I’m a big believer in letting kids invent and make up their own games. Not only does it foster creativity and encourage problem solving and thinking skills but it takes twice as long! They have to create the game before they play it. Instead of throwing away old business cards, let your kids play with them. Or buy a pack or two of index cards if you don’t have old business cards cluttering up a drawer.
The kids can make their own trading cards by drawing or pasting magazine pictures on them. They can make their own card game. If they like dogs they can have a match the breed game, or throw in a cat to make for a different version of Old Maid. For games like Crazy Eights or Go Fish you just need four matching pairs. The pairs can be anything they are interested in space, cartoon or movie characters, or even pictures of the family.
Artists are making one of kind artist trading cards now. They use small pieces of heavy paper and make original designs with paint, ink, or collage. They then trade their cards with other artists. Wouldn’t it be neat for kids to trade their art work with cousins, friends and grandparents? If the kids are hesitant to give their original pieces away, you can always make color copies.
For a homemade trivia game the kids can also get their books out, or search the internet for trivia questions. The question goes on one side and the answer goes on the back. They will enjoy stumping each other and you.
Younger kids just like to play with the cards. They like pictures of people they know, and of animals and characters from TV and books. It makes a nice, quiet game for waiting at the doctor or for an older sibling to finish up soccer practice.
So break out those business or index cards and see what your kids come up with.
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