Hobbies And Interests
Relays
Relays are a classic physical activity for kids. Using bean bags in a relay race adds a new challenge to the game. The obvious use of bean bags is to use it in place of a baton, with the active runner for each team carrying the bean bag. The runner passes the bean bag to the next person as her turn ends. This use can be adjusted to make the relay race more difficult. Instead of simply carrying the bean bag in her hand, have the runner balance the bean bag on top of her head, on her shoulder or on the back of her hand. Another option is to have the runner toss the bean bag into the air and catch it repeatedly as she runs. The participants in the relay race may come up with their own creative uses for the bean bags.
Math Review
Bean bags work well in a homemade math fact review game. The game allows the review of addition, subtraction and multiplication. You will need a box with cardboard dividing it into small squares. Boxes that have been filled with jars or glass bottles may have cardboard dividers already in them. You can also make the dividers from cardboard strips by making slits where the pieces meet and sliding them into each other. A number is assigned to each square inside the box. The math operation to be practiced is announced. The first person takes two bean bags and tosses them toward the box. He uses the two numbers in the squares where the bean bags landed to perform the predetermined operation. If the operation selected was multiplication, and the first person threw a bean bag in squares with an 8 and 10, he would multiply the two numbers and announce the answer as 80. This math review game allows kids to review math problems in a fun way.
Homemade Bean Bags
Homemade bean bags can be a fun craft project. These homemade bean bags can also be used for other activities once they are made. The materials needed for the homemade bean bags are a clean sock, dried beans and a piece of string. The sock is filled to the heel with the dried beans. Dried lentils can be substituted for the beans. The string is tied tightly around the sock at the top of the beans to hold them in place. It can also be sewn for a more secure closure. The homemade bean bags can be decorated to add personality and used in any bean bag activity.
Ice Breaker Game
Bean bags offer a fun twist to ice breaker games. With everyone in a large circle, the leader gently tosses a bean bag to another person. The leader asks a question that will help the group learn more about that person. Once she answers, that person gently tosses the bean bag to someone else in the circle. She gets the opportunity to ask a new question to the person who caught the bean bag. This continues with passing the bean bag and asking questions. Encourage the participants to pass and ask questions quickly to make the game more exciting.
Coordination and Balance
Bean bags work well to improve coordination and balance. They can be used in a number of ways to improve these physical development skills. The bean bags can be balanced on various body parts, such as the head, feet or shoulders. Throwing and catching the bean bags improve coordination. After mastery of throwing and catching has been achieved, the task can be made more difficult. Suggestions to increase the difficulty include closing the eyes while catching the bean bag, kneeling down to catch the bean bag after it is thrown or clapping the hands before catching it. Coordination can also be practiced by tossing the bean bag back and forth with a partner or tossing the bean bags into baskets or boxes at different distances.