🔍 What's Missing? (Kim's Game)
A tray of small objects, 30 seconds to look, then eyes closed while one disappears. What is missing? Kim's Game is a classic memory game used by scouts and teachers for over a century.
What you need
Equipment: 12 to 15 small objects and a cloth to cover them. Gather 12 to 15 small, different objects (an eraser, a key, a spoon, a hair tie, a toy figure, a battery) and set them out on a table or tray. Have a towel or cloth ready.
How to play What's Missing? (Kim's Game)
- Set out the objects and invite players to gather round.
- Give 30 seconds to look and remember. No touching and no writing.
- Say "Eyes closed!" and everyone closes their eyes or turns around.
- Remove one object and hide it in your pocket.
- Say "Eyes open!" Players have 30 seconds to work out what is missing.
- Anyone who knows raises a hand and whispers the answer to the host, so as not to give it away.
- After 30 seconds, reveal what disappeared and who got it right.
- Harder rounds: remove two or three objects, or move one to a new spot instead.
Scoring and wrapping up
Scoring: Correct answer: 2 points. Both missing objects in one round: 4 points. Spotting an object that moved: 3 points.
To finish: In the last round, take away three objects at once. Whoever spots the most earns the title Capy's Eagle Eye.
By age
- Ages 5-6: Start with six to eight objects and give a full minute to look.
- Ages 9+: Use 15 or more similar objects, like different pens and coins.
Variations
- Big group: Players write their answers on paper instead of whispering.
- Write it all: After looking, players write down every object they remember.
- Capy twist: Add an object instead of removing one. What is new?
Tips for the adult in charge
- Remove one more object each round. Who can remember the most?
- Group objects by color or type for younger children, then mix them up for older ones.
Safety
Use objects that are safe to handle, and avoid small parts with toddlers nearby.
🖨️ Printable Kim's Game checklist
Tick off the objects on your tray so you always know what is there.
- ☐ Eraser
- ☐ Key
- ☐ Spoon
- ☐ Hair tie
- ☐ Toy figure
- ☐ Battery
- ☐ Coin
- ☐ Crayon
- ☐ Button
- ☐ Shell
- ☐ Leaf
- ☐ Toy car
- ☐ Paper clip
- ☐ Marble
- ☐ Bottle cap
- ☐ Sticker
- ☐ Clothespin
- ☐ Small ball
- ☐ Lego brick
- ☐ Feather
Questions and answers
Why is it called Kim's Game?
It comes from Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim, where a boy trains his memory with a tray of jewels. Scouts adopted it as a memory exercise.
What objects work best for Kim's Game?
Everyday things that look different from each other: a key, a spoon, a coin, a toy car, a crayon, a leaf, a button, a shell.