Author Archives: Robert Coats

Hound and Rabbit

This is an exciting chase game with just a few simple rules. You can get by playing the game with as few as five, but it gets really fun with 8 or more players. This game doesn’t take a lot of space, but you may want to move any breakable objects from the immediate vicinity. Number of players 5-60 Space: a really large living room for a small group, or a good-sized back yard Materials needed: rambunctious players The play begins with at least one group of three players standing in a circle with their arms interlocking. These three players … Continue reading →

Greetings to the Families.Com Community

My name is Rob Coats, and I’m very excited to join the Families.Com community. It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of the internet’s best resource for family information. I’m even more honored to be launching this new blog with my partners Shauna and Laura. With our combined expertise, we’ll be providing you with hundreds of great family fun ideas. I thought I’d share with the community a little information about myself that will help explain my special interest and passion for family fun. I grew up all over the world as an “army brat.” I was born … Continue reading →

The All-Up Relay

Players: 6 to 60 Location: playground, gym, back yard, big basement Materials: Some kind of object that falls over easily, a bowling pin would be ideal. Two hula-hoops, or sidewalk chalk Ages 4+ Teaser: This is a great relay game to play with a lot of people. It would be ideal at a multi-family function so that families can compete as teams. Other team possibilities are boys vs. girls etc. To start the game the players line up in a single formation behind a starting line. In front of each time, at the opposite end of the running space (which … Continue reading →

Animal Blind Man’s Buff

This is a great game for children or adults, or ideally, both together. In any case, it’s next best thing to spending an afternoon at the zoo, or in the jungle. The name might not be politically correct anymore, but it can certainly be modified. Number of players: 5-20 players Space: A large parlor or open basement, a gym, a playground or backyard Materials: a blindfold and a cane, or something remotely resembling a cane Ages: Old enough to make animal sounds + To start the game one player is blindfolded and stands in the center of a circle with … Continue reading →

The Benefits of Games for Children and Adults

The use of games for children and adults alike are a great way to improve a great number of mental and physical skills, and often bring with them a lot of significant benefits. Games have a far greater educational influence than most people are aware of. Many children with developmental disabilities, who don’t normally seem to react to their environments are often completely transformed when playing games. Games have a great impact on sensory perception at a number of different levels. For example: A baseball player learns to process very quickly that the ball is coming toward him, or that … Continue reading →

Picking the Right Game for your Pre-Schooler

How do parents decide whether a game is appropriate for their child? If you’re buying a board game, the answer is written on the box somewhere, but when you’re using your imagination to make games, here are a few things to keep in mind about children’s developmental stages and the selection of games. A child’s natural interests lead her to a preference for different types of games at different phases of her development. Kids have an instinctive ability to gravitate toward age appropriate play. If they’re ready… they’ll play. Here are some characteristics to look for when selecting an activity … Continue reading →

Picking the Perfect Party Game

Are you planning a get-together and want all your guests, not just an adventurous few to have a good time? Whether you’re planning a kid’s party, or fun evening for adults, there are a few basic steps to take in the planning process that can have a big impact on the health of a party. First, consider the audience. Is it mothers and fathers getting a long deserved break from the kids? Is it newly married twenty-something’s, or mom and dad and the kids and their visiting cousins from points unknown? The mix at a party can be as random … Continue reading →

Fun at the Mall

Malls are a great place to get out of the house during the long winter months, but trips to the mall often end up costing a lot of money. Here are some ideas for fun at the mall that DON’T involve money. Malls are almost always fun places for kids, but they’re often stressful for parents because the kids are constantly asking, “Can I get this? Will you buy me that?” The mall is a cornucopia of marketing savvy, but a well planned trip to the mall can make your kids better consumers, but also to have some fun at … Continue reading →