GAMES YOU KNOW

Boredom Busters

Parents often wonder why kids get bored - and how to respond. Here are simple ways to lighten the mood and (hopefully) get kids smiling again.

Start by offering your child a chance to vent.
For kids (as well as adults), boredom may mask other feelings - sadness about something that happened during the day, worry about something that may happen, or simply hunger or fatigue. The first step to breaking the boredom blues is just to listen to your child, and to accept that her feelings are real and important to her, even if they don't make sense to you.
Give your child a choice of activities and a little encouragement.
Sometimes kids simply need a little help to try somethng new. If your child likes art, try coloring with Arthur, or Barney. If he likes music, dance to some Dragon Tales tunes. Remember that children have varying attention spans, depending on their age and personality.
You don't need fancy games and toys (or even TV) to excite your child.
Simple activities often do the trick, and you can find many online. Try making homemade bubble solution. Have alternatives in your back pocket. If one idea doesn't do the trick, pull out another. Mister Rogers' peanut butter and banana sandwiches are an easy treat kids may like to eat.
Start a project together, but let your child take the lead.
In some cases, the less you direct your child, the more he may begin to use his own imagination.
Keep a "rainy day" box or shelf filled with special toys and books.
Rather than keeping all of your child's toys available at all times, hold some in reserve for these moments.
Try a change of scenery.
This may be the right moment to take a trip to the bank or spend an hour in the park - even if you were planning these outings for later.
Remember that all kids need down time.
Today might be just the day your child needs to cuddle with you on the couch, listen to a song or story tape, or sit on your lap and read a book with you.

GAMES YOU KNOW…

That you forgot that you know!

Red Rover
Musical Chairs
Charades
Farmer in the Dell
Scavenger Hunt
Bowling (plastic soda bottles)
Dodge ball
Arm wrestling
Thumb wrestling
Spelling bee
Potato sack races
Hangman
Tic-tac-toe
Obstacle course
Human knot
London Bridges
Frog races
Water balloon fight
Silly relay races
Guessing games
Red Light/Green Light
Mother May I?
Kick the Can
3 Truths and a Lie
Memory Games
Bingo
Staring Contest
Not-Laughing Contest
Piggy Back Rides
Jump rope contest
Wheel-barrel races
Over and Under
Shadow Tag
Tug-of-War
I Spy
Miss Mary Mack
Cats in the Cradle
Leap Frog
Rock/Scissor/Paper
Flash Card Challenge
Guess name of a famous person pinned on your back
Flashlight Tag
Freeze Tag
Statues
Little Sally Saucer
Marco Polo (swimming)
Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?
Parachute
Hot/Cold (find hidden items)
Hide and Seek
Monkey in the Middle
Simon Says
Crazy Eights (cards)
Concentration
Chinese jump rope
Four Square
Beach ball volleyball
Ali Baba & the 40 Thieves
Buzz (7’s)
Capture the Flag
Easter egg hunt
Lip sync
Crab walk soccer
Wacky Walks
Heads Up 7-Up
Crack the Whip
Steal the Bacon
Button, Button, Who Has the Button?
Telephone- Tongue Twisters
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Follow the Leader
Penny pitching
Duck Duck Goose
Drop the Handkerchief
A Tisket A Tasket
Hot Potato
Doggie, Doggie Where’s Your Bone?
Beanbag toss
Fruit Basket Upset
Guess Who
Name That Tune
Keep the Ball up
Shoe Scramble
Goin on a camping trip
Treasure Hunt
Pop Goes the Weasel
Hopscotch
Port and Starboard
Sardines
Spud
In & Out the Windows
Tag
Grandma is Crazy (figure out differences in 2 similar things)
Trust fall
Frisbee Tag
Wink
Yankee Doodle Cracker (whistle after eating cracker)
Jacks
Pickle
Limbo
Hokey Pokey
Two-Square