Game: Wacky Animal Charades

Skill Boosters: Gross and Fine Motor Skills, Oral and Visual Communication
Requires: Stuffed animals, pillowcase
Have your child gather several of her stuffed animals and put them in a pillowcase. Close your eyes while your child pulls an animal out of the case and then conceals it. When you open your eyes, your child will then act out the animal using noises and body movements. Make some silly guesses and get ready for gorilla-sized belly laughs!

Game: What’s Missing?

Skill Boosters: Memory, Oral Communication
Requires: Random household objects
This one’s a preschool brain-teaser! Lay several objects out on the floor for your child to observe. Have him close his eyes for five seconds while you quickly remove an object. Then, when he opens his eyes, ask him which object is missing! Boost the challenge by increasing the number of objects and then removing more than one.

Game: Balloon Volleyball

Skill Booster: Gross Motor Skills
Requires: Balloons, divider or piece of rope
Got a youngster who loves run-around fun? Blow up a balloon and play an impromptu game of volleyball in the living room. Lay a rope on the floor as a makeshift net, and have fun batting the balloon back and forth. Invite siblings for a team game, or make it more challenging by only allowing one hand at a time. Make sure you have extra balloons on hand!

Game: If Crackers Could Talk

Skill Booster: Empathy, Oral Communication
Requires: Any household objects or pets
Has your preschooler ever wondered if cats can feel sad or if crackers have thoughts? (Who hasn’t!) Walk around the house and point out objects to your preschooler. Have her pretend to be that object, and describe her feelings. For example, if she were a can of soup, she might say, “I am so tired of being in this dark cupboard!”. This game also works well with pets, showing your preschooler that it is important to be gentle because they have feelings, too.

Game: Guess the Mystery Sound

Skill Booster: Listening, Oral Communication
Requires: Objects that make noise
Have your preschooler close his eyes while you make a noise. Then, have him try and guess the object! Find a wide variety of materials so that the noises are distinct. You might try dropping a coin on the floor, peeling a piece of tape, or cutting a piece of paper. Boost the challenge by using unusual objects, like grating a carrot or sprinkling sand on paper.

Post from: Smart Step! Games

Rainy Day Play for Preschoolers

Find Someone Who

Required Materials: paper, pencils
Make a list of categories that apply to some of the kids in your play group, adjusting for age and how well the kids know each other (for example, “has traveled to Canada”, “likes dinosaurs”, “has a dog”). Read one category aloud at a time so, as a group, the children can “find someone who” fits each category. Players can raise their hands to indicate they have found that person. This game is a gentle to way to lure even the shyest out of their shells.

Don’t Say a Word

Required Materials: sticky notes
Challenge the group to solve a simple problem in complete silence. For example, instruct the players to sequence themselves according to height without saying a word! Or, have each child wear a sticky note that bears a letter, and they can arrange themselves next to a fellow player whose name starts with that letter. For older children, boost the challenge up a notch. Assign each child a sticky note with a state’s name, and watch as they silently arrange themselves alphabetically…according to the state capitals. This game requires lots of teamwork and coordination.

That’s How I Roll

Required Materials: small ball, pieces of cardboard, paper towel tubes, plastic tubs
Assemble a few tubes and vessels from whatever materials you have handy: paper towel rolls, plastic tubs, even pieces of rolled up carpet. Line up the children, distribute the tubes, and watch the fun begin! The object of this game is for players to roll the ball from one player to the next without touching the ball with their hands. The children will have to strategize with the next player to transport the ball without dropping or touching it. To pump up the fun, create a fun story about the ball. For instance, the ball is a delicate glass egg from a magical bird and the players must transport it back to the nest without breaking it!

Lighthouse

Required Materials: stuffed animals, towels, pillows
This is a challenging game for older kids that requires many levels of teamwork and communication! Using a large room or lawn, create an “ocean” of various soft objects like plush toys, towels and pillows. Blindfold one player and have her stand on the far shore. The rest of the players, shore folk, will be stationed on the near shore. Finally, choose one player to be the “lighthouse”, and be sure they are facing the shore folk but not the ocean. Here’s the real challenge: The shore folk have lost their voices! They must now communicate to the lighthouse using only gestures, and the lighthouse will have to guide the blindfolded player across the ocean without touching any of the obstacles!

