A variation on the pillow/cushion fight.
Two of us stand as far apart as our lounge will allow with one pillow/cushion between us.
We then take it in turns to throw the cushion and hit each other other but we're not allowed to move our feet.
Kinda like dodgeball but with a cushion. Dodgecushion then...
Sunday 18 November 2012
How much do you love me?
One fun thing that we do is where I say to the children (although now they say it to me!): "How much do you love me?" and they show me with their hands apart "this much".
"Is that all?"
They move their hands further apart, "this much!"
And this continues until their arms are outstretched as far as they can go and they declare "this much!"
At which point I tickle them under their arms. :)
"Is that all?"
They move their hands further apart, "this much!"
And this continues until their arms are outstretched as far as they can go and they declare "this much!"
At which point I tickle them under their arms. :)
Sunday 15 July 2012
Pillow Fight!
"What is first rule of pillow fighting?"
"Never throw your pillow at your opponent!" my children reply.
Indeed they have been trained well at the academy. For whomever so loses their pillow shall not gain it again. Indeed it shall be turned and used against them by said opponent with nothing to defend yourself with.
"Never throw your pillow at your opponent!" my children reply.
Indeed they have been trained well at the academy. For whomever so loses their pillow shall not gain it again. Indeed it shall be turned and used against them by said opponent with nothing to defend yourself with.
Friday 6 July 2012
Encouragement
This past week we have had our school's prize giving evening and when my children were called up for prizes I whooped and hollered for all I was worth.
Perhaps I make a fool out of myself but I figure I've only got a few of these evening's before they leave school and I want to make them count. I want them to know that I am their number one fan. I want them to know that I think they're great. I want them to know I am proud of them. I want them to know that I am not ashamed to make a fool out of myself for them.
Some people commented to me that I might embarrass my children by doing this (which I confess seemed very odd to me that letting everyone know how much I think of them would embarrass them - but I'm not always known for my sensitivity). So I checked with my children and the radiant faces they gave me as we talked about this spoke more than their words.
When I was a teacher (many years ago) there was a lad in my form group who was just so delightful. Kind, helpful, keen. Everything you would want a student to be. So I asked his parents what was their secret. And they said; "we take every opportunity to encourage him".
I want to do that I want to put courage in my children. I never want them to doubt that I am 100% for them. And I want to write this to remind myself not to forget it.
Perhaps I make a fool out of myself but I figure I've only got a few of these evening's before they leave school and I want to make them count. I want them to know that I am their number one fan. I want them to know that I think they're great. I want them to know I am proud of them. I want them to know that I am not ashamed to make a fool out of myself for them.
Some people commented to me that I might embarrass my children by doing this (which I confess seemed very odd to me that letting everyone know how much I think of them would embarrass them - but I'm not always known for my sensitivity). So I checked with my children and the radiant faces they gave me as we talked about this spoke more than their words.
When I was a teacher (many years ago) there was a lad in my form group who was just so delightful. Kind, helpful, keen. Everything you would want a student to be. So I asked his parents what was their secret. And they said; "we take every opportunity to encourage him".
I want to do that I want to put courage in my children. I never want them to doubt that I am 100% for them. And I want to write this to remind myself not to forget it.
The humble blanket (3)
Today we played a new game with the blanket.
My eldest daughter and I held each end of the blanket and one of the younger children got in it (like a hammock). We then rock it from side-to-side and on the count of three throw them onto the sofa.
They loved it.
My eldest daughter and I held each end of the blanket and one of the younger children got in it (like a hammock). We then rock it from side-to-side and on the count of three throw them onto the sofa.
They loved it.
Tuesday 5 June 2012
The humble blanket (2)
This very simple activity involves the children lying down on the blanket longways and then me pulling them around on the lounge floor (we have a wooden floor - suspect this won't work for carpet!).
For the more adventurous whipping them around corners is great fun (bike helmets optional for added protection!). Also the older ones can sit up and then I jerk the blanket hard and they have to try and stay sitting up.
For the more adventurous whipping them around corners is great fun (bike helmets optional for added protection!). Also the older ones can sit up and then I jerk the blanket hard and they have to try and stay sitting up.
The humble sofa (1)
My children's favourite game is called "throw me on the sofa".
The name kind of says it all. I win if I can get all of my children on the sofa at the same time. They win if they can keep me from doing it until an agreed time (or more likely until I'm too tired to carry on).
This was a lot easier when they were younger - but now requires me to pick up the youngest put him into the eldest daughter's arms and push them both onto the sofa then grab the next one and put them next door but I never seem to able to grab the fourth before one of them has escaped.
Great fun for all the family!
The name kind of says it all. I win if I can get all of my children on the sofa at the same time. They win if they can keep me from doing it until an agreed time (or more likely until I'm too tired to carry on).
This was a lot easier when they were younger - but now requires me to pick up the youngest put him into the eldest daughter's arms and push them both onto the sofa then grab the next one and put them next door but I never seem to able to grab the fourth before one of them has escaped.
