Games to play on dates

Actual Dating Games
No matter what age you are, thinking of something fun to do on a date can be a hard as asking the person out in the first place. Many people stick with traditional things on a date like dinner and a movie, but if you are tired of doing the same old thing, try playing some games on your date. Here are some suggestions:

No matter what age you are charades is always a hit. Charades is a game of pantomimes, you act out a word or phrase without speaking, while your team members attempt to guess what the word or phrase is. Charades requires little equipment to set up: stopwatch or timer, notepad for score keeping, slips of paper with words or phrases written, a basket to hold to slips of paper.

You will have 2 teams of equal size competing against each other. Each team will be given a few blank slips of paper and a pen. Before you begin playing you will need to select a neutral timekeeper and scorekeeper and agree on how many rounds you want to play. Both teams will go into separate rooms and discuss appropriate gestures and hand signals and create the phrases or keywords the other team will have to act out.

The game starts with one team drawing a phrase from the opposing team's basket. That person will have a few seconds to review the slip and then will tell the timekeeper when they are ready to play. Each person will be given 3 minutes to act out the word or phrase and if your team guesses before the time expires, the timekeeper will track this to determine who has the best score at the end of the game. The winner will have the smallest number for the total time it took to guess the phrase.

Commonly, there are gestures used to identify the category or other factors in the game, here are some of the common hand gestures:
1. Book title - Unfold your hands, as if they were a book
2. Play title - Pretend to open a curtain
3. Movie title - Gesture as if you were cranking an old-fashioned movie camera
4. Number of words in the phrase - Hold up the number of fingers that is in the phrase
5. Sounds like - Cup one hand behind you ear
Charades is a great way to have fun on your date and make your date comfortable around you. Playing a fun game like charades with a group of people will be a hit!

Dance, Dance Revolution
Most people think video games aren't for dating, well you are wrong! Dance, Dance Revolution has taken off and many people have found it is a fun game to play on a date. Two players can dance together side by side as competitors or as friends. This game has taken the entire world by storm and there are tournaments held and it is even recommended as a weigh loss program!

Here is how you play: You need to have the appropriate gaming system (PS2, PS3, XBOX, or XBOX 360) and a dancing mat (included when you purchase the game). The players will select one song from a listing. Your dance matt has corresponding arrows to the video game such as: up, down, left, right. You will touch the appropriate arrow that corresponds with the game and you will be rated on your performance. At the end of the song, the player will be given a final score from "A" to "E" based upon how many correct steps they made.

The game can go from a basic level to an advanced level. It is a fun game to play on a date as you will not only be laughing at yourself and your date, but getting a little exercise too!

Emotional Dating Games
Most relationships will involve dating games. They are usually harmless ploys used by your partner to learn more information about you. Some people have mastered dating games and used them to manipulate their date to satisfy their own selfish desires. By identifying the dating games people play, you can protect yourself from being played. Here are some of the most common dating games people use:

Playing hard to get - This is the most common dating game used, mostly by women. This is where your date allows their wall to come down just a little to show you they are interested in you, but that there are other potential suitors out there who can fill your shoes. Many people empower this to make the potential suitors compete against one another, so they can identify which one suitor is "worthy" of them. You can combat this by showing the person you are interested in them, but that you too have others who are interested in you. This way you can avoid being hurt if they blow you off, you won't be annoyed. This game is quite common for younger people. Mature daters should not be playing a childish game like this, but it can still happen so be prepared!

Teasing - This is common for many people. They are lead into the relationship by the other person teasing them with sexual hints. Women commonly use this against men, however the tables have turned and many men have turned this against by women. Be aware of yourself if you suspect your date is a teaser. You need to know your values and if they are prying on them with sexual hints. Don't give in to the teasing. This is the best way to stop if. If you are a guy and she is tempting you with ice on her chest on a hot summer day, look away; don't give her the attention she wants with the puppy dog eyes. For a woman, if a guy sounds too good to be true saying too many things that raise a red flag (come on, we all know men think about sex all the time), then change the subject. Either way, your partner should not use a game to get you into bed.

Jealousy - Ah, the age old game that most people play up into their 90's. The woman or man will flirt with another person right in front of you to show you that you are not the only person they can "get". This is also used to show the person that they are not yours to posses. Many daters use this to watch their date squirm, it shows them that you are really interested in them or it will show them you are the type who doesn't care and wouldn't put up a fight to keep them. This game is strictly used to gain a reaction from you, so be ready to give them the right reaction.

Call them out right up front. Most daters will respect honestly and if you are interested in pursuing a relationship with this person, make your intentions known. This way you can get out before it is too late and before you have wasted your time.

Wrapped around the finger - This is a common game for both sexes. It is unfair and mentally abusing to the dater on the receiving end. The dater will see just how far they can push you by making you do mundane things for them. A great example of this is the movie, "How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days." The female character, Andi does everything she can to drive the man away. She makes him get her a soda in the last few seconds of a basketball game, she informs him she is a vegetarian after he has cooked her a gourmet meal, etc. A man can do this to a woman as well by telling his friends that you do anything he wants. He can start expecting you to do his laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. Either way, be aware of favors and requests that are ludicrous. If your potential partner wants a servant, tell them you are not their servant! Decide what requests are actually suitable and don't bother you.

The one thing you need to be aware of it that you don't act "jaded" by love. If you are too concerned with being played or hurt, you might radiate the attitude that you don't need anyone to make your life complete. While this is fine to think in your head, we all know relationships make everyone happy, at least temporarily. People feed off each other and by being too independent you may push away the love of your life. It's ok to let your guard down a little and get to know someone.