It’s always a challenge to keep the little ones occupied on days like this when classes are suspended. Here are 12 simple games you can enjoy with your kids not only at home, but also during long trips or while waiting for your turn at the doctor’s clinic or the cashier at the supermarket.
Photos: magnifying glass, kid singing, blowing bubbles, clay, toy shopping cart, Word Factory, kid with stickers, family playing, paper cranes, dad and baby playing, playing cards, kid playing with iPhone
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I SPY!
This game that does not require anything but good observational skills and imagination. It’s perfect for children as young as two years old and can be played anywhere. Look for interesting things in your house, in your surroundings, such as a cloud shaped like a giraffe. If you’re in the doctor’s office, search for a stethoscope or a white lab coat, and take turns spotting these items. If you’re in the grocery, look for a purple eggplant or a green apple. The red stop sign, a blue bus, or the letter “N” can be found while stuck in traffic. Be creative and have fun! SMART TIP: Older children can search for letters or even words.
SING A SONG
“The Wheels on the Bus,” Barney’s “I Love You Song,” and “Skidamarink.” The old, reliable trick of singing to keep children’s minds away from noticing the time is as useful today as it was before DVDs and iPods were invented. Store your tot’s favorite songs in a handy player or just stick to good ol’ singing to keep boredom at bay.
BUBBLES
A few bubbles can go a long way! Blow a few, and watch your young ones go crazy trying to catch (and pop!) them all. This sure-fire hit will help kids forget about their boredom. SMART TIP: Make sure you blow bubbles away from other people, who might not find it as amusing as the kids do. If there are other tots in the vicinity, invite them to join in the fun, too!
SHOPPER’S DELIGHT!
Rianna Trinidad, mompreneur and mother of two, suggests involving your kids whenever you go to the grocery by giving them their own lists to fulfill. She draws what her kids have to buy and writes the word beside the drawing. Aside from being engaged, her girls also learn about how a grocery works.
THE GUESSING GAME
Animals are always a popular choice. Mimic the sounds or describe a particular animal and have your child guess. A fun alternative would be to describe the friends of your child, and have them guess who he could be. Or at the grocery, you can describe all sorts of fruits and vegetables, and ask your little one to help you load up the cart.
PAT-A-CAKE
This traditional English nursery rhyme lends itself very well to learning the letters, as well as letter-sound associations. Use the version below, and ask your child for a letter and someone or something that starts with that letter. Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man Bake me a cake as fast as you can Roll it (make a rolling motion with your hands), and pat it (pat your knees) And mark it with a _____ (give a letter) for _____ (someone or something that starts with the given letter) and me.
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