games for growing

Published January 4, 2009 by Nancy

My husband had a repertoire of silly games he played with the kids when they were younger.

The thing about sensory games is that kids like them. They ask for more. Soon, these become the favourite games. You don’t necessarily plan them to be sensory games — it just works out that way.

So here are the ones I can remember, from our house to yours.

1. Flap Fly. Hold the kid horizontal in the air, against your waist, using one arm or two. The kid has to “fly” by flapping “wings” and “tail.” The faster the flapping, the faster you run down the hall or around the room. Tip the kid up or down as you fly and provide appropriate jet sound effects.

2. Bee-oo. The kid stands facing you, holding both your thumbs. On the count of three, the kid jumps. You raise your hands to give him/her extra lift and make an electronic/laser “bee-oo” sound. Do it several times, each one getting higher lift. For the last one, the kid leaps up for a spider hug while you say ” boy-oy-oing.”

3. Bendable Boy. Sit on the edge of the bed with the kid on your lap, facing you. Cup the back of his/her head with your hands and bend forward, dipping the kid down toward the floor. Then pull back up. Sound effects are mandatory.

4. Pony Boy. Sit on a bed or sofa with the kid on your lap, facing you. Bounce your legs so that the kid bounces back and forth vigorously, while singing “Pony Boy.”

5. Slow-Mo Fighting. The kid stands on the edge of a bed (the mattress of which has seen better days). Pretend to be a fighter and throw slow-motion punches or pushes toward the kid’s upper body, never making contact. The kid responds like someone hit in slow motion in the movies — moving in response to the punch and falling down on the bed. Alter the way he/she falls by altering how you punch or push.