The Game:
This perfect wintertime game is a family affair. “What’s That?” is educational, quiet, inexpensive and will create dynamic interaction and bonding between child and parent. This activity can be played anytime, either at home or on the road. It’s easy, simple and you will end up with a really smart kid.
The Stage:
Call a family meeting and explain the rules of the game to children. Parents can modify these rules to complement nearly any age range of children.
Explain to children that they will earn money for learning what a word means. Children will learn: how to use a dictionary, how to spell a word, how to pronounce that word, how to use that word, and what that word means. Show children what a dictionary is along with how and why it is used.
Materials:
Most households have all these items; if necessary, all items can be purchased at a low-cost.
A shared family dictionary.
Colored ink pens of different color for each child.
Colored packages of small stick pads of different color for each child.
Piggy bank (or cup) for each child.
Loose change or a few rolls of pennies, nickels, dimes and / or quarters (parental choice).
At least one curious child and one engaged and caring parent.
Rules:
First: Whenever children come across something they don’t understand or want to learn about, encourage children to ask parent: “What’s That?”
Second: Tell the child who asked: “What’s That?” to grab the dictionary. Accompany the child and conduct the following:
Teach child how to look up word in dictionary.
Show child word printed in dictionary.
Using colored stick pad, have child mark page.
Using colored ink pen, have child mark word in dictionary.
Teach child how to properly pronounce word.
Using pencil and paper, teach child how to write (spell properly) word on paper.
Read definition of word to child and explain meaning.
Help child read definition of word to you.
Have child tell you what word means.
Help child verbally use word properly in a sentence, or two, or three.
Third: Inform child to use the word that was just learned (in a sentence) at any time throughout remainder of day, at least twice.
Explain to children that they will earn money for their piggy banks for completing each of the above three steps. All three steps must be completed before children receive money. Remuneration amounts are at the discretion of parents.
Step 1: One-penny.
Step 2: One-dime.
Step 3: One-nickel.
Set limits – maybe conduct this process two or three times daily, per child.
For older children, consider a bonus of one quarter anytime child is able to conduct this entire process, unassisted by parent.
Results:
Your kids will always ask: “What’s That?” You might as well take advantage of the opportunity to teach your children. You will always spend money on your children. You might as well take advantage of this opportunity too and let your kids earn some money (that you will spend on them anyway) for their learning. Your children will learn the value of money and how difficult it can be to come by. When the kids want to buy something, let them raid the piggy bank – it’s their reward, they earned it. The reward you will receive is every parents dream – “My child is smarter and wiser than I was!”
Prepare your children for life. Use this awesome wintertime game as an activity to build their mind and vocabulary. If you do, they will, one day have a brain strong enough to take on the world.
More from Michael:
Winter Hobbies and Activities: A Time to Invent, Philosophize and Write