Even though older kids often adopt an aloof persona, they usually still enjoy games. There are a number of ways that you can encourage your older child to engage in cool games. By selecting a game that is different from the norm, you can increase the older child’s motivation to play. Whether planning an event for a party, or simply trying to fill an empty afternoon, you can certainly delight older kids by offering them an uncommon game to try with their friends.
Benefits
Playing games is about more than just passing some time. Children benefit in a number of ways from playing games. As Scholastic reports, games help children learn to solve problems. Games also teach kids the skills necessary to work cooperatively with others in future academic and business endeavors. By organizing games, you give your older kids the chance to reap all these benefits and have a good time with their peers.
Messy Fun
Older children often delight in creating messes. Engage your older kids in games that are designed to do just that. Organize an egg toss by partnering up players and lining the duos up in two lines, facing each other. Have the players throw raw eggs to their partners, making each player take one step back after each successful catch. As shells crack and yolks fly, tweens will squeal in delight. Or make the standard game of Twister decidedly messier by laying out the mat, then covering each circle with a condiment of the appropriate color, putting ketchup on the red, mustard on the yellow, blueberry pie filling on the blue and relish on the green. This slippery addition will make the game a sure-fire hit.
Life-Size Board Games
Add some spice to a standard board game by creating a life-size version. Because your kids are older, they can help you in this task. Select a board game of which your kids are fond, such as Clue. Encourage your older kids to turn their surroundings into a life-size board game, assigning rooms in their home to represent rooms in the game, or even laying out a grid with masking tape. Not only will kids enjoy this unusual gaming opportunity, they will also develop their intelligence as they create this complex game.
Building Challenges
Make game play both educational and challenging by planning a mental task for your older kids. Organize an egg drop, challenging players to craft a device that will bring an egg safely to the ground if it is dropped from a roof. Or, provide players with boxes of toothpicks. Ask them to use these unsteady sticks to create a bridge that successfully supports weight. Ask players to complete the task individually, or encourage cooperation by teaming them up to complete the task.
Allow for Inventiveness
Unlike their younger counterparts, older kids can create their own pastimes. Encourage your kids to do just that by creating a game supply box. Cover a copy paper box with contact paper, and label it “Game Supplies.” Fill the box with an assortment of tools that kids could use to create games, such as dice, playing cards, blindfolds and so forth. The next time your kids grunt and groan that they are bored, pull out the box and encourage them to use the contents in a creative new gaming endeavor.
Photo Credit
- games image by Patrizier-Design from Fotolia.com
