Learning Activities: Games

Games help children grow

Games are a wonderful way of spending time with your child or chidren. Not only are board games a way of interacting and learning, but other types of games can help children grow in many different ways. Games strengthen language skills, listening skills and judgment skills. They can help your child develop confidence, self-control and independence as well as a variety of academic-related skills.

Games allow your child to practice problem solving skills, as well. And some games are played for the fun of it!

Give directions for playing games clearly and simply. Be sure the game isn't too advanced for your childs' developmental level. If necessary, change some of the rules to fit your needs. Allow children to play the same games over and over again. It enhances their self-confidence when they master a game. Above all, have fun with your child!

 

Board Games

Board games can be found at many toy stores. Educational stores have more age-appropriate, developmental board games as well as lotto and matching games. You can make your own games. Use appropriate small items for counting and matching. Use stickers and magazine pictures for lotto and matching games. Make your own family board game using family pictures. The possibilities are endless.

 

Action Games

Ring Around the Rosie is a familiar favorite game. Change the last line from time-to-time to vary the movements. For instance, "we all fall down" might become "we all jump up" or "we all wiggle our feet", etc.

Green Light/Red Light is a game for outside or inside a LARGE room. It's a running game which you start by saying "Green Light". The children run around the room and stop only when you say "Red Light". Some variations on this game might be to say,

"Green Light Walking" (hopping, on tiptoes, etc.) or "Red Light Drop to the Floor" (freeze, on your tummy, be an elephant). The traditional way to play Green Light/Red Light is for one person to turn around facing the opposite way from the child or children and say "Green Light". Then say "Red Light" and turn quickly around to see who's still moving. That child would go back to start.

Obstacle Courses encourage large motor development. Climb over or under, step through and in-and-out are areas to keep in mind for your course. Add things like waving your arms, picking up a block and dropping it in a box, etc.

Pop Bottle Bowling can be made with 1 liter plastic water/pop/juice bottles. Find a nerf ball, soccer ball or basket ball and go bowling.

Basket Toss can be inside or outside. Use a variety of containers of various sizes and make paper balls. Have your child toss the balls into the containers. Use smaller items such as clothes pins and drop into smaller containers. Use your imagination!

Freeze Game is similar to Green Light/Red Light except the children "freeze" in any position they like, but must try to remain motionless.

Move Like a …………..Sound Like a………….are just that. Move like an elephant, an airplane or kangaroo. Make a noise like an monkey or bee.

Follow the Leader is a classic. Add lots of drama and large motor activities to make this fun activity even better.

Hide-n-Seek is that old standby used for generations. One person is it and the others hide. "It" counts to a designated number and then finds the "hiders". You can use a timer for younger children and specify areas that are OK to hide in.

 

Listening Games

Clapping is simple and requires no props. Clap out a simple sequence and have your child repeat it. Make the sequence more difficult as your child masters the game.

Who Am I? and What Am I? are recognition games. Use animals, familiar items or people like grandma or grandpa. Use three words to describe the object or person and state "Who Am I?" or "What Am I?" after your descriptions.

I Spy is a searching game. One person chooses a nearby item and states, "I spy with my little eye, something that is red" while the other tries to guess what that item is. You can add clues whenever you'd like……."I spy with my little eye, something that is red and round

Simon Says can be challenging as well as fun. For younger children, give them many opportunities to succeed so they have ample time to learn the game.

Mother May I is also a familiar game. Again, allow younger children many opportunities to succeed so they may learn the game. This traditional game can be spiced up by adding things like "Sarah, jump up and down three times and then take one giant step" or "Cory, flap your arms and hop three times". Use your imagination.

 

Problem Solving Games

Treasure Hunts are great fun! Children love to find "treasures" and it's an opportunity for them to develop problem-solving skills. Make up several clues that your child will be able to solve easily and leave them in the appropriate place. Have a treasure waiting at the end. Your clues can get harder as your child begins to understand the game.

What's Missing can be as easy or hard as your childs' developmental level. Take two or three colored markers or blocks – whatever you have on hand – and put them on the table in front of you. Have your child close her eyes and remove one item. Then ask your child which color is missing. Use a variety of items: colors, shapes, utensils, tools, toys. You can have as many or as few items for guessing as you need.

What Can You Do With…………..your hands, your legs, your mouth, your fingers, etc.

 

Silly Games

Dancing is a great way to interact with your child. Not only is dancing fun, but you can introduce your child to a variety of music. Whatever you choose to listen to, have your child "dance" to the music – slow, fast, silly, dramatic, crazy, whatever.

Silly singing can be downright…silly. Change the words to your favorite children's songs. "Row, row, row your boat" might become "Drive, drive, drive your car" or "Mary had a little lamb" might be "Courtney had a kitty cat", etc.

This Little Piggy is a traditional toe game. You can tickle toes and create your own verses for this silly fingerplay.

Balloon Up can be an inside activity as well as outside. Blow up a couple of balloons and toss them around. See how long you can keep the balloon in the air. Try blowing on small balloons or batting balloons with a tennis racket or ping pong paddle. Have Fun!

Copy Cat is similar to "Follow the Leader" except you sit in a circle on the floor. One person is the leader and the other person or persons must copy whatever gesture the leader makes. You can get really silly with this one.