Activities for When Kids Have to Wait -- I Can Teach My Child!

We have all been there…what was supposed to be a 10-minute oil change or wait at the doctor'southward office of a sudden becomes more like an hour (or two!). Worst of all, you weren't prepared for the wait and didn't bring any coloring books or toys along with you! Don't panic…yous take this list FULL of activities for when kids have to look!

(With that beingness said, you *might* want to get ahead and pin this post or bookmark it to your phone…just in case.):)

This list is divided into two categories:  activities for when others are around and activities for when it is just you and your kids. Featherbrained activities are keen for when it is just you lot and your kids, but might non be appreciated when there are other patrons waiting in the aforementioned room.

Just You and Your Kids

These activities are perfect for waiting in exam rooms or when you have the place to yourselves…where others won't be disrupted.

–Play Simon Says:  This timeless game is the perfect manner to keep kids active (i.e. burn a petty energy) and occupy their attending all in one!

–Sing a silly song or recite a finger play (the more deportment the ameliorate):  Hokey Pokey, Practise Your Ears Hang Low, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Deep and Wide, Father Abraham, London Bridges, One-time McDonald Had a Farm, This Little Piggie…only to name a few.

–Create a piggyback story:  Start telling a story and then laissez passer it forth to your child. Have him/her piggyback off of the start to your story and proceed telling it with his/her ain flair. Continue piggybacking off of each other until your wait is over or the story has become also outrageous to go on! :)

–Have a Thumb War:  Link knuckles with your child and get to war to see which thumb is the strongest!

–Practise jumping jacks. Did I mention that it might be necessary (for everyone's sanity) that your kiddos to get some free energy out while waiting?

–Play the Body Count Game:I love this thought from Creative Connections for Kids!

–Observe Your Funny Bone Beginning:Have your kids compete to see who can point to their funny bone kickoff. Continue the race by calling out more torso parts. (Idea from Teach Mama)

With Other People Around

–I Spy:  A archetype game that can be easily reinvented! "I Spy with my little eye, something ______" (insert color, shape, outset alphabetic character, etc).

–Letter Hunt:Call out a letter of the alphabet and ask your children to identify objects around the room that begin with that letter.

–  Play "How Many?":Phone call out a shape, color, etc. and ask your child how many objects he/she can find. (idea from This Reading Mama)

–Read the Room: Have your kid walk around the room and identify words (or shapes, colors, letters and numbers for not-readers).

–Round Robin Game:Starting time with a topic (colors, types of fruit, animals, etc) and go dorsum and forth with your child(ren) naming a color until no one can think of whatever more (idea from Making Time for Mommy). Try it with other topics too (four-legged animals, types of fruit, etc.).

–Run across how high you can count:Quietly count aloud with your child and see how high you can go (thought from Nothing If Not Intentional). Another thought is to guess how many seconds (counts) until the doctor comes in, your nutrient arrives, your car is ready, etc. And then count together and, whoever comes closest to the actual number of counts it takes, wins (idea from The Anarchy and the Ataxia)

–Recite Memory Verses:  A great suggestion from Meaningful Mama! (Or you lot could keep these ABC Scripture Cards in your handbag at all times). :)

–Imaginary Traveler:  Have turns asking your kids to imagine where they might get and what they object desire to have along on their trip, starting time with the letter "a"  and continuing consecutively through the alphabet. For instance, "I'm going to Australia and I'm taking my Angry Birds." "I'm going to Brad'southward and I'm taking my Batman shirt." Encourage participants to be as light-headed as possible." (encounter this and other neat "thinking games" at What Practise Nosotros Do All Day?)

–Play the "What'south missing?" Game:This thought from Craftulate is bright when you take a purse or diaper purse with you. You could even play with items you find around the room.

–Guess Which Hand?:   Put an particular in your hand and put your hands backside your dorsum. Have your child guess which hand the item is in. (thought from Your Modern Family)

–Play "I'm Thinking of a Number":  Think of a number and keep it in your mind. Brainstorm giving your child clues. This classic game is not bad for kids who are familiar with the concepts greater than and less than.

–Ask "Would you Rather?" Questions:Would you rather be in a pool or marshmallows or in a pool of M&Yard's? Would you rather take vivid blue pilus or bright blue anxiety? Find  more questions like this (forth with printable cards) from the Measured Mom.

–Play the Exact Memory Game:  Give your child a short list of items (3-6 depending on the age of your child). Then have them recite the items in order. (idea from There's Just One Mommy)

Take a piece of paper and a pen? Effort this fun waiting room idea from Mama Smiles or these no-talking games from Teach Mama.

Besides, I loved this reminder from Study at Habitation Mama:

I honey playing the games like I Spy, only I also find that these boredom times are great to encourage children to either (one) talk, or (2) discover their own entertainment. I call back when kids are expected to entertain themselves, and they aren't always given the answers, they learn to rise to the occasion. I think it takes do — don't e'er give amusement during car rides, leave some free play time at dwelling house every day, etc. Appoint your children in conversation and teach them how to first conversations — with you, or other kids. When you lot practice this, your child is more apt to strike up a conversation (asking a question or sharing a story) than start whining almost how they are bored.

Finally, every bit aconcluding resort (i.due east. deaf-con meltdown), you can e'er give them your phone. I am personally trying to exist more engaged with my kids and less reliant on applied science because I don't want to miss out on interactions with them! But there are times wheneveryone has had plenty (including me…merely keepin' it existent). In these dire situations, I might intermission out the phone and permit them play an educational app for toddlers, preschoolers, or beginning readers.

What are some of YOUR best tips for when kids have to await?

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Source: https://www.icanteachmychild.com/activities-for-when-kids-have-to-wait/

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