What You Need:
- Deck of cards
- Pencil and paper for every player (to add up scores)
What You Do:
- Place a well shuffled deck of cards, face down, in the center of the playing area.
- Each player begins by drawing one card and placing it face up in front of themselves. Players write the value of this card down at the top of their papers. (Aces are worth 1, and face cards are all 10.)
- When all players are ready, everyone draws a second card. They add the value of these cards to their totals.
- Keep playing until one player reaches 100.
Variations:
- Play until the deck runs out. The player closest to 100, without going over, wins.
- Add jokers into the deck. If a player draws a joker, their score drops back to zero.
- Start with 100 points, and subtract your way to the finish.
- Need a challenge? Use multiplication to reach 1000. (This is a good adaptation for a fourth grader!)
What You Need:
- Large cardboard box
- Sidewalk chalk, markers, or dark crayons
- Scissors
- Beanbag
What You Do:
- Flatten the boxes. An adult may want to cut or trim the boxes to an appropriate size or shape to fit the indoor space being used.
- Have your child draw the hopscotch board using the chalk, markers, or crayons. Concentrate on the lines and shapes (squares). Ask him to name the shapes he makes to you. If you are using sidewalk chalk take extra caution when it comes to dust and mess. Also remember that the chalk may wipe off onto clothing or skin. If this is a concern try using large crayons instead.
- Ask your child to help draw numbers in the squares. If he is not ready to write numbers alone, try lightly drawing the numbers first and then encourage him to trace over them.
- You are now ready to play! Your child can throw the beanbag (starting at the number one) and hop his way through counting as he goes along.
What You Need:
- White drawing paper
- Crayons
- Watercolor paints
- Paint brushes
- Small container for water
What You Do:
- Get started by taping a piece of white paper onto a worktable, or the tray of a high chair.
- Give your child a selection of crayons to use, and encourage him to fill his paper with shapes of all different sizes and colors. This is a great opportunity to introduce him to some new shapes that he may be unfamiliar with, such as stars, moons, and ovals! Show him some examples on a separate piece of paper.
- Once his paper is filled with shapes, remove the crayons and place a small cup of water, a paintbrush, and watercolor paints within reach. Invite him to paint over the crayon shapes he drew with watercolor paints, and watch the crayon shapes pop through the paint.
- Next, encourage him to continue dipping his paint brush in water and a color of paint. This fine tunes his color recognition and hand-eye coordination!
- Urge him to to continue painting until his entire paper is covered with paint, without any white paper showing through. Your child’s finished pattern resist can be proudly displayed in a colorful frame for everyone to see!
