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Fun and easy games to try with the kids during lockdown

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Fun and simple games you could try with the kids.
Fun and simple games you could try with the kids.

Lockdown has proven to be a double-edged situation, the break from the daily grind is awesome but with so much free time, boredom is bound to set in.

If it hasn't already! 

These days it's the norm to find kids as young as 2 spending hours on a tablet or smartphone, and getting them away from these gadgets (and focused on playing) becomes challenging when you have no idea about what to do to keep them occupied.

Playing is a fundamental part of development, and one of the best ways to really get to know your little one.  

Here are 7 fun and simple games you could try with them this summer:

1. Marshmallow pretzel fun 

Not only are they great as a snack, marshmallows and pretzels also make the perfect building blocks. And there's no limit on what to create.

Simply break pretzels (the stick kind) into shorter pieces and join them to marshmallows to make a 3-D building, boat, car or train.

Take a look at the video below to see how it's done. 

2. The listening game

A parent's dream game! Way more fun than it sounds, this game encourages kids to focus while (sneakily) forcing them to flex those listening muscles.

Here's how to play: 

  • Gather a few noise-making items like pots, toys, spoons, plastic bottles, tins, balls etc. 
  • Place items on a table and have your child make a note of each item. 
  • Remove the items and have them look away while you choose an item to sound off with. 
  • A correct guess scores 1 point. 

3. Musical cushions

As the name suggests, it's the cushion version of musical chairs and makes for a terrific way for the kids to burn off pent-up energy. Spread cushions around your living room and crank up a song.

Make sure the room is cleared to avoid bumps and bruises. 

4. Balloon tag

Put a whole new spin on tag by tying a balloon to the ankles of each player. To pop another player's balloons you have to use your feet and the winner is the last player with both balloons still intact. 

5. Make your own set of bowling pins  

A great way to use all those plastic water bottles lying around. Gather up 6 plastic containers and line them up, you could use masking tape to create an alley in your living room. 

Any ball will do as a bowling ball substitute, and you're ready to play!

6. Popcorn relay race 

Another twist on a classic game. This very messy but very fun version of relay requires two bowls of popcorn, two teams and a few plastic cups. 

How to play:

  • Set one bowl filled with popcorn and one empty bowl on opposite sides of your yard.
  • Each player fills their cup with popcorn, runs across to the empty bowl to unload where another team member waits to be tagged in. 
  • First team to fill the empty bowl wins. 

For obvious reasons the game is best suited for an outdoors setting. 

7. Stick Dominoes Game

One part DIY, one part outdoor exploration, the stick dominoes game will really inspire imaginative thinking.

Here's how: 

  • Take the kids outside and have them gather up as many sticks of varying sizes as they can find.
  • Using a non-toxic paint colour the tips of each stick, completely covering a few of them to use as the double dominoe.
  • Leave to dry overnight.
  • When dry, divide the sticks among players and match sticks according to colour.
  • The aim is to place the sticks in different directions, which creates interesting shapes and patterns.

Got any fun games you've created with your kids that you'd like to share? 

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