Mother May I Game: Rules, Step Ideas and a Dice Version

Mother may I is a classic line game for young children. One player is Mother and stands at the far end. Everyone else lines up and asks permission to move forward, and anyone who forgets to say “Mother, may I?” goes back to the start. It needs no equipment and teaches listening and manners while children giggle about giant steps and banana steps. Here are the rules, step ideas, a fair way to choose Mother, and a dice version that adds a little chance.

Basic rules

1. Choose one player to be Mother. Mother stands at one end of the playing area, facing the others.
2. The other players stand side by side on a start line, about 10 to 20 big steps away.
3. Mother calls one player at a time and gives an instruction, for example “Ella, take three giant steps.”
4. The player must answer “Mother, may I?”. Mother replies “Yes, you may” or “No, you may not”, and can change the instruction.
5. A player who moves without asking “Mother, may I?” first goes back to the start line.
6. The first player to reach Mother, or tag her, wins and becomes the next Mother.

In some versions players ask for steps themselves (“Mother, may I take five baby steps?”) and Mother says yes or no. Both versions work; choose one before you start.

Step ideas

• Baby steps: heel to toe, tiny steps.
• Giant steps: the biggest step you can take.
• Scissor steps: jump, crossing and uncrossing the legs.
• Umbrella steps: spin around once while stepping forward.
• Banana steps: lie down on the ground and stand up where your hands reached.
• Frog jumps and bunny hops: crouch and jump forward.
• Backward steps: Mother’s favourite way to slow down a leader.

A fair way to choose Mother

Mother has the most fun job, but also the most power, and children quickly notice when Mother keeps letting her best friend win. Choose the first Mother with the Random Name Picker or the Picker Wheel, and if the same child keeps winning, use the picker’s remove option so every child gets a turn as Mother. It also helps to agree that Mother must call every player in turn, left to right, so nobody is ignored.

Dice version: add a little chance

For older children, or when Mother’s choices feel unfair, let a dice roll decide the number of steps. The player still has to ask “Mother, may I?”, then rolls the Dice Roller and takes that many steps of the type Mother names. Mother can still say no, so the game keeps its main rule.

The table shows how many turns a player needs with one die. Steps is the distance from the start line to Mother, Avg is the average number of turns to get there, and In 4 and In 6 are the chances of reaching Mother within four or six turns, counting only accepted rolls.

So with a distance of 15 steps, a player usually needs about five turns, and the game stays exciting because a lucky player can sometimes do it in three. For a short game with young children, set the start line about 10 to 15 steps away; at 30 steps, a game takes more than eight turns per player.

Variations

• Captain, may I? The same game with a ship’s captain instead of Mother, often with sailor moves such as “climb the rigging”.
• Mixed with red light, green light: Mother turns around at random and anyone caught moving goes back.
• Classroom version: the teacher is Mother and gives steps as rewards for correct quiz answers.
• With Simon says rules: Mother sometimes gives an instruction without a name, and anyone who moves goes back.

Tips for teachers and parents

• Keep the group small, about five to eight players, so nobody waits too long. With a bigger group, run two games side by side.
• Play on grass or a soft floor if you include banana steps or frog jumps.
• Remind Mother that the game is more fun when everyone has a chance to win.

FAQ

How do you play Mother may I?

One player is Mother and stands at the far end. The others line up and Mother gives each one a step instruction. Players must ask 'Mother, may I?' before moving, or they go back to the start. The first to reach Mother wins and becomes Mother.

What are the steps in Mother may I?

Common steps are baby steps, giant steps, scissor steps, umbrella steps, banana steps, frog jumps, bunny hops and backward steps. Groups often invent their own.

What happens if you forget to say Mother may I?

You go back to the start line. That is the main rule of the game.

How do you choose who is Mother fairly?

Use a random name picker for the first Mother, and use its remove option so every child gets a turn before anyone is Mother twice.

Is there a version of Mother may I with dice?

Yes. The player asks 'Mother, may I?', then rolls a die and takes that many steps. It adds chance and makes it harder for Mother to pick favourites.