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A person circling the living location of "dump" with green sharpie on a MASH game.
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How to Play Mash (Game)

 Let’s learn how to play MASH- an easy and silly kids game for predicting what the future may look like for each player. You only need paper and pencil and it’s quiet…except for the giggles!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Activity to do, Craft, Game, Paper Craft
Cuisine: Activity to do
Keyword: how to play mash, mash (game), mash categories, mash game rules, mash kids game, mash the game, old school mash game, what does mash stand for
Servings: 1 MASH Game
Author: Shelly
Cost: $1

Equipment

  • none needed

Ingredients

Instructions

How to Set Up MASH Game

  • Copy the free MASH game printable if you want, or grab some paper. Here is the link: MASH Game Free Printable.
  • Write MASH at the top of your paper. This is automatically one of your categories (Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House).
  • Make a cross on your paper to divide an area of the paper into four sections. Choose four categories to add to your game like spouse, job, car, etc. Write one at the top of each of the four sections of your paper.
  • Under each category heading, write down 3-5 possible options for your “future”. It’s fun to include at least one silly or funny option.

How to Find Your Magic Number

  • Have a friend or you put a pen or pencil point on the paper. Have the personnot drawing close their eyes and say “go”! The person with the pencil begins to draw a spiral outwards on the paper.
  • The person with eyes closed says “stop!” after a few seconds.
  • The person drawing then draws a line out from the center of the spiral to the outer edge of the spiral. Count how many times this line crosses the spiral. This is the player’s magic number.

How to Predict the Future

  • Starting on the M in MASH, count through your list using your magic number. For example, if your number is 5, count 1,2,3,4 through the word MASH and then continue counting on the options in category one.
  • Each time you count to five, cross out the option you land upon.
  • Start counting up to your magic number again, going down the options of each category and crossing out the option of your magic number. As you are going around, counting and crossing out, skip the already crossed out options. Don’t forget the “MASH” at the top of the game, count and cross out those letters as well.
  • When only one option remains in each category, circle it. Don’t count it as you finish counting. Keep going until there is only one option in each category.
  • For your “future”, read through the circled options in each category. “I will live in a __, I’ll be married to __, and…” finish it up with your options. Get ready for some laughs!

Video

Notes

Tips and variations (like different category ideas) are on the post found at: https://welcometonanas.com/how-to-play-mash-game/