Hobbies And Interests
Blind Trust
Friendships are important to kids 10 and older who are focusing on their social environment. Partnership games allow kids team up with "best friends" to win challenges. To play this game, kids will need an obstacle path in the backyard. There should be a definitive start and finish area. Play this game in an area that is free of holes or items people can trip over. Divide your kids into pairs. A caller yells directions to her blindfolded partner to get him from the start to the finish line. Children will have to problem solve and trust one another to win this game. Have pairs of children compete against each other until you have only one pair of winners. For fun, you might add large cardboard boxes to the obstacle path. Items should be large enough to make the game more difficult, but they should not pose an injury risk for kids.
Traveling Man
Prepare for this game before the kids arrive. This game requires some planning and strategizing, making it ideal for kids 10 and up. You will need two suitcases, two hats, scarves and coats. Spray paint a start and finish line on the ground in an area outdoors that is free of obstacles. Divide your group into two equal teams. At the start line, the first member of the team opens the suitcase and puts on all the garments. The team member then takes the suitcase and runs across the finish line. There, he removes the garments, putting them back in the suitcase. The player runs the suitcase back to the start line where the next child does the same thing. This activity continues until one team completes this task.
Necklace Racing
This wacky race is a good indoor game if you have space for kids to sprint, or you can play it outdoors. Children 10 and older like working with crafts and playing games. This amusing game combines those two activities. Place 10 beads in two plastic bowls, and set the bowls on a table. Each group of children needs some yarn and needles. When you give the signal, one child from each team runs to their bowls to grab a bead. She runs back to the start and hands the bead to the child designated as the threader on her team. The child who does the threading puts the bead on the yarn and waits for the next child to bring him another bead. This activity continues until one team has all the beads from its bowl strung.