I had planned on going back to some old classics, but recently have had many requests from the kids to play this game, so I think this one is a winner. It takes just a few minutes to set up and then allows for time for you to sit on the couch, and let them run around the house. You do need to know a little bit about technology …
Requirements: You need a digital camera and a hook up to a bigger screen. I have a connection from the camera to the big TV in the living room, so we use that. But, I’m assuming you at least have a hookup to the computer and monitor. Set it up so you can view the pictures, and it moves to the next picture when you click next.
Okay, getting to the fun part, while the kids wait in one room, or even before them come home from school/day care (I work from home, so I take five minutes during the day, to give me an easy hour at night), go around the house, taking pictures with your digital camera. Take “up close” pictures of faces in your house. The kids toys and stuffed animals are great. Pictures of fun family pictures is a good option, too. Maybe Mom’s figurines, the cover of a children’s book, or popular product or food item your kids will recognize.
Then, once you hook up to the big screen, you say, “Who’s face is THAT!?!” (we have fun emphasizing the THAT part) Let’s say it’s a close up picture of a stuffed animal. I try to take it close enough that it’s not TOO obvious, yet you want them to get it, too. So, they all yell, “Robbie’s Bear!” And, then they have to run around the house to find it. (usually I just leave it in the place where I found it, but when I’m looking of a couple extra minutes, I’ll put it somewhere it’s not supposed to be).
Tips, warnings, and other ideas …
- If you one kid is faster than the others, you will need rules about letting the little ones finding some things. When you’re looking for a fun, relaxing hour on the couch, you don’t need screaming and bickering about one kid getting more turns than the others. (We sometimes say you have to don’t bring it back, just tell me where you found it)
- We have taken so many pictures of faces (you’ll be surprised how many faces are in your house), we have now branched out to “What toy is THAT?!?!” (same thing but with toys) and “Where is THAT?!?” (close up pictures of furniture or wall hangings)
- We made up a fun rule, that when the face is of a person in the room (like a picture of Mom somewhere in the house), you have to hug that person, and then find the picture.
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