Hobbies And Interests
Alphabet Games
Remove all the letters from a foam mat and scatter them around the room or hide them behind cupboards and doors and under desks. Tell the children to find the letters and then fit them into the appropriate slot. If you have two foam alphabet mats, divide the children into teams and make the game a race. Alternatively, one group could complete letters A to M and the other letters N to Z. The children could race against the clock and try and beat their own time, a good method of showing improvement over time. This game is good for encouraging team work and social interaction as the children can help each other. Consider pairing younger and older children to make this game suitable for all ages. For a less hectic version, place the letters in a pile.
Hopscotch
Arrange foam mat numbers to create a hop scotch board. Place number one on the ground and attach a pair of numbers (i.e. numbers two and three) above it. Follow this with number four on its own and then numbers five and six as a pair. Continue this pattern until the board is created. Arrange the numbers in counting order to help children to practice their numbers from one to 10. To play, a child tries to roll a beanbag onto the first square and, if they are successful, hops along the board, skipping the square with the beanbag. If she steps on a line or misses the square, it is the next player's turn. The winner is the child who completes the entire sequence of numbers first. This game is suitable for children 3 and older.
World Map Games
Some online companies and toy stores, such as Sensory Edge, sell foam mats with world maps imprinted on them. Children learn about geography as they take the foam maps apart and reassemble them. Use them to teach about history and culture; ask the children to sit on a country, then tell them about that country's traditions.