Fun easy games for parents and teachers to play with kids of all ages

Play is increasingly recognized by neuroscientists and educators as a vital component in brain development, academic success and learning social skills. In this inspiring and useful resource, Barbara Sher provides step-by-step directions for how to use children's natural interests at different stages of their development to help them develop a wealth of sensory motor and social skills. All the games have also been designed to provide plenty of joyful opportunities for encouraging inclusion.

Offers strategies for helping all kids, but especially those with special needs, to develop social, motor and sensory skills
Filled with simple games using common materials that can be used by teachers, parents, and caregivers with both individual kids and groups
Provides explanations and examples of how the games can aid in a child's development

This resource offers parents and teachers a fun and easy way to include all children in activities that will engage all of their senses and promote important skills.

Barbara Sher, M.A., O.T.R., has over 40 years of experience as a teacher and occupational therapist, specializing in pediatrics. She conducts workshops for parents, teachers, therapists, and children around the world and is the author of seven books, including Early Intervention Games: Fun, Joyful Ways to Develop Social and Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders and Self-esteem Games: 300 Fun Activities That Make Children Feel Good about Themselves.

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1. Spontaneous Games for All Ages
Playful Learning Games That Can Happen Spontaneously and Often Need Nothing More Than a Smile

Waiting Games for Airports, Restaurants and Doctors’ Offices

Game 1: Guess the Winning Number

Game 2: Toothpick Art

Game 3: Penny Flick

Game 4: Which Cup Is It Under?

Game 5: Whose Hand Is on Top?

Game 6: Feely Games

Game 7: Making a Wiggly Worm

Game 8: Art for Two

Game 9: Secret Writing

Game 10: Can You Do What I Do? Can You Say What I Say?

Walking Outside Games

Game 1: Whose Head Is in the Clouds?

Game 2: How Many Ways to Walk?

Game 3: Stop and Go

Game 4: Glued Together

Game 5: Guess the Number of Steps

Games Just for Little Ones (Ages 2-7)

Game 1: A, You’re Adorable

Game 2: I Love You Because

Game 3: Secretary to the Writer

Game 4: Guess How Old

Game 5: Making Faces

Game 6: Pony Boy

Game 7: Having a Disney Day

Game 8: Knocking Game

Game 9: Playing with Pebbles

Game 10: How Many Hand Lengths?

Game 11: Edible Play Dough

Games for Older Kids (Ages 7-14)

Game 1: How Would You Describe Me?

Game 2: Five Good Moments

Game 3: Self-Portraits

Game 4: People Report

Game 5: Which Line Is Best?

Game 6: Shadow Games

Game 7: Toe Stepping

Game 8: Stone Painting

Traveling Games

Game 1: Postcard Diaries

Game 2: Travel Collections

Chapter 2. Games for Infants
Daily Games to Play with Babies to Develop the Brain And Deepen the Adult-Child Connection

Game 1: Diaper Song

Game 2: Helpful Legs

Game 3: Pan Music

Game 4: Homemade Rattles

Game 5: Clap a Rhythm

Game 6: Bird Talk

Game 7: Hand Dancing

Game 8: Silly Sounds

Game 9: Swat at This

Game 10: Feelings, Nothing More than Feelings

Game 11: Catch a Moving Cube

Game 12: Move Me Around

Game 13: In Your Face

Game 14: Keep Your Eyes on This

Game 15: Tactile Tender Touches

Game 16: Smell Sorting

Game 17: Describe that Taste

Game 18: Speaking in Sounds

Game 19: Sound Sorting

Game 20: Box Ride

Game 21: Pillow Pile

Game 22: Beach Ball Bounce

Game 23: Standing and Counting

Game 24: Furniture Pathway

Game 25: Backward Steps

Game 26: Book in a Baggie

Game 27: Straws in a Bottle

Game 28: Nest the Cans

Game 29: Voice Over

Game 30: Chips Bank

Game 31:Color Matches

Chapter 3. Progressive Games for Ages 3-7
Inclusive Games that Use Only One Material to Enhance Multiple Skills

Bean Bag Games

Game 1: Jump

Game 2: Jump Sideways

Game 3: In and Out

Game 4: Jump One, Jump Five

Game 5: Run and Leap

Game 6: Balance Walk

Game 7: Musical Bean Bags

Game 8: Throw into Colored Container Blanket Games

Game 1: Sausage Walk

Game 2: Fat Sausage Walk

Game 3: Dragon

Game 4: Rock and Roll

Game 5: Sushi or Burrito

Game 6: Trampoline

Game 7: Dance Around

Two-by-Four Games

Game 1: How Many Ways Can You Walk on the Beams?

