They may reduce the child's original suggestion (for example, reducing five giant steps to three giant steps), or make a different suggestion, such as: A common alternative gameplay is for "mother" or "father" (who can be facing the children) to begin each child's turn by issuing the instruction to be carried out.
However, if the child omits to ask permission, he or she is required to go back to the start.
Children who have advanced a long way towards the goal are thus brought to ruin; instructions to go backwards must also be asked for lest a worse fate awaits.
The art to being a good mother or father is to bring everyone as equally as possible.
Other variations of this kind of crossing-over game are "what's the time, Mr.
", although this version is slightly different), "grandmother's footsteps" and "bulldog", played in Britain.
"), and if he or she replies with 9 o'clock, the children move 9 steps forward.