What to Play with your Child
Remember that young children require lots of physical activity. They learn best through doing; allow them to physically explore and experiment.
- Hand clapping games – sing a song (any song with a steady beat) while alternating between clapping once and doing a “double high five” with your child.
- Put a ball on a small blanket held up by the participants – the goal is to bounce/roll the ball without letting it fall of the blanket.
- Playdough
- Hang a large piece of paper on the wall and work together to create a picture.
- Ball games – roll, kick, and throw.
- Bake or cook together
- Make an obstacle course and take turns doing it (crawl under a table, climb on the sofa, walk or crawl over pillows, squeeze between the sofa and the wall).
- Hop scotch (for younger children you only need 2 or 3 squares)
- Play “store” taking turns who is the shopper and who is the buyer
- Play “school” taking turns being a teacher and student
- Play “doctor” using real band aides, take turns being the doctor and the patient
- Dance together taking turns “leading” and the others have to imitate the leader’s movements.
- Follow the leader (using different hand movements, walking, crawling, jumping, walking along line, walking backwards, walking sideways). Take turns being “the leader”.
- Simon says
- Animal walks – pretend to be a cat, elephant, crab, duck, frog; modify the way you move to imitate that animal.
- Make a “band” with pots, wooden spoons, bottles with beans inside, elastic bands stretched over a box. Play and sing together. Get the child to imitate a simple rhythm.
- Hide and go seek – take turns hiding and the other has to find you
- Chase game (“I’m coming to catch you”)
- Tug-of-war – use a kitchen towel instead of rope
- “three little monkeys jumping on the bed”
- “horse” – child rides on dad or mom’s back (or in a laundry basket or a cart) and tells parent where to go
Compiled by Sara Torten MS, OTR/L