Q&A for How to Play "Mother May I"

The children have to do what the mother says. That's the point of the game. If you don't take the steps, though, you also won't move any closer to the mother and will reduce your chances of winning.

No, you do not. A variation is "Captain, May I," and there is no need for a real captain. You can designate one person of your choosing to be the mother/captain.

No, they are the same game.

To win the game you must simply reach the "mother" of the game by following her instructions.

You could, but this is not an honest way of playing.

"Mother May I" is an old game, though it has been called many different things.

The mother stands facing the children. Especially with younger children, she/he will need to keep an eye on them and make sure they ask Mother before moving.

Simon says is a game related to Mother May I. It is similar; the chosen person tells the other players to make a motion, saying, "Simon says, so and so". The players do not have to ask Simon if they may move, but they are out if the Simon does not tell them Simon says but merely names the motion.

There can be two mothers if you would like to play a more complicated game. You could split the players into two teams, one mother per team. The team with the first person to the mother wins, or the team with the least people back at the starting point wins.

Absolutely! The game is designed for three to about nine players.