Playing games is a universal pursuit. Games help children burn off energy, develop social skills, and practice a variety of academic skills. When you teach your child a new game, you are also helping him learn how to follow directions The games in this chapter are very simple; feel free to adapt them and add more rules and details as your child’s skills develop.
Traditional Games
Many games have remained virtually unchanged as they have passed from generation to generation. You will also find similar variation in other cultures. Here are just a few classic games that your toddler may enjoy.
Doggie, Doggie, Where’ Your Bone?
Here is another game that is easy to adapt. You can change the game into, “Cupid, Cupid, Where’s Your Heart?” Or “Baker, Baker, Where’s Your Cake?” Or “Robin, Robin, Where’ Your Worm?” Remember that young children may be uncomfortable closing their eyes, so don’t worry about enforcing this.
Activity for a group.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
What you need:
Small toy or dog bone
1. Have children sit cross-legged in a small circle on the floor. Be sure that there is plenty of room around them.
2. Choose one child tone “It.” The child crouches in the center of the circle with a toy or dog bone.
3. Tell the child who is “It” the he is the doggie and that he should pretend to np by cling or hiding his eyes.
4. While “It” is pretending to nap, the rest of the players chant this rhyme:
“Doggie, Doggie, Where’s your bone?”
Somebody took it and ran away home.
Wake up Doggie!”
5. While the children are chanting, remove the bone and give it to one of the children to hide behind his back. All the children should pretend that they are also hiding the bone.
6. When the children say, “Wake up doggie,” the child who is “It” rises and tries to guess who is hiding the bone.
7. The child with the bone becomes the new doggie.
Hot and Cold
Help your child develop his listening skills and problem-solving abilities with this game.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
What you need:
Small toy that can be easily hidden
1. When your child is out of the room, hide a small toy somewhere out of sight.
2. Have your child return to the room to look for the object. Guide hime with verbal cues. When he is approaching the object, tell him, “You are getting hot.” If he moves away from the object, tell him, “you are getting cold.”
3. This game is most successful if you are expressive and emphatic in your responses. For example, as your child does closer and closer to the hiding spot, you might say, “Ooh, you are getting warm. Okay, now you are hot. Wow! When you go by the couch, you are even hotter. Now you are burins up!”
Duck, Duck, Goose
The beauty of traditional party games is that you can adapt it fo any theme or occasion. It is Easter? You can have the children play Bunny, Bunny, Chick. If they’re learning about colors, the game can become Green, Green, Yellow.
Activity for a group.
Age group: 30-40 minutes
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
1. Have children sit cross-legged in a small circle on the floor. Be sure that there is plenty of room around them.
2. Choose one child to be “It.” That child walks around the outside of the circle, gently tapping each child on the shoulder.
3. When “It” taps a child, he also calls out, “Duck.” At a random point, “It” selects a child and calls out, “Goose!”
4. The goose mush stand up and chase “It” around the circle.
5. “It” tries to run and sit in the vacant spot before the goose tags him. The goose then becomes the next person to be “It.”
Cooperative Games
Many games that are played in elementary schools, playgrounds, and birthday parties encourage competition. This is not necessarily a bad thing. However, young toddlers have very divers abilities and they become easily frustrated when measured up against someone else. These games have the added benefit of helping young children learn positive social skills.
Keep It Up
You can adapt this activity according to the number of participants by simply adding more balls. You can also use balloons for this activity, but be vigilant with popped balloon pieces because they can be a choking hazard.
Activity for a group:
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
What you need:
3 or 4 beach balls
1. To start the game, have participants stand in a circle.
2. Toss a few beach balls into the air.
3. The object is to bat, kick, or tip the balls to keep them from touching the ground.
4. When a ball hits the ground. It is removed from play. The game continues until all the balls are grounded.
Shrinking Island
This game can be played with children off all ages. It is best for outdoor as it requires a lot of space.
