Sunday, 18 November 2012

Pillow duel

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...

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. :)

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.




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.

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.


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.

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!