I recently learned a fun game which teaches kids how to tell time in Spanish. It’s kind of like the English-language game of Mother May I. At first I thought maybe my kids were too old to play these kinds of playground games, but my 10 year old was laughing and having so much fun that my 13 year old came into the living room to see what was going on. He watched us for a few minutes, getting an idea of the game and then say, “Hey… Can I play?”

Here’s how you can play with your niños, (big and small!)

¿Qué hora es, Señor Zorro?

One person is “Señor Zorro” (Mr. Fox.) This person must go to the opposite side of the room (or yard if you’re outside), as the other players and turn his/her back. (If you want to make it even more difficult, Mr. Fox can get on their hands and knees.)

The other players ask, “¿Qué hora es, Señor Zorro?” (What time is it, Mr. Fox?)

Señor Zorro answers with a time, such as “Son las ocho.” The players take the corresponding number of steps, (in this case, eight steps.)

At any point, (usually when the players are close enough to catch), Señor Zorro answers the question, “¿Qué hora es, Señor Zorro?” with “¡Es hora de comerte!” (Which means “It’s time to eat you!) An alternative version is to say, “¡La hora de desayunar!” At this point Señor Zorro turns and chases the other players, trying to catch one.

If Señor Zorro catches a player, that player becomes Señor Zorro – if not, Señor Zorro and the players return to their spots and start again.