How do you teach tolerance, self-awareness, and responsibility? How can you help children deal with fear, mistrust, or aggression?
Play a game with them! Games are an ideal way to help children develop social and emotional skills; they are exciting, relaxing, and fun.
101 LIFE SKILLS GAMES FOR CHILDREN: LEARNING, GROWING, GETTING ALONG (Ages 6-12) is a resource that can help children understand and deal with problems that arise in daily interactions with other children and adults. These games help children develop social and emotional skills and enhance self-awareness.
The games address the following issues: dependence, aggression, fear, resentment, disability, accusations, boasting, honesty, flexibility, patience, secrets, conscience, inhibitions, stereotypes, noise, lying, performance, closeness, weaknesses, self confidence, fun, reassurance, love, respect, integrating a new classmate, group conflict.
Organized in three main chapters: (I-Games, You-Games and We-Games), the book is well structured and easily accessible. It specifies an objective for every game, gives step-by-step instructions, and offers questions for reflection. It provides possible variations for each game, examples, tips, and ideas for role plays. Each game contains references to appropriate follow-up games and is illustrated with charming drawings.
101 Life Skills Games FOR Children
Learning, Growing, Getting Along (Ages 6 to 12)By Bernie BadegruberHunter House Inc., Publishers
Copyright © 2005 VERITAS-VERLAG Linz
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-0-89793-441-1Contents
Preface................................................xiIntroductionThoughts on Playing with Children......................1Play Therapy and Game Pedagogy.........................3How to Use This Book...................................4A Brief Word on Brevity................................5Key to the Icons Used in the Games.....................5I GamesWhat I Like............................................10What I Can Do..........................................18What I Observe.........................................21You GamesGetting to Know You....................................40Understanding You......................................49Working with You.......................................55We GamesWarming-up Games for the Group.........................66Cooperation Games......................................72Integrating New Classmates.............................83Helping Games..........................................93Aggression Games.......................................120Adding More ImaginationStatue and Sculpting Games.............................146Fairytale Games........................................159Pantomime Play.........................................167Keyword Index..........................................173
Chapter One
I Games
What I Like Games 1-5
What I Can Do Games 6-7
What I Observe Games 8-19
1 I Like This Picture
Props: Assorted pictures from magazines (enough for all players); a small table; chairs for all players (optional); soft background music (optional)
Goals
Developing a self-image
Improving the ability to introduce oneself
How to Play: Chairs are arranged in a circle, with a small table in the center. On the table are many postcard-sized pictures of things like houses, a butterfly, a princess, a table with place settings, the sun, and so forth. Everyone takes a turn choosing a picture and, after introducing herself, explains why she likes it. A player may choose a picture that has already been chosen by another player.
Examples
"My name is Lisa. I chose the picture of the sun because I like to lie in the sun."
"My name is Thomas, and I also chose the picture of the sun because it reminds me of our vacation in Italy."
Variation: At the beginning, everybody walks around the pictures, which have been scattered on the floor, while soft music is playing in the background.
Note: It is not very difficult or embarrassing for children to say what they like when they're simply describing a picture-it's much easier than talking about oneself. With groups in which children know each other's names, the name introduction can be omitted. If there is a new child in the group, however, this game can be played as an introduction game.
Reflections
Does anyone in the group like similar things?
Was it difficult for anyone to choose a picture?
Follow-up Games
1-19: I Games * 20-26: Getting to Know You * 41-44: Warming-up Games for the Group * 52-56: Integrating New Classmates
2 The Run-to Game
Goals
Remembering names
Making contacts
Warming up to a group
How to Play: After the players take turns introducing themselves, the leader asks one player to make a statement that describes another person (the statement should be neutral or positive, not hurtful). The others try to guess who the statement is about, and when they think they've figured it out they run to that person as fast as they can and shake her hand. The first person to get there is the winner and gets to make the next statement.
Examples
"His name is Martin."
"Her hair is long and blond."
Variation: After introducing themselves to each other, everybody walks around. The statement is presented while people walk around.
Note: The children should be careful not to bump into each other when they start running. To encourage calm behavior, make a rule that if players bump into each other, they have to sit down until the next statement is announced.
Follow-up Games
4: Evil Fairy's Hat * 7: Guess What I Can Do
3 Wishing Cards
Props: Assorted pictures from magazines (enough for all players)
Goals
Expressing wishes
Fulfilling wishes
Being generous
Learning to do without
Learning that wishes can be deferred
How to Play: After playing I Like This Picture (Game #1), most (if not all) of the players are holding a picture. If you have not played that game before this one, pass pictures of different items to each player. All the players show their pictures for about five minutes and then hold them so the rest of the group can't see them. One player starts the game by putting her own picture down and "wishing" for one of the other cards. At this point, whoever has the card she wished for has to give it to her. After that, the player who gave up his card expresses his own wish and is given the card he desires.
Example: "My hand is empty, I wish for the picture with the sun."
Variation: All players turn over their pictures so everyone can see them. If a player expresses a wish, he or she must also give the name of the person who is holding that picture.
Follow-up Games
4: Evil Fairy's Hat * 26: The Seat on My Right is Empty (with a Twist)
Follow-up Games from 101 More Life Skills Games for Children
13: Missing Person * 68: Birthday Party * 34: Picture Present
4 Evil Fairy's Hat
Props: Assorted pictures from magazines (enough for all players), a hat
Goals
Expressing dislikes
Finding commonalities
How to Play: From the collection of pictures (see I Like This Picture, Game #1), every player takes one that means something negative for him. The players give reasons for their choices and then, saying "I'm going to throw it into the evil fairy's hat," they toss their picture into a hat in the middle of the room.
Example: "I don't like the umbrella because it reminds me of rainy weather."
Follow-up Games
2: The Run-to Game * 5: Good Fairy
Follow-up Game from 101 More Life Skills Games for Children
17: The "I" Museum
5 Good Fairy
Props: Assorted pictures from magazines (enough for all players)
Goals
Learning to avoid stereotypes
Emphasizing the positive
Expressing dislikes
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