HT Games
House Hunting Challenge
Tell your children to go find a small random object in the house, such as an apple, a ball or a bag. Once the children have their item, tell them they must decide the main color of the item. For example, if they have an apple the main color may be red. Tell the children they must go looking around the house for 10 other items that contain the same main color as the item they have. The first child to bring back 10 items of the same main color wins the game.
Paper Bag Hand Puppets
Place several small brown paper sacks on the table. Have your children use construction paper, glue, markers, paint and crayons to make hand puppets. For example, they could make a pig by gluing two pink ears to the top of the paper bag and a pink nose to the front of the bag flap. Tell them to stick a hand inside the paper bag and use the flap of the bag to make their puppet "talk."
Memory Game
Place several items on a large baking sheet. For example, use random items like a cup, a key, a banana, a candle, a crayon and a leaf. Have the children sit at a table and place the tray in the middle of the table. Tell them to study the items for one minute. Take the tray out of the room. Give each child a pen and piece of paper. They have to write down as many items as they can remember from the tray. The child who can remember and write down the most items from the tray wins the game.
Indoor Picnic
Pack a picnic basket with sandwiches, chips, fresh fruit, juice boxes, pretzels and dip. Spread a large blanket down in the middle of the living room and have a picnic with your children. Turn off the television and turn a radio on low volume. The children can act as if they are outside by wearing sunglasses and hats.