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Get Down (On The Floor!)
And Play With
Your Children
When was the last time you and your kids
rolled around on the floor together laughing yourselves silly? If
you're like me, it may have been a whil
Sometimes I get caught up in household
chores, give errands a priority or answer the phone when I know I should
let it ring instead of making time for my two daughters. It's not
that I don't play with them; just the opposite is true. It simply seems as
if I'm trying to fit them into my daily schedule when in fact I should be
scheduling my day around them. I used to be a planner. I would try
to organize activities that I thought my girls would learn something from.
I'm now much more free and spontaneous with them and I've discovered that
at their respective ages of
four and 20 months that this is the type of play they prefer.
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Here are some suggestions on how you can be
more spontaneous with your children:
- Play "Chase Around The House"
- Kids love to be chased, especially if you're making a roaring
or growling noise while you're doing it. You'd be surprised how
fast their little legs can carry them. This exercise is sure get
you're heart rate up and tone your glutes as well!
- Have a Pillow Fight - Make sure the
pillows are small and not too heavy. Throw cushions work best
for this activity. Lay a few ground rules, such as not hitting
in the face or on the head and when somebody yells: "stop",
then stop.
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- How Many Times Can Each of You Hop on
One Foot - Again, a great cardiovascular activity for you and the
kids. Alternate feet and vary the directions you're hopping in.
This is good for your children's coordination and learning left and
right, forwards and backwards.
- Pretend You're Animals- Play a guessing
game of what animal Sally is by the sounds she makes and the way she
moves. Children love to imitate animals and can imitate various
animals from a young age.
- Tickle Each Other - When you've run out
of ideas, then a good old-fashioned tickle fight is the answer.
Again, don't tickle too hard and when someone (possibly you!) yells
stop, then the tickler must stop. At our house, this game always
ends with kisses!
These activities take little time to play
and benefit you and your children greatly. They are highly
interactive, involve a lot of laughter and take no preparation. They
also let your children know that you enjoy being with them and that they
make great playmates.
About the Author
Heidi Hoff
Editor, Preschool Planet Subscribe and get "100 Things to Make From a Cardboard Box"
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