Fun for All Ages: Exploring Games That Bring Us Together and Give Us Rest
The Blondes Restoration Ltd is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Play is a vital aspect of human development and well-being, benefiting both children and adults in numerous ways.
When it comes to kids, play is beneficial for so many reasons.
Physical Development: Play encourages children to be active, helping them develop essential motor skills, coordination, and strength; promoting overall fitness.
Cognitive Development: Play stimulates the brain, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities. It enhances memory, attention span, and language skills, as children engage in imaginative play, role-playing, and exploring new concepts.
Emotional Development: Through play, children learn to express and regulate their emotions, develop empathy, and build resilience. It allows them to explore different social roles, understand social norms, and navigate relationships, fostering emotional intelligence.
Social Development: Play provides opportunities for children to interact with their peers, promoting social skills such as cooperation, negotiation, sharing, and taking turns. It helps build friendships, enhances communication, and develops teamwork abilities.
Imagination and Creativity: Play nurtures imagination and creativity by encouraging children to invent scenarios, create stories, and explore new possibilities. It fosters divergent thinking and problem-solving skills, crucial for future innovation.
'Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity. '
Kay Redfield Jamison
As we’ve spoken about in one of our other blogs play is also incredibly important for Adults:
Stress Reduction: Play acts as a powerful stress reliever for adults. Engaging in enjoyable activities helps reduce cortisol levels, promoting relaxation and improving overall well-being. It offers a break from routine and daily pressures.
Cognitive Flexibility: Playfulness in adulthood enhances cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to adapt to new situations, think creatively, and approach challenges with a fresh perspective. It encourages innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Emotional Well-being: Playfulness promotes emotional well-being by fostering positive emotions, such as joy, laughter, and happiness. It helps adults maintain a positive mindset, increase resilience, and manage emotional stress.
Social Connection: Engaging in play activities with others promotes social bonding, builds relationships, and strengthens social connections. It encourages teamwork, cooperation, and communication skills, leading to improved interpersonal relationships.
Personal Growth and Self-Expression: Play allows adults to explore their interests, passions, and talents, promoting personal growth and self-expression. It fosters creativity, imagination, and a sense of fulfilment, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life.
Play is crucial for both children and adults as it supports physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. It promotes well-being, creativity, problem-solving skills, and social connections, making it an essential part of human life at all ages.
As a teacher and now as a parent, I absolutely understand the mental load of coming up with ways to keep children entertained over what feels like a VERY long summer. We wanted to put together some examples of games that you can use throughout the summer, indoors, outdoors and even when you need some alone time. (We see you needing rest and actively encourage you to do what you need to do to get it!)
Here are some games you can play together as adults and as kids!
A classic game where players act out a word or phrase without speaking, while others guess what it is.
A drawing-based game where players take turns drawing clues while their teammates try to guess the word or phrase.
Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of items for everyone to find within a designated area. It can be played indoors or outdoors.
A fast-paced card game where players match colors and numbers to get rid of their cards. It's easy to learn and suitable for all ages.
A physical game where players place their hands and feet on colored circles on a mat, following instructions given by a spinner.
Simon Says
A classic game where one person takes the role of "Simon" and gives commands, but players should only follow the command if it begins with "Simon says."
Inflate a balloon and set up a makeshift net using a rope or string. Players try to keep the balloon from touching the ground, playing a volleyball-like game.
Many board games, such as Monopoly, Scrabble, or Clue, have versions suitable for both kids and adults, offering fun and strategic gameplay.
Set a time limit and have everyone build their own creations using Lego or building blocks. Award prizes for the most imaginative or tallest structure.
Musical Chairs
Arrange chairs in a circle, play music, and have players walk around them. When the music stops, everyone tries to sit on a chair, but one chair is removed each round.
If you’re in the UK, you’ll know the weather is not always conducive to playing outside, but here at Blondes we want to be optimistic. We wanted to collected a set of games for you to take the little ones outside, to get some well needed fresh air and (hopefully!) some Vitamin D!
And it’s not just because it’s fun, there are plenty of reasons to get outside for your health and wellbeing too.
Outdoor activities encourage children to engage in physical exercise, which is essential for their overall health and development. Playing outside allows them to run, jump, climb, and engage in various movements that promote cardiovascular fitness, strength, coordination, and motor skills.