Game 2: Frogs on the Beam

Game 3: Crossing the See-Saw Beam

Game 4: Big Jump, Little Jump

Game 5: Hop to the End

Game 6: Going to the Store

Game 7: Make up Your Own

Hula Hoop Games

Game 1: Tiptoe Through the Hoops

Game 2: Crawl Tunnel

Game 3: Jumping Maze

Game 4: Combination: Vertical and Horizontal

Game 5: Backwards

Game 6: All Together Now

Game 7: Roll the Hoop

Game 8: Boomerang

Game 9: Roll and Kick

Game 10: Ring Toss

Game 11: Jump Rope

Game 12: Hula Hooping—Fast and in Circles

Ladder Games

Game 1: Jump Between the Rungs

Game 2: Hop Between the Rungs

Game 3: Tiptoe Between the Rungs

Game 4: Walk on the Rungs

Game 5: Jump in and Out

Game 6: Go Through the Window

Game 7: Rock the Boat

Game 8: Working Together

Game 9: Rhythm

Game 10: Creating New Games

Magazine Tube Games

Game 1: Flute

Game 2: Easy Throw

Game 3: Hand to Hand

Game 4: Reflex Drop

Game 5: Head Drop

Game 6: Throw at a Target

Game 7: Jump Over the Tubes

Game 8: What Else Can It Be?

Game 9: We’ve Got a Rhythm Inside of Us

Plastic Bottle Games

Game 1: Knock Downs

Game 2: In and Out Car/Van/Horse/Train

Game 3: Obstacle Course

Rope Games

Game 1: The Rising Rope

Game 2: Lowering Rope

Game 3: Over and Under

Game 4: Jump Twice--Forward, Sideways and Backward

Game 5: Hop Once, Hop Twice

Game 6: Jump the Creek

Game 7: Run and Leap

Game 8: Wiggly Rope

Game 9: Swinging Rope

Game 10: Creative Jump

Game 11: Tightrope Walking

Game 12: Tug of War

Rockerboard Games

Game 1: Rock and Roll

Game 2: Back and Forth

Game 3: Two Together

Game 4: Balance and Slide Off

Game 5: Group Rock

Game 6: All New Ways

Chapter 4. Therapy Games for Ages 3-12
Home Therapy Games That Enhance The Basic Skill Domains

Fine Motor Games

Game 1: Ping Pong Pool

Game 2: Punch ‘n Poke

Game 3: Rainbow Pizza

Game 4: Snip Snip Clip

Game 5: Flipping Pancakes

Game 6: The Rain House

Game 7: Tongs and Tweezers

Game 8: AB Can You C Me?

Game 9: Pumpkin Head

Gross Motor Games

Game 1: Flying Meteorite

Game 2: Circus Hoop

Game 3: Fire Twirler!

Game 4: Choo Choo Train

Game 5: Don’t Forget the Shoes

Game 6: Helicopter

Game 7: Surf’s Up!

Game 8: The Hail Storm

Game 9: Ready, Aim, Squirt

Game 10: Sit, Roll Over, Jump!

Sensory Games

Game 1: Club Sandwich

Game 2: The Mirror

Game 3: Moon Walker

Game 4: Lollypop Lick

Game 5: Snow Plow

Game 6: Natural Disaster

Game 7: Worms and Eyeballs

Game 8: Bag O Bag

Game 9: Feed the Otter

Game 10: Bubble Monster

Social Skills Games

Game 1: Catch the Thief!

Game 2: What Is It?

Game 3: The Feelings Dance

Game 4: Elbow to Elbow

Game 5: Stepping Stones

Game 6: Pinball

Game 7: The Magician

Game 8: Hamburger Ball

Game 9: Voice Remote Control

Chapter 5. Short Group Games for Ages 3-15
Quick Movement Games That Stimulate Thinking, Feeling and Creativity

Short Games for Young Children (Ages 3-10)

Game 1: Shoe Leaps

Game 2: Blindfold

Game 3: Can You Do the Can Can?

Game 4: Can You Do What I Do? Can You Say What I Say?

Game 5: Group Dance

Game 6: Horse Is Walking

Game 7: Marble Play

Game 8: Names, Names We All Have Names

Game 9: Tell Us What You Like to Do

Game 10: Throw At the Letters

Game 11: Twist on the Twister

Short Games for Older Kids (Ages 7-15)

Game 1: Bowling for Dollars

Game 2: Category Ball Game

Game 3: Compliment Me

Game 4: Expressing Self with Body

Game 5: Interviewing

Game 6: It’s All in the Tone

Game 7: Jail

Game 8: Jumping Math

Game 9: Make Up a Handshake

Game 10: Make Up a Story

Game 11: Reflection

Game 12: Say a Line

Game 13: Shower Curtain Spelling

Game 14: Timeline Game

Game 15: What’s My Line?

Appendix: Home Therapy

INDEX

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