Waiting Games –to keep your children occupied

These games are suitable for times when you have to wait, especially in a restaurant.

1. Finger Game:  Suitable for toddlers and pre-schoolers who are still developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, this game can be played anywhere, whether in the queue to get into the restaurant or when drooling over the dishes on the next table.

Activity: Dad holds out two hands allowing thumbs and fingers to touch lightly. Use thumbs and finger to create various configurations. Child watches and mimics how Dad’s thumbs and fingers are placed. Begin with simple configurations and move to more complex ones. For example, allow tips of thumbs to meet. Next allow tips of index fingers and thumbs to meet to form a triangle.

Play until the food you ordered is served, or until your child starts sucking his thumb.

2. Typing with Toothpicks:  Get your kids spell out their names and words with toothpicks.

Activity: Dad begins by giving Child a few toothpicks –not too many lest the little one goes around hunting for fishballs - just give enough to make out the first alphabet. Give more toothpicks until a word is formed. Go on to form other words. Make it more exciting by setting time limits.

Play until the food is served. Chances are that the restaurant owner will not be happy that he has to order more toothpicks. But, he is running a business and cannot be too picky with his customers.

3. Batman, Superman, Spiderman:  This is a great game for a bunch of kids. Keep them from tearing down the restaurant by transforming them into superheroes.

Activity: Dad(s) and Children sit in a circle to learn about the action paired with each superhero’s name:

• Batman: To mimic Batman’s flying action, stretch out both arms above head and flap like in slow motion.
• Superman: To mimic Superman’s flying stance, lift one hand straight and raise above head, allow the other to be bent and held slightly below chin level.
• Spiderman: To mimic Spiderman spinning a web, allow both palms to face upwards. Allow ring- and middle-finger to touch the palm. (Make a ‘tsst’ sound for added effect)

To begin, Dad points to Child and calls out, "Batman!" Child responds with any action rather than Batman, ie. he must choose to be either Superman or Spiderman.

If the child gets it right, he goes on to point at another person and calls out the superhero of his choice. If he gets it wrong, he is eliminated from the group. The final two left will, thus, head for a showdown of superheroes.

Travel Games- being on the road is a challenge, so make it fun for everyone!

1. Animal, Vegetable or Mineral: A classic, this game uses only your imagination and ability to classify. Therefore, you can play it even if you driving in an area where nothing is in sight except endless miles of trees and sand.

Activity: Dad thinks of an object and gets Child to guess what it is. The Child asks questions, and begins with, “Is it an animal, vegetable or mineral?” To which Dad answers accordingly. For all other questions, Dad answers either “Yes” or “No” until Child gets it right. Take turns to guess.

2. Counting Game: There are interesting things to look out for while on the road. Get your children to count stop signs, traffic lights, zebra crossings, trucks, vans, black cars, red cards, silver cars, blue cars and multi-coloured cars –you get the drift.

Activity: Before setting off, Dad decides on the item that Child has to count. For example, shop signs. Little ones who are just learning to count will find this challenging enough. For the slightly older ones, make it more exciting by giving different items to spot. Where there is more than one child, get them to compete. If it gets boring along the way, change the item(s).

3. Driving Like Daddy (or the Pilot; or the Captain): It may surprise you, but your kid is probably rather fascinated about the vehicle he is travelling in. As such, set him up or a dashboard of sorts -steering wheel. His imagination will travel far.

Activity: Dad explains to Child how the family will be travelling: by car, ship or plane. On a cardboard, Dad and Child draw a picture of the main controls of the chosen mode of transport. As the picture is in black and white, the Child can add colour to it one the road trip. When Child becomes restless, Dad gets him to “drive” the vehicle. Both can make engine sounds together with gusto.

About the Author: The Dads for Life Resource Team comprises local content writers and experts, including psychologists, counsellors, educators and social service professionals, dedicated to developing useful resources for dads.