by Dolores Moore

Created on: September 28, 2007   Last Updated: January 30, 2012

When I saw this title, I was almost tripping over myself in excitement, as there is nothing more enjoyable than watching and joining with children, as they create their own fun in ways that not only totally involve them, but give them a sense of accomplishment and develop many skills. It costs little or nothing in terms of money but the pleasure and fun that result are worth a million dollars. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Your old velvet skirt - don't throw it away, add it to a dressing-up box, along with hats, scarves, shirts, dresses, anything in fact, and don't forget that old costume jewelry, the bigger the better. Even little boys like to deck themselves in gold! Create a scenario for the kids, like "Going to the Ball" or "Fighting a Duel" or anything that involves imagination, is simple, and can engage boys and girls. Long skirts become capes, scarves are swashbuckling pirate headgear or belts for swords.

You might have a best-dressed 'lady', 'pirate', 'cowboy' 'princess', 'villain' and so on, competition - the list is only as short as the imagination and creative powers of kids - so it's a big long list!

Give everybody five minutes to choose and dress up, then ask them one by one to tell who they are, where they are going, what they want to do in this 'disguise'. You might even get them to vote for the best-dressed character or story.
This promotes imaginative play, verbal expression, listening skills and co-operation - and most of all, it is fun.

2. Sit in a circle, and ask each child to say their name and to add the name of a fruit or vegetable. If children can do it, let them write the name and draw the article, which they hide after stating it. Tell them no two people can have the same fruit or vegetable. As the first child says his/her name and choice, the next must repeat this before stating theirs, then the third has two previous names and fruits to remember. By the time they get to the fifth, forgetfulness and confusion might start to creep in, and this is where everyone can be called on to help out. You need to keep a note (surreptitiously of course) as to whether Paul is a pear or a pepper, or Anna has chosen to be a cabbage or a peach! When the final round is completed, go backwards if they are enjoying themselves. Have a supply of fruit available so each child can have one to eat at the end of the game.

This is a great game if the kids can draw their choices first, but works just as well as a verbal exercise. The game develops verbal and

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