Hey Mom, I'm Bored!: 100 Games, Activities, and Brain Teasers to Keep Kids of All Ages Entertained Entertained - Softcover

Evans, Story; O'Haire, Lise

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0609804472 ISBN 13: 9780609804476

Publisher: Three Rivers Press, 2000

Synopsis

"There's nothing to do!"

If you're a parent, that's a familiar refrain! Whether it's a rainy afternoon or a sunny one, kids are constantly in search of entertainment--and when they run out of ideas, they turn to Mom and Dad (after all, you're always busy). If your list of kid-friendly activities isn't doing the trick, turn to Hey Mom, I'm Bored!, which offers 100 ways for kids from four to fourteen to keep busy--and enjoy themselves--whether they're playing inside or outside, alone or with their friends. Here are: Updated versions of classic games like Kick the Can and Duck, Duck, Goose
All-new games and activities in the tradition of the old favorites
Easy-to-learn instructions for every game
Information on equipment needed and skill levels
Activities organized by age-appropriateness
Games that can be played or adapted for just about any setting or number of players
Story Evans and Lise O'Haire, moms who are veterans of the "I'm bored" wars, have created a book so packed with fun that you may never hear the words "Hey Mom, I'm bored!" again.

About this title

About the Author

STORY EVANS and LISE O'HAIRE are also the authors of TravelMates: Fun Games Kids Can Play in the Car or on the Go. Both live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Boredom blues . . . how often have you heard your child say, "Hey Mom, I'm bored! There's nothing to do."

Rain or shine, inside or out, on vacation or at home, this book will entertain the blues away. There are games for all ages, from preschoolers on up, even some Mom and Dad will enjoy, games that keep all ages happily occupied for many hours.

For many generations, kids entertained themselves -- and each other -- with time-tested games that challenged their bodies and minds. Today's children, though, turn to the TV, to video games, and to the computer to fill the hours. But electronic wizardry, for all its allure, can't take the place of spontaneous, inventive, active play -- the kind children discover when they play classic games.

For this book, the authors of TravelMates researched outdoor, backyard, and recess games, many of which have been around for decades, if not centuries. They've updated them when necessary and added a creative twist of their own here and there; plus, there are brand-new games as well. None of these games requires hard-to-find supplies; most of them don't need anything beyond what you probably already have in your kitchen drawers.

So join in the fun! Enough with the boredom -- let the games begin.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR PLAYING

Game Descriptions
For quick reference we thought it would be useful for players to have a snapshot of each game. At the top of each game outline you will find a summary including the following:

Number of players or teams
Location (indoors or outdoors)
Equipment
Energy level
Calm: low-key, quiet, mellow, relaxed
Lively: increased action level, spirited
Action-packed: high gear, enthusiastic, rambunctious, lots of movement
Type of game
Game Guidelines

How to Choose Players or Teams  There are a variety of ways to choose players and teams or who goes first.

Number all players: Even numbers create one team, odd numbers create the other team; low numbers start first.

Alphabet letters: Assign letters beginning with A and proceeding in alphabetical order. A, C, E, and so on are one team and B, D, F, and so on are the other team; the last letter given out goes first.

Draw from a deck of cards: This works best for choosing which player goes first; high card or low card--player's choice.

Hair or eye color: Put players in teams based on hair or eye color.

Coin toss: Players toss coin. Heads form one team, tails the other team; heads goes first, tails goes second.

Birthdays: January to June is one team, July to December the other team; the youngest player goes first.

If the method creates uneven teams, assign the youngest child to the larger team.

How to Handle Hurt Feelings  No one likes it when the game does not go his or her way.

How do you handle the hurt feelings that can result? Many times the best approach is to start fresh, move on completely (past the stumbling block of disappointment), and choose another game.

Playing is fun and that is what games are all about. Playing with friends and being good sports are some of life's simple pleasures.

Fun for All Ages.

The games in this section are inlcuded here because they spanned more than one of our age groups, but not all of the games are appropriate for everyone. If you are a parent with a four or five-year-old, make sure you read the description all the way through before involving your child.

About this edition

• Publisher: Three Rivers Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0609804472
• ISBN 13: 9780609804476
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128