Administration
19-08-2008, 05:42 PM
Thanks to valleymama;
A couple of recent threads have had me thinking about what we do when the kids are bouncing off the walls. How can we direct that full-on energy and make sure it is expended in a way that keeps everyone happy?
Let's share our ideas here!
Here's what we did today:
The boys call it "Ghostie Whacking" - well, it was originally a boys game, but Z would not be left out! It was born out of the boys' need to fight each other with swords, which usually ends up with someone getting hurt. What you do is get a ball or something else roundish - but not too heavy. You wrap an old sheet or rag over it and tie a rope around it so it becomes like a head with the sheet hanging down like a dress. Then you hang it up by the rope in a tree or something else high. Then you let the kids go for it with their swords, sticks or whatever. My kids really got into it and lots of imaginative language came out while they were "whacking". They also played dodge with the ghosties, and used them as swings too. And they were completely pooped afterwards....
Thanks to Beatrice;
We have a really thick foam mattress that's good for bouncing on, plus a jogging trampoline. Pillow fights are eternally popular, as are boffer (foam) sword fights. Obstacle courses...um...running around with the dog... What else do they do?
Oh - something which is really excellent for cold days when waterplay outside isn't going to happen: I clear off the bathroom floor, put a couple of rolled up towels across the doorway so the carpet doesn't get wet, stick the big two in a bath and let them splash as much as they want. Then we clean up the water with a big pile of dirty towels, and the mop.
Thanks to gumtree;
DH and the kids play circus every arvo. They climb all over him, balance on him, he lifts them up, on shoulders etc. and they love it, "look I am a circus". not really one for tired mummas though.
Thanks to valleymama;
Hey Gumtree, are you referring to your 4yo? Here's a good one for throwin' stuff. Get an empty washing basket and a pile of stuffed toys and let him see how many he can get into the basket!
Another thing boys at this age love is running everywhere. A fun incentive is to use counting: "I think you could make it to the back fence before I count to 10," and off they go! I'd assign different places and different times and always count just so they made it in the right time, and they'd be SO pleased with themselves! http://joyouslearning.info/blahdocs/Smilies/wink.png After a while, they'd start estimating their own times - "Count me to 6, and I'll go around that tree and back!"
A couple of recent threads have had me thinking about what we do when the kids are bouncing off the walls. How can we direct that full-on energy and make sure it is expended in a way that keeps everyone happy?
Let's share our ideas here!
Here's what we did today:
The boys call it "Ghostie Whacking" - well, it was originally a boys game, but Z would not be left out! It was born out of the boys' need to fight each other with swords, which usually ends up with someone getting hurt. What you do is get a ball or something else roundish - but not too heavy. You wrap an old sheet or rag over it and tie a rope around it so it becomes like a head with the sheet hanging down like a dress. Then you hang it up by the rope in a tree or something else high. Then you let the kids go for it with their swords, sticks or whatever. My kids really got into it and lots of imaginative language came out while they were "whacking". They also played dodge with the ghosties, and used them as swings too. And they were completely pooped afterwards....
Thanks to Beatrice;
We have a really thick foam mattress that's good for bouncing on, plus a jogging trampoline. Pillow fights are eternally popular, as are boffer (foam) sword fights. Obstacle courses...um...running around with the dog... What else do they do?
Oh - something which is really excellent for cold days when waterplay outside isn't going to happen: I clear off the bathroom floor, put a couple of rolled up towels across the doorway so the carpet doesn't get wet, stick the big two in a bath and let them splash as much as they want. Then we clean up the water with a big pile of dirty towels, and the mop.
Thanks to gumtree;
DH and the kids play circus every arvo. They climb all over him, balance on him, he lifts them up, on shoulders etc. and they love it, "look I am a circus". not really one for tired mummas though.
Thanks to valleymama;
Hey Gumtree, are you referring to your 4yo? Here's a good one for throwin' stuff. Get an empty washing basket and a pile of stuffed toys and let him see how many he can get into the basket!
Another thing boys at this age love is running everywhere. A fun incentive is to use counting: "I think you could make it to the back fence before I count to 10," and off they go! I'd assign different places and different times and always count just so they made it in the right time, and they'd be SO pleased with themselves! http://joyouslearning.info/blahdocs/Smilies/wink.png After a while, they'd start estimating their own times - "Count me to 6, and I'll go around that tree and back!"