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Connecting Games to Play with School-age Children

9/28/2020

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Relationships between adults and children are incredibly important for children's development throughout childhood.  Close relationships help to build children's brains, setting the foundation for their lifelong learning, behavior and health.

Relationships are built over time, through responsive interactions between adult and child.  Every minute we spend building our relationships with children is time well-spent, whether it is in families or at school.

One way to build these important relationships is by playing "connecting games." 
 To play a connecting game, just include these 3 things:
  • Emotional warmth - your nurturing, compassionate presence
  • Close contact - eye contact and gentle touch
  • Playfulness - expressing joy and fun in being together
(adapted from Bailey, B.A.  2000.  I love you rituals.  New York:  HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.)
Here are a few of my favorite connecting games to play with school-age children.
​I hope you enjoy some of them!
Back Writing
Trace a word or phrase on a child's back and have them guess what you "wrote". 
​Use affirmations, encouragement and positive messages.
Balloon Keep Up  (Torbert, M. & Schneider, L.B.  (1993) Follow me too: A handbook of movement activities for three- to five-year-olds.  Washington, DC:  NAEYC.  pp. 51-53)
Have lots of balloons, and children work together to keep the balloons from touching the floor.
Picture
Special Handshake
Create a special handshake with each of your children, and use it every day to greet them.
Car and Driver  (Torbert, M. & Schneider, L.B.  (1993) Follow me too: A handbook of movement activities for three- to five-year-olds.  Washington, DC:  NAEYC.  p. 71)
Stand behind a child with your hands on her shoulders. 
Direct the child to stop and start using only your hands. 
The child can take a turn “driving” with her hands on your waist.
​Hand Clapping Games
​
Partner with a child and make up a clapping pattern as you sing the songs.
A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea   (http://funclapping.com/)
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he could see, see, see.
But all that he could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea.
​(On the last 3 words of each line, make a saluting motion.)

​
Repeat with chop, chop, chop (chopping motion on arm)
Knee, knee, knee (pat knees)
Then sea, chop, knee (Use all 3 motions)

Picture
In a Cabin in the Woods   (traditional Boy Scout camp song)
In a cabin in the woods                          (draw a square in the air with your fingers)
A little man by the window stood        (make circles, like binoculars, with your hands and put up to your eyes)
Saw a rabbit hopping by                        (two fingers walking in front of you in the air)
Knocking at his door                              (do a knocking motion with one hand)
“Help me! Help me! Help!” he cried     (fling your hands in the air three times)
"Before the hunter finds me!"               (put hand over forehead as if shielding the sun while looking back and forth)
Little rabbit come inside                        (motion inviting someone to come to you)
Safely you may hide                                (rock your arms like you’re rocking a baby)
 
Keep repeating the song, doing the hand motions but humming instead of singing a line. So the second time you sing the song, you don’t say “In a cabin by the woods”, you just hum it and make the hand gesture. The third time, you leave out both 1st and 2nd lines (humming only) do just the hand gesture, sing the rest. You keep going until there are no words, just humming and gestures.  You can also speed up the tempo.
Plainsies, Clapsies  (Henry Goyette)
Say one line as you toss the bean bag to a child.   The child repeats it as he tosses it back to you. 
Plainsies,                                (Just throw)
Clapsies,                 (clap after throw)
Roll the ball,                            (roll hands as if wheels after throw)
Dilapsies.                (touch shoulders after throw)
Highsies,                 (toss bean bag high)
Lowsies,                  (toss bean bag low)
One hand,                               (toss bean bag one-handed)
The other hand.      (use the other hand)
Touch my knee,                      (touch knee after throw)
Touch my toe ,        (touch toe after throw)
Touch my heel,                       (touch heel after throw)
And under we go!    (toss bean bag from under leg)

“Pom-Pom Push”
  • Sit across a table from your partner.  Spread out your arms on the table to make the boundaries for the game.
  • Have your partner blow through a straw to push the pom-pom to you. 
  • Then trade role, using your own straw.
  • Take turns again and again.
(Adapted from Bailey, B. A. (2000).  I love you rituals.  New York:  HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. pp. 199-200) 
Try some of these connecting games, or use your own favorite connecting activities with your school-agers.  You will be helping your children - and yourself - thrive!  Have fun!
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Connecting Games to Play with Infants & Toddlers

9/10/2020

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Relationships between adults and children are incredibly important for children's development, especially in early childhood.  Close relationships help to build children's brains, setting the foundation for their lifelong learning, behavior and health.

Relationships are built over time, through "serve and return" interactions between adult and child.  Every minute we spend building our relationships with children is time well-spent, whether it is in families or at school.

