games for boys Archives - Child's Play In Action

Animal Games that Will Inspire Your Kid’s Imagination

Ages 3-5, For Parents, Games, Games for Families and Siblings, Most Recent, Reading, Videos / By Jocelyn Greene

Animal games are an awesome gateway to dramatic play. Here’s a blueprint for play that will help kids – and adults – venture into imagination with a Roar!

Two People playing What Are You Doing - Funny Game for Kids

Why “What Are You Doing?” is my New Favorite Funny Game

Ages 6-9, For Parents, Games, Games for Families and Siblings, Most Recent, Reading, Videos / By Jocelyn Greene

This awesome theater games does double-duty as a living room staple! You can play this during transitional time when you are looking to avoid screens and capitalize on imagination! Watch classroom teaching artists play “What are you doing?” do get inspired for your own playtime!

Boy popping head out of box with toy roof on head

Gifts for Kids to Spark Curiosity and a Love of Learning

Ages 3-5, Books and Toys, For Parents, Games, Mindfulness, Most Recent, Reading, Toys, Videos / By Jocelyn Greene

While I love a good pillow fort, I also appreciate the value of quality games and toys! Here’s four fabulous gifts for kids that tickle the brain and capitalize on the kind of learning that inspires them. These are all less than $15 and are super portable too. I like these for road trips or for after-dinner playing with your kids. Happy gifting!

Boys and girls acting and showing emotion with expression and hand gestures

Emotions Charades and Other Games to Support Feeling Kids

Ages 3-5, Ages 6-9, Ages 9+, Featured For Parents, For Parents, Games, Games for Families and Siblings, Mindfulness, Mindfulness and Meditation, Most Recent, Reading, Videos / By Jocelyn Greene

Emotions Charades is a super fun and incredibly potent tool to help support EQ and empathy in our kids. Use these tips from our theater classrooms to inspire your games and learn about other playful ways that help kids come to terms with their emotions. In these highly charged times we live in, kids need support in identifying and expressing their feelings…let’s do it through play!

Creative Movement Games that Inspire Kids to be Brave and Kind

Ages 6-9, Featured for Teachers, For Parents, Games, Games for Families and Siblings, Games for the Classroom, Mindfulness, Most Recent, Reading, Videos / By Jocelyn Greene

The thrilling ways that actors use creative movement can translate to your home or classroom for inspired indoor play. Help kids get “into character” through physical and robust playing that nurtures empathy along the way too! If you are a theater or classroom teacher these build up your ensemble and inspire brave choices. Build in some of these games as a way to release energy and recharge after the school day. Set these games in motion and then empower your kids to keep the playing going without you!

Treasure Hunt Tricks That Will Blow Your Mind

1 Comment / Ages 6-9, For Parents, Games, Games for Families and Siblings, Most Recent, Reading, Videos / By Jocelyn Greene

Make a Treasure Hunt with your kids for awesome rainy-day play. Beyond just a game, this boosts essential executive function skills and is a fabulous way to work on reading.

outdoor portrait of a cute young girl reading a book

6 Essential Books for Kids that Make Social-Emotional Learning Fun

Ages 3-5, Books and Toys, For Parents, Games, Mindfulness and Meditation, Most Recent, Reading, Videos / By Jocelyn Greene

What a parenting relief to find great kids lit that helps kids identify and process emotion! These 6 books, recommended by a librarian and a theater teacher, can boost kids’ emotional intelligence and help them manage complex feelings.

Boost Kids’ IQ and Joy with this Simple, Silly Game

Ages 3-5, For Parents, Games, Games for Families and Siblings, Most Recent, Videos / By Jocelyn Greene

This simple and silly theater game supports your child’s brain development and creates new neural pathways that build positivity and help them crave bonding! Beyond boosting IQ, this game is pure pleasure to play and can be that parent hack that you need for everything from picky eaters to tricky sleepers. Enjoy setting up your silly store!

daughter gives me so much happiness - piggybacking on mom

How to Talk to Kids with Humor and Fun (About the Big Stuff)

Ages 3-5, For Parents, Games, Games for Families and Siblings, Most Recent, Playful Parenting Hacks, Videos / By Jocelyn Greene

If you are hankering to talk to your kids about the big stuff, or help them process emotions, then you should play Taxi! This classic theater game is adaptable for all ages and provides kids with a safe and sweet space to share feelings with you. Use it to bond with your kids when you have a little down-time and know that they are also benefitting from the social-emotional learning (SEL) and Executive Function work-out that this game gives them. Watch the video to learn about the benefits and the ways to play.

happy family can get places faster through play

15 Ways to Play and Laugh More

Ages 3-5, For Parents, Games, Most Recent, Playful Parenting Hacks, Videos / By Jocelyn Greene

It’s hard just to get through the requirements of parenting, let alone find time on top of that to play. However, here is the tip: inject stories into the mundane parenting tasks and you’ll get what you need to get done quicker, and bond with your kid in the process.