Great fun for all the family!
Friday 18 May 2012
Bath time (1) - bubbly beards!
One of the games we love to play in the bath is bubbly beards.
I apply bubbles to my chin and then try to kiss the children and cover them in bubbles. They try to shave my beard off with their hands before I can get them.
I apply bubbles to my chin and then try to kiss the children and cover them in bubbles. They try to shave my beard off with their hands before I can get them.
Faith
A fun game that we play is faith which I first learnt from David McInnes who was rector of St Aldates when I was a student many years ago.
The children stand on the stairs while I stand at the bottom. They jump off the stairs towards me shouting "faith". I then I catch them. As they get more adventurous and trusting in my ability to catch them (hence "faith") they go further up the stairs.
The ultimate faith exercise is for them to face upstairs, close their eyes and fall backwards waiting for me to catch them.
The children stand on the stairs while I stand at the bottom. They jump off the stairs towards me shouting "faith". I then I catch them. As they get more adventurous and trusting in my ability to catch them (hence "faith") they go further up the stairs.
The ultimate faith exercise is for them to face upstairs, close their eyes and fall backwards waiting for me to catch them.
Sunday 6 May 2012
Spring activity
Oops! Wrote this two months ago - but just found it in the drafts section....
Took the children on a walk today but to counter the usual "can we go by car?" we introduced a purpose to the walk of hunting for signs of spring.
So we look for the buds on the trees, the snowdrops and crocuses and of course the daffodils.
Took the children on a walk today but to counter the usual "can we go by car?" we introduced a purpose to the walk of hunting for signs of spring.
So we look for the buds on the trees, the snowdrops and crocuses and of course the daffodils.
The sofa burger
This is a classic game that the kids love.
The idea is to use the cushions and the children themselves to make a human burger.
So I put down the first cushion and say something like "now I need some Hannah to go in it". I then pick up Hannah and put her on the cushion. Then we need some kind of sauce - so a blanket or scarf or small pillow. Then the second sofa cushion to make the other slice of bread.
Once we have the burger it's time to eat it. So we always make a big thing of it and of course they escape by slipping out of the burger as I eat it. With me exclaiming "where's my filling gone?" and then starting all over again...
The idea is to use the cushions and the children themselves to make a human burger.
So I put down the first cushion and say something like "now I need some Hannah to go in it". I then pick up Hannah and put her on the cushion. Then we need some kind of sauce - so a blanket or scarf or small pillow. Then the second sofa cushion to make the other slice of bread.
Once we have the burger it's time to eat it. So we always make a big thing of it and of course they escape by slipping out of the burger as I eat it. With me exclaiming "where's my filling gone?" and then starting all over again...
Sunday 19 February 2012
The humble blanket (part 1)
So today after special request from Hannah daddy was the "consume monster". Basically this involves me going under a blanket and crawling around on my hands and knees trying to gobble the children up all the while saying "consume".
Much squealing of delight, with running away or trying to leap on daddy and ride him like a horse.
When Josiah was younger he used to dress up in his crocodile dressing gown as "Crocodile Man" who would rescue the girls from being consumed but now he needs no such confidence boosting!
Much squealing of delight, with running away or trying to leap on daddy and ride him like a horse.
When Josiah was younger he used to dress up in his crocodile dressing gown as "Crocodile Man" who would rescue the girls from being consumed but now he needs no such confidence boosting!
Monday 16 January 2012
Winter activity
OK, it's cold and it's tempting to stay in - but with the boys testosterone rising we have to get them out. So in desperation took them on an ice hunt.
Yeah sure they grumbled to begin with but after crunching ice with their shoes and then picking up large ice slabs to bring home (but they never seem to know what to do with it then!) - they soon cheered up.
Yeah sure they grumbled to begin with but after crunching ice with their shoes and then picking up large ice slabs to bring home (but they never seem to know what to do with it then!) - they soon cheered up.
Sunday 15 January 2012
Intro
I've meaning to start this for ages - but as I get older and my memory gets shorter - the need to record what I've learnt and what I do with my children is becoming more urgent.
I am married to Jennie and have been 14 years. We have four children on earth (Lizzie 11, Josiah 7, Hannah 6 and Levi 2½) and two in heaven (Rachel 4, James 3).
It's not easy but it'll be one of the only things I'll do in this world which will impact the next generation and I want to do it right.
I hope to post here any games or activities I do with my children, book reviews, articles I've found helpful and reflections on being a 21st century dad. I know they'll help me. I hope they'll help you.
I am married to Jennie and have been 14 years. We have four children on earth (Lizzie 11, Josiah 7, Hannah 6 and Levi 2½) and two in heaven (Rachel 4, James 3).
It's not easy but it'll be one of the only things I'll do in this world which will impact the next generation and I want to do it right.
I hope to post here any games or activities I do with my children, book reviews, articles I've found helpful and reflections on being a 21st century dad. I know they'll help me. I hope they'll help you.
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