What's the time, Mr Wolf?
 |
| Players | 3 or more |
|---|---|
| Setup time | <1 minute |
| Playing time | No limit |
| Chance | Low |
| Skills | Running, Strategy |
What's the time, Mr Wolf? (also known as What time is it, Mr Wolf?, and in the United States What time is it, Mr. Fox?) is a form of tag played in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the English-speaking Caribbean.
Basic rules
One player is chosen to be Mr Wolf (the name usually remains "Mr Wolf" irrespective of the gender of the player). Mr Wolf stands at the opposite end of the playing field from the other players, facing away from them. A call-and-response then takes place: all players except Mr Wolf chant in unison "What's the time, Mr Wolf?", and Mr Wolf will then answer in one of two ways:
If Mr Wolf calls a time of day - usually an hour ending in "o'clock" ("Three o'clock!"). The other players will then take that many steps towards Mr Wolf, counting the steps out loud as they go ("One, two, three!"). They then ask the question again.
If, on the other hand, Mr Wolf calls "Dinner time!" (or, occasionally, "Lunch time!" or "Midnight!") Mr Wolf will turn and chase the other players back to their starting point. If Mr Wolf successfully touches a player, that player becomes the new Mr Wolf for the next round.
Variants
It is not uncommon for Mr Wolf to be allowed to look around at the other players, before answering the question; especially if there is a rule involving penalties applied to Mr Wolf if a player reaches him before "Dinner time" is called.
There is also a simpler version of the game where Mr Wolf faces the other players, who must remain stationary until "Dinner time" is called. If any player moves on a time of day being called, that player becomes Mr Wolf.
Similar games include Lupo Delle Ore in Italy, and Captain Midnight in the United States, in which everyone has to start running at midnight. The game also bears some resemblance to Red light, green light and Dahrumasan ga koronda.
Strategy
There is generally no mandated length for a step. In theory, players may shuffle forward a few centimetres at a time, and be virtually guaranteed to reach safety when "Dinner Time" is called. However, in practice, most children enjoy the thrill of approaching and then running away from Mr Wolf, and so will take average-sized steps. Some will even take huge exaggerated strides to demonstrate their boldness.
Popular culture
The game was the basis for a 1992 song of the same name by New Zealand band Southside of Bombay which appeared on the soundtrack of the film Once Were Warriors.
What's the Time Mr. Wolf? is also the title of a 2007 album by British band Noisettes.
What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? (the common name for the game in US) is also the name of a cabaret art rock band from Boston.
There are also children's books with this title that are inspired by the game, including one published in 2003 and illustrated by Annie Kubler (ISBN 085953944X) and another published in 2007 written and illustrated by Gemma Raynor (ISBN 1845392779).