When you're married to a former children's pastor, there are certain "perks". For instance, if you find yourself feeling like you need a fun family activity but don't feel like going anywhere or spending any money, odds are good a creative former children's pastor can come to the rescue.
(Prepare for orange-tinted indoors-at-night photos...)
We do like the occasional board game, but every now and then we mix things up. Adam's work with kids has taught him how to entertain. While I assume we need some big production, the truth is, all you need is:
- a tall laundry basket
- stuffed animals
- paper (two sheets)
- marker or pen
Send your kids on a hunt to get all the stuffed animals they can find.
Be prepared for some (or all) of them to become hoarders once they've determined which ones are the best:
(Make no mention of the garbage waiting to go out. Pretend it's not even there and no one will notice.)
Have your kids create markers (like bases in baseball) at 20, 50, 100 and 500 points.
Ethan made ours, cutting two sheets of paper in half long-ways. Then, you set the papers out ala "The Grand Prize Game" each point value getting farther away from the laundry basket.
In the first round, each person gets 3 chances to get their animals in the basket. They choose what point value they want to go for.
Certain members of the family may attempt (and make) the 500 point shot just to show off.
Celebrate his victory by trying to distract him on the next throw. That's the sportsman-like thing to do.
This can become quite an intense game. Especially if one child in particular finds herself with a goose egg for the majority of the game.
(I'm not naming any names.)
Encourage your children to go for the gusto. Mine have this fine art mastered.
And, of course, be prepared to step in and show them all how it's done.
In Round Two, we changed things up a little. You could call "Double Points" on any of the markers, BUT if you missed, you were negative whatever the point value that marker said. For instance, if I was on the 100 and called double and missed...I had to deduct 50.
This is how I lost my lead.
Darn Double Points.
Prepare for this game to cover a wide range of emotions. From sheer joy...
To extreme silliness...
To deflation at the prospect of negative points...
It's anybody's game...and one you should play with your kids the next time they're bored or you need a break. We had a blast and it was completely FREE!
What do you do for some no money fun? We're always looking for great ideas!
