Any household I’ve ever been to with kids seems to have the same conversation at least once a day, it goes like this:
“We’re Bored!”
“So go play.”
“What can we play?”
And then it happens. Your brain goes blank. What can they play you ask yourself?
Sometimes you just feel struck in a game rut, and need some new ideas. Even the best games get old when you play them over and over.
When I saw this book I was hoping it would solve both those problems, and it does! Unplugged Play by Bobbi Connor is a parenting miracle. All the games and activities are brilliantly categorized. First by age, (1-2, 3-5. 6-10 with over a hundred games per age group) then by type of game. If you have a 3 year old, and need a busy body game, something that entertains long enough for you to switch laundry from the washer to the dryer, or put groceries away, then just flip to that section. Are you planning your child’s eighth birthday? Go to that older kids section of the book, and you can find a party planner! Games and activities for groups, with a suggested party outline. Over 500 pages of activities. And did I mention that they are all 100% electronic free!?!?!? No TV, no batteries, no cords, just plain ol’ fun!
When I first saw the book and read it had ages 1 and 2 included I thought for sure it would have one or two pages of ideas, and the rest of the book would be for older kids, but it has over 100 activities for even the littlest players! I was pretty impressed by that.
There were two small flaws in the book. The first one is that some games are pretty basic. Things that seem like they’d be easy enough to think of without buying a book, but like I said at the beginning we all have those brain dead days. These are perfect for that! What sounds like a flaw quickly becomes a perk. The other is that some of the games are very wasteful, ball up printer paper to use as balls, glue whole sheets of construction paper together in layers, but the remedy is easy for those, use small plastic balls instead or cut the paper in smaller sizes and cut the layers slabs into cool shapes for a mobile! So neither “issue” is a big deal by any means.
While some of the games are basic, some are so creative, like the Snowshoe Shuffle! I found more creative games then basic games. All the supplies called for are cheap and easy to locate. There is even a recommended game cupboard supply list at the back of the book of reach age group! Bobbi Connors must really know games!
I think this book is amazingly fantastic! Only $16.95 (and worth every penny!) at any bookstore!
his first day attached. Since I stay home with him he rarely has to take a bottle. And when he does it treats it just as such. There is a noticeable difference between him drinking from a bottle and him nursing.