Post from: Smart Step! Games

Social Skill Super-Boosters

Set a good example.

Your kids look to you as a role model, which means if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, chances are, your kids will, too. Set a good example by getting active and talking positively about exercise and health. Your kids will take notice and likely follow in your footsteps.

Stress activity, not exercise.

Being healthy doesn’t require expensive gym memberships or regimented exercise plans. The CDC recommends that children get a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week. Fitting in physical activity can be as simple as substituting outdoor kid’s games, like Hide & Seek, for video games or turning on some music and dancing around the living room.

Take baby steps.

Don’t try to make too many changes at once. Take small steps to introduce activity into your routine, like parking a little further out at the grocery store or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. You can add more activity as your family becomes more fit.

Do it together.

Make getting fit a family affair. Play inside or outside together, take walks, go on bike rides, fly kites, or run through the sprinkler on a hot summer day. Being physically active is good for your body, but it can also be a lot of fun, especially when you do it together.

Celebrate success.

Treat becoming fit just as you would any goal, and reward yourself when you succeed. Give your family members positive feedback when they participate in physical activities, and encourage them to try new and different activities.

Post from: Smart Step! Games

Five Simple Steps to a Healthier, Happier Family

Get Plenty of Zs

A great day begins with a night of sound sleep. For children, experts recommend anywhere from eight to eleven hours of sleep per night (depending on age)! Help your kids get the Zs they need by setting an appropriate bedtime, and winding down household activities about an hour before hitting the sheets.

Plan Family Fitness Adventures

Between work, school and after-school commitments, it can be tough to plan an event that includes the whole family. Score some quality together time by scheduling a group fitness outing two or three times a week. Try a 20 minute after-dinner walk, or a family bike ride.

Visit the Farmer’s Market

A trip the farmer’s market is a fun way for kids to learn how veggies and grains get from the field to your table. Sample fresh apricots and tomatoes together, strike up a conversation with a friendly farmer, and your children will learn that there’s much more to food than just a shrink-wrapped box.

Create Fun Fitness Games

Bring the kids to the park for a heart-pumping round of tag, pump up some tunes for hip-shaking salsa or challenge each other to a pull-up contest. Making time for exercise several times a week shows your kids that fitness is a priority. There are so many options – why not try ‘em all?

Make TV Time Active

Don’t let TV time turn your family into a bunch of couch potatoes. Devise quick and easy games that’ll get them moving. Have the kids run in place every time they hear Mickey say, “Oh boy!”, or tell ‘em to do five jumping jacks whenever Gary meows! The kids will love listening for cues from their favorite characters and you’ll feel great knowing that they’re getting in a few extra minutes of fitness!

Post from: Smart Step! Games

Top Five Ways to Be a Healthy Influence For Your Kids

Bring Books to Life

Stretch your imagination and your body at the same time. Encourage your kids to act out the story while you read them their favorite book, then get up and join in the fun! Can you hop like a rabbit? Or move like an elephant?

Work It While You Watch

Watching TV is undoubtedly one of the least active pastimes, but if you clear some space in front of the tube, you can challenge each other while you watch. Can you hula hoop during an entire commercial break? How about jumping jacks? If your kids are older, consider keeping a chart near the TV. The person who’s done the most jumping jacks at the end of the week gets a prize! You can also toss the remote and get up and change the channels manually. The “hassle” of getting up to flip might even steer your family away from the TV.

Run an Errand Race

Get a pedometer for yourself and each of your kids and track your steps while you run errands. The person with the most steps at the end of the week wins. Try to think of sneaky ways to squeeze in steps; park further from the entrance of the bank or take the long way to the milk in the grocery store. If you don’t, with a prize at stake your kids definitely will!

Clean the House

When you’re cleaning, give your little ones colorful feather dusters, turn on some music and let them dance around the house, dusting as they go. You get a break, the kids learn the meaning of hard work and it’s fun too! (Just watch out for those broken ornaments!)

Make a Meal Time Tradition

Start a family tradition of taking a walk after mealtime. Even a quick 15-minute stroll around the block can make a big difference!

Post from: Smart Step! Games

Add Fun Activities for Kids to Your Everyday Routines