How To Play Hide the Button

Hide the Button is a very simple and easy game to learn.  It is most entertaining on days in which the weather does not permit outside play.  Although it is meant as a child's game, it can easily be enjoyed by adults as well at a large gathering.  Due to the relatively small space required and the fact that Hide the Button can be played with just about any household object, this game  is a perfect spur of the moment past time.

First, in order to play, you must have two or more players.  The more players the more fun!  The principle players consist of one “It” and one or more “hunters.”  Next, you need a button or any other small object.  A coin, ring, or earring will work as well as long as it is easily hidden within the boundaries of the game.  Next, you need to set the boundaries for hiding the object.  If the game is being played by children, a large room will do nicely.  However, if adults are playing you can expand the boundaries accordingly.

To start the game, the players choose one person to be It.  This person will hide the button while the other players, the hunters, leave the room or cover their eyes.  Once, the button has been sufficiently hidden, It calls the other players back into the room.  The hunters then proceed to look for the button while It sits in an out of the way spot and tells the players that they are hot (close to the button) or cold (far from the button).  The game continues with It giving directions such as very cold, warm, warmer, hot, and finally very hot when a player is very close to the hidden button. The directions are usually given to a certain player by name.  For instance, “Chris is cold while Janet is warm.”  Once the button has been found the game starts over with the player that found the button as It and the former It now becomes a hunter. 

When multiple games are played, the players can choose to keep score.  The player that finds the most buttons at the end of the day wins. However, this is not necessary and Hide the Button is enjoyable enough without keeping score.  Happy hunting!