I keep reading posts this summer about fun activities for kids. Are your kids bored in the long summer holidays? Do you need ideas of games to play with your children? You do? You’ve come to the right place.
See, Flea has the world’s longest summer holiday – just over 9 weeks. And whoever said necessity is the mother of invention hit the nail right on the head, friends. Luckily, we have invented lots of fun games to keep ourselves occupied this summer, and I think it’s only fair to share them with my lovely readers.
Game 1: RUN INTO MY HAND
How to play: Hold out your hand at arm’s length. Say to your child, "I can’t be bothered to beat you. Would you mind just running into my hand really fast?” You would think this doesn’t work, but it TOTALLY does.
Game 2: STOP MOANING
How to play: Let your child climb up on your bed. Ask them a question, such as, “What would you like for dinner?” Wait until they just start to answer then shout STOP MOANING and push them over. Repeat indefinitely. It sounds mean but Flea begs for me to play this game with her. Yes, she's a bit weird.
Game 3: HANDS UP
How to play: Offer to help your child take their jumper off. Say, “Hands up”. When they put their hands up, shout SUCKER and tickle them. This makes me and Flea fall about laughing.
Game 4: SLEEPING LIONS
How to play: Technically we didn’t invent this game, but we did invent a riff on it. I have to lie on my bed, under the duvet and see how long I can go without opening my eyes. Not to be arrogant, or anything, but I am a WORLD CHAMPION at this game.
Game 5: ASSAULT COURSES
How to play: At the playground, make up a random assault course for your child. For example: “You have to run to the climbing frame, climb up the rope, turn around three times, run to the swing, touch the roundabout then go underneath the tunnel and count to 20, then come back to the start.” Crucially, the ‘start’ should be a bench. With practice you can read a book while your child traverses the course and when you hear them running towards you, you start counting in a loud voice: “39, 40, 41…. WELL DONE, DARLING, THAT WAS SUPER FAST!”
Just brilliant as usual!!! I have to say I am a contender for the sleeping lion of the world championship – really I am very good at it!!! But I call it playing dead!!! I love “stop moaning” I am going to try it at breakfast time… can’t wait!!!
I think the assault course has to be one for my boys to try allowing me to read and them to exhaust themselves before going to bed! Brilliant!
Fantastic – it almost makes me wish for small kids again – almost. We beat you on the vacation though. My kids have 13 weeks off – 13! They broke up on the 21st May and don’t go back till August 23rd. 1/4 year off- it’s crazy.
Hilarious. Will definitely be trying some of those when my girl’s old enough.
9 weeks holiday – unbelievable! Wowsers, I thought 6 weeks was bad enough…
These kind of games happen in my house every night for about an hour before shower time. I love them and they make me feel so close to my children. We laugh, giggle and have heaps of cuddles – almost the best part of the day.
Can I come and play at yours?
Can I come and play at yours?
My mum used to play a similar game with me. I’d sit on her knee and ask if she loved me. She’d bounce me, saying “of course I don’t love you. why would I love you” etc until she thought I was close to believing/crying(!), then she’d change tack.
She says I asked to play this all the time. I’m not sure I’m not mentally scarred 😉
(true story – but very much tongue in cheek!)
Recommeding a game Sally – ever read Flea the ladybird book – the magic stone? Great story and our two have been out in the garden creating and “cooking” their own stone soup made from bits and pieces of grass, petals, stones and the old mouldy carrot I’ve found in the utility! Fab game and kept them busy for 2 hours on the frist day, and an hour on the folllowing day too. Brilliant.
I trust that’s a private school? 13 weeks is just plain ridiculous. I’d be petitioning the school board and PTA!!
I like “run into my hand” best but think I have most chance of using “stop moaning”. Samuel would truly love this. We also already do a version of assault courses, my version being “how far away can I make you run”. I do love him, honest, if you’re wondering.
Hilarious, Sally. You are my hero!
So how did it go?
It’s terribly good exercise.
I think the phrase is live DOWN to!
We’re not really grown-up enough for that, but as a family we’re VERY big on Scrabble, I must confess.
Holy moly!!!
It’s lovely and fun, of course, but trying to work AND entertain a small child for that length of time does challenge my creativity, I must admit!
Agreed!
Only if you bring cake.
Definitely going to give that one a try…
Ooh, I’ll check it out, thanks!
But of course! Me too, but there are times when it’s nice to read a book!
Are you sure? I’m not exactly a paragon of positive parenting, you realise…
My favourite is invisible painting, not exactly a game as I’m quite into the kind of parenting that doesn’t require too much effort on my part. Bucket of water, paint brush, outside, paint. Even each other – it dries.
In winter I call it – encouragingly – ice-painting and they still fall for it.
LOL very funny! I recognise my own survival tactics here! How refreshing to read something real about family life as opposed to all those ‘worthy’ pieces of advice. Love it!