Wikipedia says that Keep Away is the same as Monkey in the Middle.

[conuly]

But that doesn't make much sense to me. As far as I've ever used it, Keep Away is bullying, and Monkey in the Middle is more of an organized game with three people, where (hopefully) everybody is evenly matched and the monkey keeps switching around, and all three got together and said "Hey, let's play Monkey in the Middle!" and counted out who'd be it first and whatever. (Plus, Monkey in the Middle is limited to three people, and Keep Away isn't, you know?)

What say you?

Comments

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

I agree except that Monkey in the Middle can indeed be played with more people (I'd say the max is 4-6 though) in which case everyone but the Monkey stands in a smallish circle and the Monkey runs/lunges around inside that circle.

Plus the "being played with a ball" and "being played with a personal possession of the victim's" mentioned above.