Every parent knows that time stands still until the food is delivered to your table. Why not make the most of this time together? T
ake a family break the phones and Ipads and spend some time connecting and teaching. Give these fail proof games a shot and the wait is guaranteed to be a lot less weighty.
I Spy
How to Play: One person chooses an object they see and gives a clue about it, such as “I spy with my little eye something blue.” The others try to guess what it is.
Try These Variations:
Counting: “Can you spy 4 green things?”
Shapes: “I spy something round.”
Textures: “I spy something smooth.”
Letters: “I spy something that starts with B.”
Why It Works: This game opens up a world of lesson opportunities and can be played at any location, inside or out.
20 Questions
How to Play: One person thinks of an object or animal, and the others ask yes or no questions to try to guess what it is. To win you must guess correctly in 20 questions or less.
Why It Works: This game is helpful for verbal development as children learn to use descriptive words.
Guess Who?:
How to Play: Similar to 20 questions, but instead of an object, players try to guess which person someone is thinking of. Consider choosing cartoon characters, family members, or famous athletes.
Try These Variations:
For added family encouragement, choose someone at the table to describe and then share amazing things about the person. For example, “This person is really getting great at drawing dogs,” or “This person did a great job cleaning up their room without being asked.”
Why It Works: This simple game can grow gratitude and support for the whole family.
Would You Rather?:
How to Play: Players are presented with two difficult choices and must decide which one they prefer.
Try These Variations:
Here are some of my kiddos favorites to get you started: Would you rather put catsup or mustard on your hotdog? Would you rather swim in a pool full of jello or pudding? Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible? Would you rather have to always wear a hat or always wear socks? Would you rather live in the mountains or at the beach? Would you rather swim in a pool or in the ocean?
Why It Works: This game encourages conversation and creative thinking.
The Alphabet Game: Choose a category and take turns naming something in that category that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Some of our favorite categories include: animals, things that are spooky, cartoon characters, and fruits.
Let’s make the most of every moment we get to share together!
