MASH (game) facts for kids

MASH is a fun paper-and-pencil game often played by children and teens. It's a way to playfully predict parts of your future! The name MASH is an acronym, which means each letter stands for a word: Mansion, Apartment, Shack, and House. Sometimes, players add other letters to the name, like "DMASH" (with 'D' for Dome) or "MASH-IT" (with 'I' for Igloo and 'T' for Tent). There are many ways to make the game your own, like adding categories for your future car, who you might marry, or what job you'll have.

How to Play MASH

Playing MASH is easy and only needs a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Here's how you can play:

Getting Started

1. First, one player writes "MASH" at the top of a piece of paper.
2. Next, both players work together to choose different categories for your future. Good examples are: "Where you will live," "How many kids you will have," "Who you will marry," and "What your job will be."
3. For each category, Player 1 thinks of three possible answers. Two answers should be things they would like, and one should be something they definitely do not want. Player 2 writes these answers down in a column under each category.

Predicting Your Future

The Magic Number

1. Now, Player 2 draws a swirl on a separate piece of paper. Player 1 watches and says "Stop" whenever they want, but only after at least three seconds have passed. Player 2 then stops drawing the swirl and draws a straight line from the end of the swirl back to its start. They count how many times the swirl crosses this line. This number is very important!
   1. As an alternative, Player 2 can simply make tally marks (small vertical lines) instead of a swirl. Player 1 says "Stop," and Player 2 stops drawing marks and counts them. This count becomes your "magic number."

Uncovering Your Destiny

1. Using the "magic number" you just found, Player 1 or 2 starts counting down the list of answers on the main paper. You begin counting from the first letter of "MASH" and go down the list, crossing off every answer that lands on your magic number. For example, if your magic number was four, you would cross off every fourth item.
2. You keep counting and crossing off items until only one answer is left in each category. Remember, the letters in "MASH" also count as items and can be crossed off.
3. The items that are left are your predicted future! This is the fun part where you see what MASH says about your life.