It is hard for toddlers or young children to focus on an activity for long periods. This factor must be used in deciding on the games to play with them. There are a number of solid reasons to be playing games with children. The most popular one is that it tends to keep them quiet and in one place.
Organizing children’s games is a must-have at parties, but even otherwise, it is good to play a few games in your spare time to improve children’s social skills. Laid out below are ten of the most exciting games for young children.
1. Band Party
Props: Unbreakable metallic containers, small buckets, or empty ice cream tubs.
The containers are placed face down, and the children make noise on them. With a bit of practice, they can sound like a seasoned orchestra.
But the children would enjoy themselves by making the most raucous noises on the empty vessels. Certainly, a favorite with most parents with young children. This could be the start of a musical journey.
2. Card Memory Game
Props: Decks of playing cards
As the name of the game suggests, this card game aims at testing the memory of young kids. The cards are laid out on the table or any flat surface—time is given to the kids to memorize the position of each card.
After that, the cards are turned upside down, and players are asked to pick out pairs of cards from the group. Each paired set of cards would mean a point to the player, and the set of cards is removed from the lot. This is played till all the cards are snapped up.
3. UNO Cards
Props: A set of Uno cards
How to play UNO cards can be had from the UNO tutorial. These cards are children-friendly, and it takes little effort to master the game—a must-have activity for most children.
4. Treasure Hunt
Props: home-made or store-bought prizes, slips of paper
The idea is to hunt for treasure by following the hints or tips left around the venue on slips of paper. The good thing about this activity is that it can be made challenging or easy depending on the age of the children playing it.
5. Juggling
Props: Some plastic or tennis balls.
The idea is to impart some coordination skills to the children. Most of the time, children get to learn juggling skills with good practice. It is thus a good set of activities to keep kids engrossed.
6. Dance Contest
Props: Music player
With children who are natural dancers, this is an excellent activity to bring out hidden talent. There need not be a dress code, and it is best to play some good beats on the music player.
7. Balance Beam
Props: Roll of colored sticky tape, blankets.
A line is drawn using the colored sticky tape on the floor. This would be the balance beam. The blankets are placed on either side of the tape to cushion kids that fall while attempting the balance beam.
8. Hopscotch
Props: Rolls of sticky tape, bits of cardboard
The matrix for the hopscotch is laid out with sticky tape on the floor. The pieces of cardboard mark out where to land on the grid. Hopscotch is an activity that has been in place from time immemorial and has always had a strong fan following.
9. Balloon Tennis
Props: Balloons, chalk
The balloons are blown to their full size, and a makeshift court is laid out by chalk marking. The idea is to strike the balloon into the other half without letting it hit the floor. A simple game that has always elicited a fair bit of attention.
10. Three-legged Race
Props: Bits of circular cloth.
The kids are paired with one another. Each pair is tied to one another at the ankles of one of their legs with a circular cloth. Then the aim is to race to the other side of the room. A timeless activity that brings in a lot of laughs.
Conclusion
The idea of children’s fun games is to introduce children to physically demanding games, which are also attractive to the onlookers. Few people would agree that the above selection interests the children as much as the adults who organize the games.