One way to build these important relationships is by playing "connecting games." 
​
 To play a connecting game, just include these 3 things:
  • Emotional warmth - your nurturing, compassionate presence
  • Close contact - eye contact and gentle touch
  • Playfulness - expressing joy and fun in being together
(adapted from Bailey, B.A.  2000.  I love you rituals.  New York:  HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.)
Here are some of my favorite connecting games to play with infants and toddlers.
​I hope you enjoy some of them!

Bounces
(www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/wigglesticklesall.pdf)

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Bumpy Road
Smooth Road, Smooth Road.                                           (move child in circular motion)
Bumpy Road, Bumpy Road.                                              (bounce your child on your lap)
Rough Road, Rough Road.                                                (bounce higher and faster)
Hole.                                                                                     (dip child between your legs)
  
Did You Ever See a Baby
Did you ever see a baby,                                                   (have your child sitting on your lap)
A baby, a baby?
Did you ever see a baby,
Go this way and that?                                                       (rock from side to side)
Go this way and that way,                                                (forward and back)
And that way and this way.                                              (side to side)
Did you ever see a baby,
Go this way and that?                                                       (forward and back)
 
Giddy Up Horsey
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up horsey.                          (bounce child on knees)
Giddy-up, giddy-up, go, go, go
Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up horsey.
Giddy-up, giddy-up, Whoa!                                             (let child slip through knees)

I Bounce You Here
I bounce you here, I bounce you there,                         (bounce child on knees)
I bounce you, bounce you, everywhere.
I tickle you here, I tickle you there,                                (gently tickle child)
I tickle you, tickle you, everywhere.
I hug you here, I hug you there,                                      (hug child)
I hug you, hug you, everywhere!
 
Let’s Go Riding in an Elevator
Let’s go riding in an elevator.                                          (hold child in front of you on lap)
Let’s go riding in an elevator.
First floor,                                                                           (at “first floor” start to lift child up
Second floor,                                                                      rising up a little at each floor)
Third floor,
Fourth floor,
Fifth floor,                                                                           (by “fifth floor” child should be high)
Doooowwwwwnn!                                                           (bring child quickly back to lap)

Shoe the Little Horse
Shoe the little horse,                                                         (pat child’s left foot)
Shoe the little mare,                                                         (pat child’s right foot)
But let the little colt                                                          (bicycle child’s feet around and around)
Run free everywhere.

Fingerplays & Lovies
​(www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/wigglesticklesall.pdf)

Picture
Elephant Song
One elephant went out to play,                                        (hold up one finger)
Over the hills and far away.                                              (wave finger like it is going over the hills)
She had such enormous fun,                                           (on “enormous” circle arms out and around)
That she called for another elephant to come.            (cup hands over mouth)
“Oh Elephant!”…                                                                  (call out and then pound the floor for the running                                                                                                      elephant sound)
 (Repeat with as many elephants (fingers) as you want)

Little Flea
Creeping, creeping, little flea,                                          (creep fingers up child’s body and down again)
Up my leg and past my knee.
To my tummy, on he goes,
Past my chin and to my nose.
Now he’s creeping down my chin,
To my tummy once again.
Down my leg and past my knee,
To my toe that little flea.
​GOTCHA!                                                                             (gently tickle baby’s tummy and switch to other foot)

One, Two, Three
One, two, three,                                                                   (tap on baby’s knee)
Tickle your knee.                                                                (gently tickle baby’s knee)
Four, five, six,                                                                      (tap on baby’s tummy)
Pick up sticks.                                                                     (gently tickle baby’s tummy)
Seven, eight, nine,                                                              (tap on baby’s chin)
You’re all mine!                                                                   (hug baby)

Round and Round the Garden 
Round and round the garden,                                          (make a circle in child’s palm)
Goes the teddy bear.
One step, two steps,                                                           (fingers walk up child’s arm)
Tickle you under there.                                                     (gently tickle child under arm)
Round and round the haystack,                                       (make a circle in child’s other hand)
Goes the little mouse.
One step, two steps,                                                           (fingers walk up child’s arm)
Into his little house.                                                           (gently tickle child under arm)\

Two Little Eyes
Two little eyes to look around.                                         (point to child’s features as mentioned)
Two little ears to hear each sound.
One little nose to smell what’s sweet.
One little mouth that likes to eat.


Movement Games ​
(adapted from: www.babycentre.co.uk/a554804/games-to-play-with-your-baby-under-12-months)

 Young children love to move!  Older infants roll, scoot and crawl; toddlers walk, run, jump and climb. Make up some connecting games to play with them while they are on the go.  Here are a couple of examples:
Catch Me if You Can!
Toddlers love to be chased.
The object: catch the child with a big bear hug and tickles
You can pretend to be different types of animals.