Spending time outdoors exposes children to natural sunlight, which is a primary source of vitamin D. This vitamin is crucial for the development of strong bones and teeth, as well as for supporting the immune system.
Outdoor play also has a positive impact on a child's mental and emotional well-being. Being in nature and engaging in physical activities outdoors can reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. It provides an opportunity for children to relax, unwind, and experience a sense of freedom and happiness.
Outdoor environments offer a rich sensory experience that stimulates a child's cognitive development. Exploring nature, observing plants and animals, and engaging in open-ended play encourage curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
Spending time outdoors allows children to connect with the natural world. It promotes an appreciation for the environment, biodiversity, and the importance of sustainability. This connection fosters a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards nature, encouraging children to become environmentally conscious individuals.
Getting outside is important for kids as it promotes physical health, mental and emotional well-being, cognitive development, social interaction, connection with nature, and imaginative play. It offers a holistic learning experience and contributes to the overall growth and well-being of children.
So without any more spiel, here are five outdoor games that can be enjoyed by both adults and kids:
Capture the Flag
Divide into two teams and set up two territories with flags. This can be as simple as splitting your garden into two halves and claiming one half per team. We use tea towels as our ‘flags’. Personally, I think it’s far more fun having an old tea towel waving around, but if you do want to grab some flags you can check these out! The objective is to infiltrate the opposing team's territory, capture their flag, and bring it back to your side without being caught, or in other words, sneak and find the flag, grab it and run as fast as you can! If you’re tagged, your OUT!
Kickball is a game from the US that is similar to baseball, it is played with a large rubber ball that is kicked instead of being hit with a bat. Players run bases and try to score runs while the opposing team attempts to catch them out. Think rounders, but you have a football!
Tag
A classic game of tag where one person is "it" and tries to tag other players. Once tagged, they become "it" and the game continues. There are variations such as freeze tag or ‘stuck in the mud’, where tagged players freeze in place until they are unfrozen by another player.
Use extra-large chalk to draw various game grids on the ground, such as hopscotch. These games are easy to learn and can be enjoyed by players of all ages. Keep your eyes on our social media for more examples of obstacle courses you can create with chalk!
Water Balloon Toss
On a hot day, fill up water balloons and pair up participants. They stand facing each other, gradually increasing the distance between them while tossing and catching a water balloon. The last pair with an intact balloon wins!
These outdoor games encourage physical activity, teamwork, and friendly competition. They provide opportunities to enjoy the fresh air, stay active, and have fun together. Just make sure you have some spare clothes ready!
When you hit that sweet spot of independence, where your children don’t necessarily need you to be involved in their play, here are five games that kids can enjoy playing by themselves:
1. Solitaire: A classic card game that can be played with a standard deck of cards. The objective is to arrange the cards in a specific order or pattern by following certain rules.
2. Puzzle Solving: Encourage kids to work on puzzles, such as jigsaw puzzles or brain teasers. They can challenge themselves to complete the puzzle independently and improve their problem-solving skills. You can find plenty of free printable puzzles for kids of all ages on Pinterest!
3. Building with Blocks: Provide building blocks, such as LEGO or other construction sets, and let kids use their imagination to create their own structures and designs. This game allows them to explore their creativity and fine motor skills.
4. Drawing and Colouring: Set up an art station with paper, crayons, coloured pencils, or felt-tip pens. Kids can draw, colour, and create artwork at their own pace, expressing their ideas and imagination through art.
5. Imagination Play: Kids can engage in imaginative play by creating stories, acting out scenarios with dolls, action figures, or stuffed animals. They can invent characters, build imaginary worlds, and let their creativity flow.
These games encourage independent play, allowing children to develop their problem-solving skills, creativity, and imagination. They offer opportunities for self-expression, concentration, and personal enjoyment.
We really hope these games ideas help to alleviate a little of the mental load you may feel over the summer, but that you also feel a strong connection and have a great time with your kids! If you don’t have kids, maybe you don’t even know any, remember, play is great for EVERYONE! Regardless of your age, play helps with fitness, mental health, cognitive function and so much more.
Have fun!
Because YOU matter.