Simple & successful games

			Simple and successful games
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The secret is sharing time to create good memories
not necessarily buying expensive toys

Kids, cats & dogs ...
its all the same
combine the STAR elements
and repeat it all a few times
make small changes if needed
and they're sure to 'get it' !

4 big steps	STAR	Senses	Sounds, taste, touching, seeing & smelling
		+Time	Making time & sharing time
		+ Add stuff	Blankets, balloons, balls, string, playing cards
		+ Rules	Change things to include all ages

		= Creating good memories

	Some examples:
The where are you game ... works with kids and dogs, maybe best in the morning when you actually want to wake up and get out of bed.	Pull the blanket over your head when in bed ... Call out Where's ....... ? Yep, you might have to sneak a quick look just to keep them encouraged ... After a couple of times, they'll get the idea. After they pull back the blanket and 'find you' then reward them with a cuddle or something!

Where's your lead A variation for your dog ... .	Keep the lead in the same place and when you want to go for a walk .... Where's your lead ? Again, the promise of a walk usually inspires them to go racing to where the lead is and find it ... suck and chew it a couple of times ... and eventually your dog with a little soggy lead will reappear for that walk!

Click your fingers I could never catch next door's cat so I decided to do something about it!		Oscar is one of those cats that will not take direction .... and why should he .. after all, he is a cat! OK, I started the game with some tempting cheese and with that cheese came a DOUBLE CLICK of my fingers. (We're using the STAR stuff ... a mix of tempting sensory teases to reinforce the training). So what happened you ask? A DOUBLE CLICK and Oscar appears from almost anywhere and then follows me! (No cheese needed)

Round and round the garden went the teddy bear... one step, two step, tickle under there"! A game with babies even before they start walking.	There's lots of variations .... here's one. Use 2 fingers to 'draw' circles on baby's tummy as you say the words .... "round and round the garden went the teddy bear ...." Then 'run' with your fingers up your baby's tummy "one step, two step ... " and sneak up and under their arm .. "and tickle under there .... " so you can tickle them! This usually makes baby laugh. They get to know quickly about the "tickle under there (under the arms). Amusing for both baby and Mum or Dad! For variation as part of the game, change which under arm.

The classic Peekaboo .... and some other favourite oldies	Playing "Peekaboo" with young children is a fun game for all the young-at-heart! Just put a favourite toy down on the floor with a simple thing in front, like a tea towel ... and when you shout 'peekaboo' ... flick the tea towel away to show the favourite toy. Psychologists say that true awareness within infants does not happen until 8 or 9 months ... so if you do not have success with your baby until 8 or 9 months,maybe you have to blame the psychologists! And when playing on the floor, don't forget the other favourites of staking blocks, building big piece wooden jigsaws, and magic secret recipes mixed in plastic bowls with soft spoons.

A few more baby things	Babies love playing with rattles, any toys they can hold and if they make a noise that's even better! They also love sucking them, so remember to clean them regularly.

Inside stuff	Reading books to children is a fantastic way to have time with them, ...educational in lots of ways. As they get a little older; there's always "Play dough", colouring in books and stencil animals. Balloons come in all shapes, sizes and colours. They can provide hours of fun. We can teach them how to blow them up, (and have races) tie a knot in the top. (String is optional). Balloons can also be hit around the room to people or between chair legs ... "balloon golf". And then there is " balloons soccer, "balloon basketball" ... Oh yea, there are cards, card houses, tiddlywinks on timber floors ....

Outside stuff	"Hide and Seek" is fun, so is playing in a "Sandpit" making sand castles, cakes, etc. Playing with any sort of ball, outside, is great fun and it teaches us co-ordination and other skills. The secret is to learn to keep your eyes open ... watch the ball .... and use two hands to catch and draw in the ball. I personally regret that no one explained to me about catching a ball until I was many years old ... and click on the ABC and Karl below ... no answers, but an interesting read on CATCHING A BALL!

A last one for the road ...	My nephew and I would check out vacant car parks because they would make ideal handball courts ... just add a tennis ball. As a year or two went by, giving him a couple of points and playing slow to give him a chance ... CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. I then had to play hard ... and even then I didn't win very often! It's amazing what a bit of encouragement can do!


What is it .... How to find it ...	Short summary ...	Scoreboard
School, Church & Home Games	Free ebook .... lots of games ... download & play!	7/10

Other useful stuff ....

The problem with games is that we get bored
with the same games ...
so think about changing games
into your own family special games

And remember
the 4 main parts
that make for a great game ....

STAR

Senses		Sounds, taste, touching, seeing & smelling
+ Time		Making time & sharing time
+ Add stuff		Blankets, balloons, balls, string, playing cards
+ Rules		Change things to include all ages

= Creating good memories


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