​
Come and Get me!
If your infant can crawl, spread some cushions and pillows on the floor. Stay at ground level and peep out from behind them, encouraging her to crawl over them. 
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Try some of these connecting games, or use your own favorite connecting activities with your infants and toddlers.  You will be helping your children - and yourself - thrive!  Have fun!
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Connecting Games to Play with Preschoolers

9/2/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Relationships between adults and children are incredibly important for children's development, especially in early childhood.  Close relationships help to build children's brains, setting the foundation for their lifelong learning, behavior and health.

​Relationships are built over time, through "serve and return" interactions between adult and child.  
Every minute we spend building our relationships with children is time well-spent, whether it is in families or at school.
​
One way to build these important relationships is by playing "connecting games." ​
To play a connecting game, just include these 3 things:
  • Emotional warmth - your nurturing, compassionate presence
  • Close contact - eye contact and gentle touch
  • Playfulness - expressing joy and fun in being together​
Here a a few of my favorite connecting games to play with preschool children.
I hope you enjoy some of them!


Balloon Keep Up  (Torbert, M. & Schneider, L.B.  (1993) Follow me too: A handbook of movement activities for three- to five-year-olds.  Washington, DC:  NAEYC.  pp. 51-53)
Have lots of balloons, and children work together to keep the balloons from touching the floor.

"Buddy Bob"
Make a simple puppet from a tennis ball by drawing a mouth and eyes with a permanent marker.  Cut the mouth so it opens when you squeeze the cheeks.  Have a conversation with the child while talking for Bob.
Picture
Calvin Ball
Play a game of catch, using a bean bag or ball.  Let the child make up rules for how to toss the ball.
Car and Driver   (Torbert, M. & Schneider, L.B.  (1993) Follow me too: A handbook of movement activities for three- to five-year-olds.  Washington, DC:  NAEYC.p. 71)
Stand behind a child with your hands on her shoulders. 
Direct the child to stop and start using only your hands. 
The child can take a turn “driving” with her hands on your waist.

Picture
​​Jack-in-the-Box
Jack-in-the-Box,
​Jack-in-the-Box
Sit so still
Will --- pop up?
Of course she will!
This connecting game started as a transition activity after circle time.  It was appealing to me as a teacher for several reasons: 
  • The children got really quiet in their "boxes" so I had their attention 
  • The transition was orderly because children moved a few at a time
  • I could add other learning goals to the game - For example, "Will the children wearing red pop up?"
I knew the activity also appealed to the children, because they requested it every day.  I began adding close contact and playfulness to add a connection component to the game.
Mirror, Mirror!
Take turns with a child copying each other’s moves and facial expressions.
Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle  (For this story you need two thumbs.)
This is Mr. Wiggle.  He lives in a house. This is Mr. Waggle.  He lives in a house, too.  So open the doors (POP!), put them inside (POP!) and close the doors.
One day Mr. Wiggle decided to go visit Mr. Waggle.  So he opened the door (POP!), and came outside (POP!) and he went up the hill and down the hill and up the hill and down the hill and up the hill and down the hill until he came to Mr. Waggle’s house.
He knocked on the door, “knock! knock! knock!”  and called our softly, “Mr. Waggle!” but there was no answer so he knocked louder “knock! knock! knock!”  and called out loudly, “Mr. Waggle!” but there was still no answer.
So he went back up the hill and down the hill and up the hill and down the hill up the hill and down the hill until he was back at his own house. He opened the door (POP!) and went inside (POP!) and closed the door (POP!). 
Repeat with Mr. Waggle visiting Mr. Wiggle the next day. 
The next day, have them both leave at the same time.  They meet and greet at the top of the second hill then go to sleep when they get home.
(Source unknown)
​“Pom-Pom Push”   (adapted from Bailey, B.A.  2000.  I love you rituals.  New York:  HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.)
  • Sit across a table from your partner.  Spread out your arms on the table to make the boundaries for the game.
  • Have your partner blow through a straw to push the pom-pom to you. 
  • Then trade role, using your own straw.
  • Take turns again and again.
Picture
You need 2 straws and 1 pom-pom for this game.
​Rhyme Time
Take turns saying short sentences that end in rhyming words, pausing to let the child say the word.
Special Handshake
Create a special handshake with each of your children, and use it every day to greet them.
Welcome Back Ritual
You’ve been gone and you’ve been missed.
Where would you like your butterfly kiss?
(adapted from www.consciousdiscipline.com)
Try some of these connecting games, or use your own favorite connecting activities with your preschoolers.  You will be helping your children - and yourself - thrive!  Have fun!
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    Author

    I'm Diane Goyette, a Child Development Specialist, Trainer, Consultant and Keynote Speaker.  I'm excited to introduce my blog! 
    ​Whether you are a child care provider or administrator, a teacher, a parent, or a helping professional who supports young children and families, I hope you get some helpful tips to make your job easier and more enjoyable! 

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