Summer fun doesn’t mean the skills need to stall. Build important skills that will last all year long through these fun games.
Vacation is around the corner, calling on all of us to catch our breath, refresh, and refuel for the year ahead. School’s over but learning is not. Instead of having our kids feel forced to learn trapped at their desks, here is a list of skill-building games worth packing along.
This fits my passion of making learning fun, best captured with this motto:
“Learning is child’s play.”
Learning to play as you play to learn is a fun, great option for rainy days, or for Mommy and Me time.
First, three quick pointers.
1. Briefly read the instructions and look through the game board, playing pieces and cards before you sit down with your child.
Knowing the basics, you’ll have the answers to basic questions and be able to lead the set-up, allowing your child to ‘figure it out’ and ‘set things up’ as you lead the way, building planning and organization abilities.
2. Skills are built over time.
Focus on the process and the fun, learning experience, not the outcome or results.
3. Stick with one or two games at a time,
until your child is past learning the game. This is evident when the rules are learned, the instructions don’t need to be checked during game play and questions are replaced with laughter.
These are some unique games with creative twists. Select which one describes a missing skill, or one that needs practice. Build the skill through play and fun!
This list is not exhaustive. I simply couldn’t go through my entire closet. Any skill you’d love to work on but don’t know which game to get? Or do you have a favorite game to share? Ask or share in comments below.
I find that whatever they do with Mommy is exciting so even giving them multiplication problems with chalk is fun or kriah using a microphone they made…
Thanks for the inspiration, ordered two things for my toddler to play with me through those long shabbas afternoons. Let’s see if it’ll do the trick. And can I get the link for the clack toddler version?
There is no Clack toddler version. Yet, Clack on its own is fun when the toddler simply clacks and stacks all magnetic discs. Slowly point out the differences and use one feature only, such as red discs, and your toddler will play to learn and have fun too!
Here is to wishing easier and enjoyable Shabbos afternoons!
My experience with where’s Waldo is that it isn’t always so appropriate. would recommend parents preview before giving to kids.
True. Some editions are basically clean, most need censoring; the older versions were better. Cheaper imitations worked well too. Thanks for raising such an important point.
There’s Vhere’s Velvel by Bracha Goetz.
What toy is illustrated in the picture? Looks interesting