One Activity; Many Lessons
Charades was one of our very favorite games to play when our children were at home. I found an inexpensive charades game at Big LotsĀ®. We played it over and over for years and years. I recently picked up a simple set of charades cards for children. Last week Ray and I tried it out for the first time with two of our granddaughters. The six-year-old loved it from the start. The four-year-old wasn’t so sure. She watched for a long time and then gave it her first try. She was hooked — and so proud of herself. Both girls were what we call “jumping up and down” excited.
The game was simple. At the bottom of each card were three choices. A choice might be one word, such as hammock or kangaroo, or a phrase, such as flying a kite. At the top of the card was a picture which illustrated the top choice. Younger children act out the picture. Readers roll a die with the numbers 1, 2, and 3 and then act out choice 1, 2, or 3. I think my favorite thing was seeing Ray act out a hammock. The six-year-old and I laughed so hard that I rigged the cards so that Ray would have to do it again when our daughter joined us.
I encourage you to give charades a try in your family. Our family always did it for the sheer fun of it, but it has great lessons, too. I shared lessons from charades several months ago, but the fun we four had last week prompted me to share them again. Charades helps children — and adults — learn:
- How to stand in front of a group,
- How to think on their feet,
- How to make quick decisions,
- How to use their imaginations,
- How to communicate non-verbally,
- How to be comfortable in their own bodies,
- How to handle losing and winning,
- How to handle embarrassment,
- How to laugh at themselves,
- How to enjoy friendly competition.
In many ways, charades can also teach every player a good dose of kindness and humility.
To sum up, all of you be harmonious,
sympathetic, brotherly,
kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
not returning evil for evil or insult for insult,
but giving a blessing instead;
for you were called for the very purpose
that you might inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9
What a great list of benefits! I had never thought about those. And such an easy game to do, no set up required. I’m sure my boys will figure out how to ensure clean up necessary. š