Parten found
that as children develop, their social play becomes increasingly
complex, proceeding through the states of solitary, parallel,
associative, and cooperative play. (Parten,
Social participation among preschool children. Journal of Abnormal
and Social Psychology, 27, 1932)
Solitaire or Dual Play
Activities and Games for One
or Two... teaching to take responsibility for one's free
time. Do you have other solitaire or dyadic activities that
you might teach to children and adults? Submit
them.
Five small stones- find
five small, flat stones. Sit on the ground and toss one stone
in the air and try to catch it on the back of your hand. Then
add two stones and see if you can catch both stones on the back
of your hand. Continue to add additional stones until you can
catch all five stones.
Cloudmagination- lay on
the ground and look at the clouds. What can you see. An animal?
A face?
Solitaire- teach various
solitaire games.
Record playing- go through
a stack of records, cassettes, CD's and listen to music.
Drawing, painting, etc.-
show where art supplies are kept and invite them to use it.
Pick up Sticks- Lay ten
Popsicle sticks on the groups. Toss a small ball into the air
and try to pick up one stick. Then catch the ball after it bounces
in the same hand as the stick. Keep the 1st stick in your hand
and toss the ball again and try to pick up the 2nd stick. Be
sure that the ball doesn't bounce more the once. Try to pick
up all ten sticks one at a time. For variation, see how may
sticks you can pick up in one sweep.
Hacky sack- practice hitting
the hacky sack with your feet. If you don't have a hacky sack,
use a handkerchief with a big knot in the middle of it.
Solitaire Seven Up- with
a small ball that bounces well...
- drop the ball and let it bounce
and catch it. This is one up.
- throw the ball and catch it.
This is two up.
- throw the ball in the air and
let it bounce and then catch it. This is
- three up.
- bounce the ball hard enough
to let it bounce over your head. Catch the
- ball above your head. This is
four up.
- throw the ball in the air and
let it bounce twice before you catch it. This is five up.
- throw the ball in the air and
bounce it off the back of your hand and catch it. This is
six up.
- bounce the ball hard, spin around
once and catch the ball before it hits the ground. This is
seven up.
If you miss at any time, you have
to start from the beginning. Add additional stunts for more
challenge.
| Snow
Play
With help
of everyone in the group, make a giant snowball. Then
try to fit everyone on it.
Instead of
making a snowman, try sculpting a dragon, a building,
Santa Claus, etc.
If you don't
have snow in your area, make a snow man out of hay, tumbleweed,
or other natural plants found in your area.
Build a snow
house or make a snow angel.
Mix water
and food coloring in squeeze bottles and paint messages
and pictures in the snow in the yard.
If you don't
have snow, try out grass skiing (check your local ski
club for grass skis).
Make a snow
cone, add flavoring, and eat it (yum).
Pack snow
on a tray or dish and paint it with water colors. |
|