GAMES

There are few better ways to interact and have fun with your kids than by playing a silly game with them.  Getting down on the carpet and getting holes in your new jeans--all worth the smiles on their faces.  Here are some ideas for when you suddenly realize you have ten free minutes and don't know what to do with them.

 

6+ MONTHS

• Textures. Tape different textures to a box or poster board and let your child explore them. Some examples: sand paper, foil, sponges, fleece, silk.

12+  MONTHS

• Sock Toss.  Make "balls" from all their socks and have them toss them in a laundry basket.  Place the basket further and further away, and make sure to clap and cheer when those socks land in the basket!
• Obstacle Course.  Set up an obstacle course in the room from chairs, boxes, etc, and have your child walk or run through the course without touching any of the obstacles.   
• Egg Hunt.  Egg hunts aren't just for Easter!   Save those colorful plastic eggs to play the egg hunt game in your living room any time of the year.  Of course, you can use any identifiable objects such as balls, legos, blocks, etc.
• Which hand is it in?  Hide a small object and ask the child to guess where it is
• What's in the bag? A great game were you hide an object in a bag (or pillowcase) and eitherdescribe it to the child or let them feel it, then guess what it is. 
• STOP! Ask the child to stop you from: seeing, talking, hearing, etc.  Great for learning functions of body parts
• Balance beam:  set up a balance beam out of a 2x4 on the carpet and help your child walk across it.  As he/she gets used to it, raise it a few inches off the ground.
• Sorting game.  Have your child sort different objects based on color, shape and size (in that order, as they are able).  Start with two then progress to three and four different variables.  Examples: different colored legos, different shaped blocks, different sized balls
• Pillow Game.  Make a mountain of pillows and help your toddler navigate through and over them.

24+ MONTHS

• Shape Run. Kids have a blast. Cut out different shapes (from different colored card stock) and tape them in different part of the room, or yard.  Call out each shape and have the child run to touch it.  It's fun to play this with several kids and see who can touch the shape first!
• Line Jump.  Tape a line on the carpet and have your kiddo jump over it.
• Bean Bag Toss.  Tape a square on the carpet and have your child toss beanbags inside it.
• Puddle Jump. Cut out squares of carpet, or tape down construction paper on the floor.  Have your kids pretend the square are puddles and have a puddle fest inside the house (and skip the laundry).
• Move like a... Call out different animals and have your kids mimic their movements.
• Movement Game.  Ask your child to move like a: robot, or pretend they are carrying a heavy box;   move without touching anyone, flap like a bird, bounce like a ball, touch your toes to your elbow