Make a family whistle and hand-signal code
Twenty-five minutes in a yard or park. Learn silent hand signals and a few whistle calls, make up your family's own, and learn the three-blast signal for real help.
- Time
- 25 min
- Cost
- $0 to $5
- Ages
- 5 and up
- Where
- Yard, park or big room
Since 1911: In 1911 a series of short blasts meant danger or rally. Today the National Park Service says to signal for help with three blasts, a pause, then three more. Keep that pattern for real emergencies and use different calls for games.
What you need
- One whistle for each person
- Open space about 30 feet across
Before you start
- Don't blow a whistle near ears. Aim it away from people and keep the first blasts short.
- Three blasts means help. Use it for real emergencies only, never as a game, so people take it seriously.
- Stay in sight. Play within sight of a grown-up, with no running into streets.
Steps
- Learn the silent signals. Practice stop (hand up), go (point), hurry (fist pumping), come here (wave high), no (wave across face).
- Play the signal game. Dad signals without speaking; the kid acts it out. Swap roles.
- Learn the whistle calls. One long blast: look out. Two short blasts: all right.
- Make your own family call. Choose a family come-to-Dad call and practice it across the yard.
- Teach the help signal. If lost: stay put and blow three times, pause, then three again.
- Hold a hand-up rule. Hold a hand up beside your head while you hear a faraway message.
If it stalls
- If the kid keeps blowing, take the whistle for a minute and play the silent signals.
- Keep each signal to one clear motion. Too many signals get muddled.
Signals read correctly
Signed off: can do this.Signed by Date