Activity for a group.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
What you need:
Old blanket or sheet or several lengths of rope
1. You will need to define the boundaries of the island. You can use an old picnic blanket or sheet. Alternatively, you can set the boundaries with lengths of rope. Be sure that the area is large enough for all the players to comfortably stand.
2. Have participants circle around the island without stepping inside. You may wish to play music. Tell the players that they are swimming in the sea and have them imitate swimming motions as they circle around the island.
3. At the signal (music stops or verbal cue), the players must get out of the sea and go onto the dry land. Once everyone is safe, players can go back in the water.
4. After each round, the island becomes smaller and smaller. To make it shrink, fold the edges of the sheet under or move the ropes closer together. The goal is for players to work together to make sure that everyone can fit on the island.
Octopus Tag
Also called hug tag, this is a less competitive version fo regular tag.
Activity for a group.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
1. Like traditional tag, one person starts out being “It” and tries to tag other players.
2. When a player is caught, he joins arms with “It.”
3. This ever-growing mass of children must stay connected and try to move as one to capture the next child.
Group Games
Group games are a great way to help your child develop social skills, as they call for the players to interact with each other. These games are good for times when you have a group of children together. Older children and even adults may also enjoy playing.
Circle Chase
This game will help your child with eye/hand coordination and will also build her cooperation skills. Engage your child’s imagination and add to the fun by assigning characters to the balls. Perhaps you can have the dog chase the cat or the bird chase the worm.
Activity for a group.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
2 balls (must be different in size, color, or texture)
1. Have children sit cross-legged in a small circle on the floor.
2. Provide 2 balls for the children to pass. Like the game Hot Potato, children pass objects around a circle. Remind the children to pass objects gently without throwing.
3. Tell the children the is a chasing game.
4. Each ball is a separate character in the chase Start the balls at different places in the circle. Have children pass the balls until the one “catches” the other.
Hug Rover
This is a variation of the traditional game Red Rover. This version is less boisterous and does not encourage aggression.
Activity for a group.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
1. Have participants split into two equal groups. Each group holds hands to form a line.Stand the lines so the face each other.
2. Alternate turns for each side. One side picks on a child from the other side and calls “Red Rover, Red Rover, will you tell (child’s name) to come over?”
3. The child the is called runs over.
4. Other than trying to break though the line, the chid stop when he arrives. Th line gathers around and gives him a group hug.
Sardines
This is a variation of Hide-and-Seek. This game usually results in lots of giggles. If a lot of children are playing or the hiding places are small, you can have more than one child hide.
Activity for a group.
Age group: 30-40 minutes
Duration of activity: 45 minutes
What you need:
Kitchen timer (optional)
1. Designate one child to hide. Have the remaining children hide their eyes and wait. (You can have them count or you can use a kitchen timer.)
2. One the waiting is over and the designated child is hiding, the hunt can begin.
3. When a seeker finds the hiding child, he quietly joins her in the hiding spot.
4. Each child who find the hiders joins them. The children may have to squeeze together for all to fit (thus, the name of the game).
5. The last child to find the group becomes the next hider.
Games for Two
Here are some versatile activities that require very little setup and just two players. You can play these games with your child any tie you have a few minutes or want to spend a little quality time with your toddler.
Shadow Tag
This game can be played with more than two, but it tends to get too chaotic. The game must be played outdoors in the morning or late afternoon when the shadows are long.
Activity for two Players
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
This game is base upon the tradition game of tag. The difference is that the person who is “It” tries to tag the other person by stepping on his shadow. The other person dodges to protect his shadow. Remind players that this is not a contact sport.
Toe Wrestling
This lively game will help your child develop motor skills and balance. It is recommended that one of the players be n older child or adult who can help keep some restraint on the activity.
Activity for two players.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
1. Both players remove their shoes and socks.
2. Hold hands and stand facing your child. Place your feet so that your toes are just touching your child’s.
3. The object is to gently pin the other person’s toes under your own. Only toes my be used. Try to keep the sole of the foot on the floor Kicking or stoping is not allowed.
