Have you and the family played some of your games so many times that they have lost their charms?
Sometimes it feels like you can wear out a game through overuse, but have you tried making up your own rules? We took two of our most popular games, I Spy Dig In and Bananagrams, and came up with a whole bunch of different ways you can play.
I Spy Dig In
I Spy Dig In is such a great game because it teaches color recognition, promotes fine motor and early language skills, and it can be played so many different ways. Once you have mastered the base rules, there are so many other uses for the game, and we wanted to help show you the various directions you can take with the game.
In the original rules, players must dig through the bowl to find the 6 objects on their card, all while heeding the 15-second timer. The game is fast, frenetic, and exciting.
We have come up with 6 other ways you and the kids can play I Spy, Dig In, and hopefully these adaptations will help you come up with some of your own, for his game and others in your game library.
1. Instead of playing competitively, why not work together as a team to help find the items on the card? This strategy will work especially well if you have players of different age groups.
2. Flip the bowl upside down, or grab a differently shaped bowl from your kitchen. The smaller and deeper the bowl, the harder it will be!
3. Don't use the timer at all. This adaptation will be good for younger or less confident players.
4. Play only with your left hands!
5. Use the objects as storytelling prompts. Grab a handful and create a story out of whatever you grab. The possibilities are endless!
6. Use the objects as math counters with homework, or practice sorting and patterning. The various colors of each figure provide lots of room to be creative with how you use them.
Want to watch the game? Check out our Facebook live to see the action:
https://www.facebook.com/scholarschoice.ca/videos/1659802287410340/
Bananagrams
Bananagrams is another game that leaves lots of room for open ended play and adaptations. The original Bananagrams has even adapted beyond its original form into My First Bananagrams and Bananagrams Party editions. The tiles can be used in a ton of different ways, here are some of our best ideas:
1. Sensory Bin
Do you have a sensory bin at home? They are a great tool for kids that are practicing their fine motor skills, and the best part of them is that they can be made with nearly everything. Put some Bananagrams tiles in a sensory bin filled with sand and have children excavate words.
Need a set of great tubs for sensory play? Click here .
2. Practice spelling with kids too young to play the game
Have them pick out letters and tell you what they are, spell words for them to copy by finding the letters among the tiles, or challenge each other to spell simple words.
3. Adapt the game from how you normally play it
Change up the normal rules and make it your own! Allow players to build on top of their tiles as well as making them longer (ie/ turn 'SNACK' into 'STACK' by placing a 'T' on top of the 'N'). Instead of yelling "PEEL", yell words from the alphabet, starting with 'A'. Or, add the word 'SWITCH' into the things you can yell, and let people steal each other's spots at the table. Make the game your own and let anyone add rules. As long as you all agree, the sky is the limit!
Want see some of our Bananagrams adaptations live? Check out our video to see the action:
https://www.facebook.com/scholarschoice.ca/videos/1694604790596756/
