A parent's greatest source of pride is to see her children getting along, loving, and respecting each other. One way to nurture this is to let the siblings enjoy fun family games together.
While arguments and conflicts in families are typical, it's still important to let the children do activities with their brothers or sisters even if they fight. According to Boys & Girls Aid, sibling bonds help kids navigate relationships with different people. The child also forms a sense of attachment and identity that will stimulate their development and maturity.
Here are some fun family games that can strengthen the bonds of siblings:
1. The Floor is Lava
The Floor is Lava is the ultimate indoor family game, and kids of all ages can play it. Even the parents can join. The rules of the game are very simple. When someone shouts, "the floor is lava!" everyone playing has to get off the ground for a specified time. They can climb the bed or stand on a chair and try to get across other parts of the house without stepping on the ground. They lose the game if they step on the floor before the time is up.
According to Mental Floss, this game began in the suburbs in the 1950s. Houses in the suburbs usually had large family rooms, separate from the formal living room, where the kids kept themselves busy while mom and dad did the chores around the house.
2. This or That, and other questions game
This or That is a questions game where the players choose what they like best from two items. Dog or cat? Ice creams or snow cones? Cake or pie?
A variation of This and That is Would You Rather, where the players are asked to pick from two situations. Would you rather sing or dance? Would you rather be invisible or have the power to fly?
For larger families, the Who Is Most Likely question game promises a lot of fun. But some preparation may be needed. The siblings may ask each other questions like, who will likely get married first or who will likely become famous?
These games will allow the children hours of entertainment and endless categories. It will also give the kids a chance to learn what their siblings are like.
3. Ping Pong Bounce
This game will require a ping pong ball, empty milk or egg cartons, and some paint or markers. The kids may challenge each other to score the most points by getting the balls inside the cartons from a reasonable distance.
KiwiCo has a detailed guide on how to play this game creatively. For variety, the cartons may have letters or numbers to help the younger kids learn their alphabet and numerals.
4. Don't Drop the Ball
Challenge the kids to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible as they pass and bop it around each other. If they are overachievers, they will try to clinch their best time, so give them additional challenges; for instance, they can't use their right hand to catch the ball.
The ball may also be replaced with a balloon for the younger kids, so it's lighter to pass around. Another variation to this game is to let the kids stretch out a towel, holding it from both ends. Then they have to bounce the ball on the towel without dropping it to the floor.
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