Why not use your child's favorite toys to play some great games together? All it takes is a dash of imagination to create a host of little kids' games that you can play again and again.
Wooden building blocks
Get involved. Sit down with your child one day when he's busy building. Start arranging blocks in a long line and tell him you're building a lo-o-o-ng wall. He'll love to join in. Build the wall together with a lot of oohing and ahhing about what a wonderful wall this is!
Now make it into a game. Who can build the longest wall? Or use blocks of one color. Can you make your red wall longer than my blue wall? Or go high and try the tallest tower competition!
Your child will observe what you do as you're playing and use some of your techniques next time himself. Playing this kind of game is a great teaching tool -- and it's great fun too!
Dolls or soft toys
If your child has a favorite doll or soft toy such as a teddy, sit the toy next to you one day as you're doing something together. When you get up, take teddy with you -- and pop him on another chair or somewhere obvious nearby. Then look back to where you were sitting and ask "Oh! Where's teddy?"
Your child will love telling you where teddy is. That naughty teddy, stay in your seat! Put him back in his place again - and then - repeat! Do this several times, each time placing teddy further and further away. For small children, repetition is the spice of life. Don't be surprised if this game becomes a favorite!
There are a hundred games hidden in your child's toy box - have fun!
Claire Kolarova is a busy mother and webmaster of Little Kids Games Online which features all kinds of games for little kids!