Hobbies And Interests
Zany Zoo
This game can be played anywhere and does not require any materials or special equipment. Starting with the letter A, each person must think of an animal and a fun first and last name for that animal. For example, for the letter S, Simon Snodgrass the Snail. Each person in the group must use the next letter of the alphabet. If you cannot think of an animal or a name for each letter, you are out of the game. The winner is the person who is able to come up with the most names for animals.
The Name Game
This game can help children understand different parts of speech as well as improve vocabulary. Use a piece of paper and write down as many family member's first names as you can remember. You may also include family friends who are familiar to the whole group. Using this list, have children use alliteration and add an adjective, adverb or verb to each person's name that describes them. For example, Aunt Rhonda, who has just finished her first marathon, can become Running Rhonda. Or Grandpa Shawn, who loves the beach, can be Seashell Shawn. As an extension activity, have children draw caricatures of their relatives with their new alliterative names.
Add On Story
This game works well on long car trips and is best for older children. One person in the group will begin a story, and each person present will add another piece to the story. The catch is the main words in the story must be alliterative. Whichever letter the story leader chooses to use first must be used throughout the duration of the story. For example, the leader can begin with "Alice arrived at the arboretum for art class." The next storyteller can add her sentence stating, "Alice allows Adam to ask for art supplies." Continue the story for as long as you can, using as many alliterative words as possible.
I Took My Friend...
This is another word game that is appropriate for long car trips, but will work well with younger and older children alike. Begin the game with the letter A, and fill in the blanks of this sentence using alliterative words: I took my friend ________to _________ with a ____________ and a ____________. For example, "I took my friend Sally to Sydney with a slide and a scale." This game can get quite silly, so be prepared for laughter.