Family & Kids Play

Play can provide us with a chance to let loose, recharge our batteries, and relax. Kids truly understand this concept. Play can also be a way to promote connections among family members. Frequently, parents ask me how they can encourage more positive, fun interactions among their children. To promote playfulness among family members, I am including some kid-tested popular games. Give them a try, allow different family members to choose a game, or better yet, make up a game unique to your family! ENJOY!

Red Handed
This is a LOW energy game.
You only need a small object (i.e. penny, marble, key). Directions: With eyes closed, one player stands in the middle of a circle of players who continuously circulate a small object. Whether they have it or not, all players simultaneously pretend to be passing the object. When ready, the center player opens his/her eyes and has 3 guesses to determine which player has the object. The player caught "red-handed" or the person with the object after the third unsuccessful guess, becomes the new person in the center. Source: The New Games Book, page 71

Dangling Donut Eating Contest
This is a Medium energy level activity.
Materials needed: Cake donuts, yarn, tape, broom or drop-cloth Directions: Thread a piece of yarn through each donut, make sure the yarn is long enough to dangle at the mouths of the players. You can use monkey bars, or tape the yarn under a table, or tape to the top of a doorway. Line up contestants, have them keep their hands behind their backs, and attach their donuts at the appropriate height. The referee says, "GO!," and all of the contestants race to see who can eat the donut the fastest.
Source: The Outrageous Outdoor Games Book, page 69

Hug Tag
This is a High energy game!
Use the same rules you use for tag, but you are only safe if you are being hugged by another person. After awhile, you can increase the number of people hugging to three or four for the safe zone. Source: The New Games Book, page 115

Scavenger Hunt
This is a great outdoor activity for a birthday party.

Give each child a list of simple things they can find outdoors in the neighborhood. (You can also have them work in pairs.) Make up the list according to what season it is. Fall is an easy one: red leaf, yellow leaf, green leaf, brown leaf, pine cone, acorn, 2 small stones of different colors, piece of litter, leaf with one point, leaf with five points, etc.  In spring, look for the first dandelion or primrose, a white pebble, an acorn with a sprout, a feather and so on. Everyone gets a collection bag and goes together to find these things. Ten is usually a good number to look for, but it also depends on the age of the children.  Back at the house, you can discuss what you found.

Sidewalk Chalk

1 cup plaster of Paris
4 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp powdered tempera paint
empty toilet paper rolls (1 for each piece of chalk you want to make)
wax paper
elastic bands (1 for each piece of chalk you want to make

Start by covering one end of the toilet paper rolls with waxed paper held in place by the elastic band. Mix the plaster of Paris and powdered paint together, then stir in the water, adding more ½ Tbsp at a time until you get a smooth consistency. Pour into your toilet paper roll molds and let dry completely (this can take up to 3 or 4 days, so patience is needed). When dry, peel off the toilet paper rolls and draw to your heart’s content (if you remove the mold before the chalk is totally dry, no problem; just set aside to air dry for another 12-24 hours). To make quicker drying chalk, use smaller molds such as chocolate or candy molds.

Bubble solution:

1 part corn syrup or glycerin (glycerin can be found at any drug store)
4 parts liquid dish soap (Dawn works really well)
16 parts water

For example:

¼ cup corn syrup or glycerin
1 cup dish soap
4 cups water

Wand ideas:

Shaped Pipe cleaners
Re-shaped Coat hangers (you’ll need a big bucket of bubble solution to make these wonderfully giant bubbles)
Copper wire or jewelry wire – shaped as big or as little as you’d like

If you’re feeling creative, make your wands with a double bubble blowing head, or add a pretty ribbon onto the bottom to create a magic wand! Get inspired.