Beanbags are inexpensive toys that kids of all ages can enjoy both indoors and outdoors. Depending on what games you play with them, beanbags can be useful in teaching kids about colors and numbers. They can also help children develop fine motor skills and social skills.
Beanbag Shape Game
Your toddler can learn shapes by playing a beanbag game recommended on the website Activity Village. Start by cutting paper into various shapes and laying the shapes on the floor. Give your child a few beanbags and tell him to toss a beanbag onto a specific shape, for example the circle. You can also add a color lesson to this game by telling your child to throw the beanbag onto a shape of a certain color such as the blue triangle. Teach your child numbers by telling him to throw a specific number of beanbags onto one of the shapes or colors.
Leap Frog
Leap Frog is a fun beanbag game recommended on the website Carnival Savers. Set up a fake pond with lily pads and one or two blown up, stuffed or paper alligators. You can set up this game on the ground or in a baby pool. Give each child three beanbags and tell the kids to pretend the beanbags are frogs. Have the players try to toss the beanbags onto the lily pads, but avoid the alligators. When a beanbag lands on a lily pad the child gets a point, when a child throws a beanbag onto an alligator she loses a point. The child who scores the most points is the winner.
Beanbag Ice Breaker
Activity Village suggests a beanbag game as an ice breaker for a party or the first day of school or camp. Ask the children to stand in a circle. One person gets a beanbag. That person asks a question such as ‘What is your favorite animal’ or ‘What is your favorite flavor of ice cream’ and then tosses the beanbag to someone else in the circle. The person who catches the beanbag answers the question, then throws the beanbag while asking another question. The website claims this game works best when it moves quickly.
Beanbag Toss
The Beanbag Toss is a classic children’s beanbag game. There are several variations on this game. Parents Magazine recommends drawing a lion’s head on a piece of cardboard or sturdy paper. Cut a hole where the lion’s mouth is. Lean the lion’s head at a slant against a wall have the children try to toss their beanbags into the lion’s mouth. Have the children stand behind a line and move the line farther from the lion after every round of play to keep the game challenging.
Another version involves arranging laundry baskets in a room. Have the children toss their beanbags into the laundry baskets. Again, continuously move the children farther from the goal to keep the young players challenged.
Member Comments