People Games: How to Play With Your Child Without Any Toys
Have you ever tried to interact with your child using toys and they just aren’t ready or interested yet? Don’t get discouraged. The good news is, you don’t always need toys to play with your child! If your child isn’t ready for or interested in toys, YOU can be the toy using people games!
People games are simply play routines that involve just you and your child without any toys. People games are a great way to help children learn language and turn-taking skills.
In order to make people games a successful activity to use with your child, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. People games should have clear steps:
As mentioned above, people games are play routines, and just like any other type of routine, they should have a set of steps that remain the same each time the activity is completed. By hearing the steps over and over again, it allows them to anticipate what will happen next and learn language!
2. It should be fun:
I know this seems obvious, but it’s the piece that often falls flat. If we are not having fun, then why would the child be having fun? I often remind myself that if I’m not feeling completely, over-the-top silly then I’m probably not being fun enough. Remember, you are the toy!
3. Build anticipation:
Each activity should have a “high point” or a point of anticipation that the activity builds towards. Think Jack-in-the-Box. We wait and wait for the music to play before POP the clown jumps out at you. After a few repetitions, your child will learn what the high point is and respond to it. If you pause right before the high point, it will create a beautiful opportunity for them to communicate with you!
Now that we know the keys to success, here are three of my favorite people games to play:
Tickles:
Tickling is my go-to for getting a child to start communicating with me. Make sure you get on their level or face-to-face with them, hold out your hand, and say, “I’m gonna get your…” pause and wait for them to react to you (i.e., the high point). This could be a smile, laugh, squeal, word, etc. and then tickle them in a playful while saying, “Tickle, tickle, tickle!” After repeating the activity a few times, the child will learn that the pause is for them to respond or take their turn.
Songs with actions:
Songs with actions such as “Wheels on the Bus,” “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” and “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” are great people games because the words and actions are the same every time. To make it interactive with your child, pause on a part you know they are familiar with and have them fill in the blank or complete the action. For example, during “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” you could hold your hands in the air and pause before saying, “…washed the spider out!” Remember, you might have to model the song and actions a few times before they become familiar enough to know to take their turn.
Movement Games:
Movement games could include jumping, lifting your child in the air, swinging, spinning, bouncing them on your knee, etc. These games can easily be tailored to your child’s sensory preferences. For jumping, you could hold your child’s hand while they jump on the trampoline and count, “One, two, three…” and wait for them to respond with, “Jump,” “Up," or raise their arms up for you to pick them up and throw them high in the air.
These examples are just three of many. You can even make up your own people games depending on your child’s interest! All you need are clear steps, anticipation, and FUN! Try it out with your child today!
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