a group of friends trying to lift one person using only their fingertips. It's a classic slumber party activity!

Playing on the Floor

To start, one person lies flat on the floor. The other players stand around them. Each person places one or two fingertips under the person's arms and legs.

The game often begins with a chant. The person near the head might say, "She's looking ill." Everyone repeats this a few times. Then they might say, "She's looking worse," and repeat that too. The chant usually describes the person on the floor getting sicker and sicker. It often ends with the group saying, "She is dying," and then, "She is dead."

Storytelling Variations

Sometimes, players add a spooky story. The person lying down might be told a made-up tale about how they "died." This can make the game feel more mysterious. It might also make everyone think the person on the floor is somehow lighter.

The Big Lift

No matter how the game starts, it always ends the same way. The group chants, "Light as a feather, stiff as a board!" They repeat this phrase over and over. While chanting, they try to lift the person using only their fingertips. After the chant, the person often feels much lighter to the lifters.

Playing in a Chair

There's another way to play this game, using a chair. One person sits in a chair. Four friends stand around the chair, two on each side. Each of the four friends puts two fingers under a corner of the chair's seat. They try to lift the chair with the person in it. Usually, this first try doesn't work.

The Ritual

Next, the friends do a small ritual. This might involve rubbing their hands together. Or they might walk around the chair in a circle. After the ritual, they hold their hands over the sitter's head. This is supposed to "transfer" energy to the person. The idea is that this makes the person weightless.

Trying Again

After the ritual, the lifters try again. They lift the person and chair the same way as before. Sometimes, instead of lifting the chair, they lift the person directly. They place their fingers under the person's knees and shoulders.

Understanding the Trick

The secret to this "magic" trick is all about timing. It's not really magic, but a clever use of physics!

The Power of Teamwork

When everyone lifts at the exact same moment, the weight of the person is spread out. Each lifter only has to lift a small part of the total weight. For example, if a person weighs about 50 to 80 kilograms (110 to 175 pounds), each lifter might only need to lift 12 to 20 kilograms (26 to 44 pounds). This is like lifting a heavy shopping bag, which is much easier!

Why Timing Matters

If the lifters don't lift at the same time, the trick won't work. If one person lifts too early, they end up lifting more weight by themselves. This makes it feel much heavier.

Sometimes, people use this fact as a trick. They might first ask the group to try lifting without counting. When it fails, they then ask everyone to lift on the count of three. When everyone lifts together, it works! This makes it seem like something magical happened.

Remembering the Game

Many people remember playing this game when they were kids. They might even remember lifting their friend high into the air! But usually, the person is only lifted for a moment. Our memories can sometimes make things seem more amazing than they really were!