You're Such a Good Dog, I Mean Kid

You know what I love to hear?  One of my kids screaming, "You cheated!"  Sure, the child may be gearing up for a bit of fisticuffs, but for the time leading up to that scream, the kids were having a lovely bit of bonding time over a game.

My children love to play games.  All kinds of games.  We introduced games to them when they were very, very small, and have encouraged them to play their entire lives.   I'm not going to go into the benefits of games, as I'm sure that all of my friends reading this are well aware.

I am going to give you a tip for playing a game with your toddlers/preschoolers.  Games with this age can get quite tedious, seeing as how the games are pretty simple and the children like to play them a thousand times in a row. 

I have a new way to play matching games.  It is best played on rainy or really cold days that the kids can't play outside.  Or on days in which you have been working your tail of to clean the house.  I only wish I would have been smart enough to think of this when the big kids were little.  Turken and Cuckoo love playing it.  Almost as much as me.

First, divide the matching cards into two piles, then scatter one of the piles around the house. 

Multiple rooms works best.

The other pile stays next to you on the couch or some other comfortable spot.

See where I'm going with this?

The child picks a card from the pile, at which time, if you want to be educational and all, you can have a small chat about the card and what will match it.

The child then runs off to find the matching card.

He will then, hopefully, return with the match.

If not, discuss and send him back to try again.

You will collect the cards and neatly place them in the game box on your lap.

OK, sure, it's a bit like a game of fetch with a dog.  Gotta say, though, this is easier.  Your arm never gets tired from throwing the ball. 

You.  Are.  Welcome.  Both for the game idea and the photos of my cluttered house.  Probably should get off the computer and do something about that.

Have a lovely day!