Paper Games
All you need is some creativity to make some cute activities for your toddler to enjoy. Your older child can also play more sophisticated paper games such as Tic-Tac-Toe or Hangman.
Halves
This is a cooperative activity. Older children may wish to try creating animals and other creatures, too. You can adapt this activity for three or four players by simply folding the paper into that many sections.
Activity for two players.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
What you need:
1 sheet white bond paper
Crayons or markers for drawing
1. Fold the sheet of paper in half.
2. Each player draws half of a person on half of the paper, without seeing the other half.
3. One player draws a head, neck, and arms. Lines must extend a tiny bit below the fold so that the second player can see where to pick up.
4. The second player turns the paper over and drys the torso, legs, and feet.
5. Unfold the paper to reveal your work.
The Clown Says
This is a simple game that you can create that will help your child with following directions and motor development.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
Scissors
Paper plate
Poster board
Brad (metal paper fastener, available at office supply stores)
Markers
1. Make a small hold in the center of the paper plate.
2. Cut a small arrow out of the poster board, and make a small hod in The Center. Use the brad to fasten the arrow to the plate. Leave it loose enough to spin freely.
3. Use the markers to draw a clown onto the plate; incorporate the spinner as one of the arms. (If your artistic skins are lacking you can just call the gam Stick Man Says.)
4. Divide the plate like a pie into 4 or 6 sections. In each section, either draw or glue on a picture that depicts a movement. For example, a picture of 2 hands could mean clapping.
5. Have your child spin the spinner, then act out the movement that the clown is pointing to. You may need to assist the younger child.
6. Consider taking a few turns yourself. Perhaps let your child spin the wheel for you.
Create Your Own Game
There is no end to the games that you can create! The easiest place to start is to adapt some of the basic sports. A tennis ball or broom can be used for a golf game. Use a beach bag for a gentle for a gentle variation of soccer. Here are some other ideas to get you started.
Basketball
This simplified version focuses on the skill of throwing and aiming the ball.
Activity for an individual child or a group.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
Basketball hoop alternatives (laundry hampers and boxes work well)
Small ball or beanbag
1. Choose various objects that you will use for baskets.
2. Let your child stand back from the basket and try to toss a ball or beanbag in. Keep track of how many shots he makes in a row.
Bowling
Your child will be using his large motor skills when playing this game. You can set this game up inside or outside.
Activity for an individual child or a group.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
6 clean 2-liter soda bottles
1 ball
1. Arrange the soda bottles like bowling pins. If you are playing outside, put some sand in the bottles to keep that from blowing over.
2. Show your child how to roll a ball to knock down the pins.
Fast and Simple Games
Toddler games don’t need to take a lot of time or preparation. Count on these ideas to add some fun whenever you need it!
Count Them Up
Players work together in this fun game that helps pass the time. Younger children who cannot count can still help spot the items.
Activity for a group.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 5 minutes
1. One person is the leader. She announces a common item such as trucks or stop signs to be counted by the group.
2. Everyone works together to spot and count the objects.
3. Once the group counts to ten, a new leader chooses a new item.
Fill and Dump
Some toddlers can spend a lot of time repeatedly filling and dumping! Be sure to choose its that are not a choking hazard for your child. Large empty thread spools or bristle blocks work well.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-30 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
2 or 3 containers
Small household objects
1. Give the child the containers filled with the objects. If you container has a lid, show the child how to shake the container to make noise.
2. Encourage your toddler to dump and fill the container.
Wizard of Oz
This easy game is a variation of Peek-a-Boo.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 12-24 months
Duration of activity: 5 minutes
What you need:
A stable curtain or drape
1. Show your child how to hide behind the drape or curtain. You can even have her go behind a shower curtain.
2. Either you or your child may push the curtain aside for the big reveal. The turns hiding and revealing.
3. When you reveal, you may wish to make a funny face or posture to surprise your child.