Family Fun: Make up your own games!
Parents often have the false idea that they cannot please their kids without spending money either by buying them elaborate gifts or taking them on expensive outings, but I’ve learned through experienced parenting (10 years now) that children cherish quality time spent with their parents. Kids are easier to please then we think.
There is no lack of imagination at our home so often times we’ll usually make up games at home. There are several games we’ve made up on a whim, but this is one I made up last night. Don’t laugh. Here’s a list of the materials. You’ll need:
You’ll use it in the same way as used for flag football, but if you don't have one then improvise just like you do with flag football.
Our desktop computer is in our living room so we used a “bomb timer.”
Someone’s bound to get hurt especially since this game involves dad.
You’ll need the edge so that someone can accidentally bang his or her head on it. Where's the fun if no one gets hurt?
The nurse role isn’t part of the role-playing. Moms make the best nurses.
The Object of the Game
Ok. Now for the object of the game. The idea is that the kids have to “save the day” by disarming/defusing the bomb attached to the villain (Dad). No. He's not a suicide bomber. The kids have to pull the flag football belt off thus disarming the bomb. The online timer has a ring at the end so they’ll know when the time is up. It gets dramatic! We set it to 30 seconds and one minute. Dad, you have to make it a bit difficult, but you have to let them pull it. There’s no point in making it impossible. Where’s the fun in that? The game seems silly, but it gets you spending time with the kids. The wrestling part is fun too. Nacho Libre!
So not surprisingly on the last go around we wondered towards the coffee table in our struggle and my son Cris took a fall banging his head on the edge of the coffee table. It was good to end on that note because whining and begging continues for a while if dad has to end the game. The injury on the other hand ends the game “since someone got hurt.” ☺
Sofia felt Cris needed frozen Franks instead of a wimpy ice pack.
So there you have it. Have fun, but bumps and bruises are inevitable. It’s part of growing up. The fun and memories of “playing with dad” outweighs the risk of bumps and bruises unless you end up in the ER. That's no fun.
There is no lack of imagination at our home so often times we’ll usually make up games at home. There are several games we’ve made up on a whim, but this is one I made up last night. Don’t laugh. Here’s a list of the materials. You’ll need:
Flag Football Belt:
You’ll use it in the same way as used for flag football, but if you don't have one then improvise just like you do with flag football.A Timer
Our desktop computer is in our living room so we used a “bomb timer.”An Ice Pack
Someone’s bound to get hurt especially since this game involves dad.A Coffee Table (optional)
You’ll need the edge so that someone can accidentally bang his or her head on it. Where's the fun if no one gets hurt?A Nurse
The nurse role isn’t part of the role-playing. Moms make the best nurses.The Object of the Game
Ok. Now for the object of the game. The idea is that the kids have to “save the day” by disarming/defusing the bomb attached to the villain (Dad). No. He's not a suicide bomber. The kids have to pull the flag football belt off thus disarming the bomb. The online timer has a ring at the end so they’ll know when the time is up. It gets dramatic! We set it to 30 seconds and one minute. Dad, you have to make it a bit difficult, but you have to let them pull it. There’s no point in making it impossible. Where’s the fun in that? The game seems silly, but it gets you spending time with the kids. The wrestling part is fun too. Nacho Libre!
So not surprisingly on the last go around we wondered towards the coffee table in our struggle and my son Cris took a fall banging his head on the edge of the coffee table. It was good to end on that note because whining and begging continues for a while if dad has to end the game. The injury on the other hand ends the game “since someone got hurt.” ☺
Sofia felt Cris needed frozen Franks instead of a wimpy ice pack.So there you have it. Have fun, but bumps and bruises are inevitable. It’s part of growing up. The fun and memories of “playing with dad” outweighs the risk of bumps and bruises unless you end up in the ER. That's no fun.
Comments