Overview

Hide the Kids! is a hide-and-seek game inspired by the Brothers Grimm tale “The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids.” One player controls a Wolf puppet while the others play as Kids hiding their figures behind or under cardboard furniture. The Wolf counts to 10, then searches for the Kids by lifting 2 pieces of furniture. Kids who escape earn Pebble tokens; captured Kids give the Wolf Kid tokens. First to 7 tokens wins.

Components

• 1 Wolf puppet
• 7 pieces of cardboard furniture
• 7 wood Kid figures
• 49 cardboard Pebble/Kid tokens

Setup

1. Scatter the furniture pieces across the game area with sufficient space between them.
2. One player is chosen as the Wolf and takes the Wolf puppet.
3. Other players each take 1 Kid figure. Return unused figures to the box.
4. Keep tokens in a reserve area easily accessible but away from the play area.

Turn Structure

1. Kids Go Hide

The Wolf turns around and closes eyes, slowly counting to 10. Meanwhile, Kids hide their figures (standing or lying down) behind or under furniture. Multiple Kids may share a hiding place. Figures must not be visible to the Wolf.

2. Wolf Searches

The Wolf finishes counting, turns around, and lets out a growl. Kids who did not finish hiding in time are immediately captured. The Wolf (without leaving their seat or looking behind/inside furniture from angles) sniffs the area with the puppet, then lifts 2 pieces of furniture one at a time. All Kids found are captured.

3. Scoring

• Captured Kids: The Wolf receives 1 Kid token per captured Kid.
• Escaped Kids: Each undiscovered Kid reveals their hiding place and earns 1 Pebble token.
  • Tub bonus: Kids hidden in the tub earn 1 additional Pebble token.
  • Clock bonus: Kids hidden in the clock force the Wolf to discard 1 Kid token (if the Wolf has any), returned to reserve.

4. End of Turn

Kids take their figures back. Furniture is replaced. A new turn begins.

Actions

• The Wolf cannot move from their seat.
• The Wolf cannot try to look inside or around the back of furniture.
• The Wolf lifts exactly 2 pieces of furniture per turn.
• Kids may hide behind, under, or inside any piece of furniture.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• Wolf wins: If, after lifting a piece of furniture, the Wolf has 7 or more Kid tokens. The game ends immediately.
• Kids win: If, at the end of a turn, any Kid has 7 or more Pebble tokens. The Kid with the most Pebble tokens wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Multiple Kids can hide behind the same furniture piece.
• The Wolf’s victory check happens immediately after lifting furniture (not at end of turn).
• Kid victory is checked at the end of the turn after all scoring is complete.
• The Clock’s power only forces the Wolf to discard 1 token regardless of how many Kids were hidden there.
• The Tub bonus stacks: a Kid hidden in the tub gets 1 Pebble for escaping + 1 bonus Pebble = 2 total.

Player Reference

Token	Earned By	Condition
Kid token	Wolf	1 per captured Kid
Pebble token	Kid	1 per escaped Kid
Bonus Pebble	Kid	Hidden in the tub
Wolf loses 1 Kid token	Kid	Hidden in the clock

Win: First to 7 tokens (Wolf needs 7 Kid tokens; Kids need 7 Pebble tokens)