Stuff For Kids To Do

Origami: The art of paper folding

Origami is the art of paper folding that originated in Japan almost a thousand years ago.

There are many creative ideas for Origami and all you need to start is a piece of paper and a pair of scissors.

Ideas For Origami

1. Make a Book With Origami Pictures

A book with origami pictures

2, Make n Origami Greeting Card

Origami birthday card

A pop-out origami centre of card

3. Make an Origami Mobile.

Origami mobile

4. Make an Origami Wall Design

Origami wall design

5. Have an Origami Puppet Show

Origami puppet show

6. Make Origami Dolls

Origami dolls

7. Have an Origami Plane Race

Origami planes. Who has the fastest?

Click here for WikiHow's Origami tutorials

OrigamiUSA

Origami Resource Centre

Game: Who am I ?

Equipment: sticky post-it notes and pens.

One person writes the name of a famous person, or fictional character or job type on a post-it note for each person playing the game.

The post-it notes are then stuck onto each person's forehead or back, so that they cannot read what is on their own post-it note. All other players can read the note, but the person with the note cannot.

All players then walk about and ask each other yes/no questions about the attributes of the person or character, and others must answer truthfully.

For example, A mermaid might ask: " Do I have a tail?". The other person must answer "yes".

This can be adapted to any topic.

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Picture To Sentence Game

1. Everyone sits in a circle, with a pencil and piece of paper.

2. Everyone writes their name in small print at the top of the page. (keep it at the top as the paper will be folded)

3. Everyone starts by writing a sentence at the top of their paper.

4. Then, each person passes their paper to the person on the left.

5. Each person then draws a small picture (or series of pictures) to represent the sentence.

6. Each person then folds the paper so that the sentence is no longer visible.

7. Each person passes the paper to the left, with the picture visible.

8. Each person writes a sentence to describe the image(s) .

9. Then, the paper is again folded so that the picture is no longer visible.

Pass the paper to the left.

10. Continue alternately writing sentences and drawing pictures, covering up everything but the latest sentence or picture.

11. Repeat until you have your original piece of paper back.

Everyone can read their paper out aloud, or pass them around so everyone can see the drawings and sentences.

Example

The cat danced wearing a dress.

The cat thought she could fly like a bird.

Super Cat saved the town but realized he was scared of heights and was about to fall.

The fish is ready to eat the cat falling into the lake.

The Future-Telling Game: MASH

MASH, an acronym for: Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House, is a popular⁣ pen-and-paper ‌multiplayer game. Mash is usually played with 2 people, as only one player’s fortune can be told at each game.

Players come up with categories and options to fill in and take turns drawing spirals to determine their "magic number”, which they use to cross out options.

Players predict their future by crossing out options in different categories until one option is left in each category. Players continue crossing out options using their magic number until only one option remains in each category.

For e.g. You live in a shack with the king. You will be movie star, with a pet gorilla. You will live on the Moon.

How to Play:

Write "MASH" at the top of the page.
Choose your categories.
List 4 options for every category.
Find your magic number.
Strike out options until you're left with 1 result for each category.
Read out your results.

Let's Go!

Write MASH at the top of a piece of paper.1. Decide what you want the game to predict and list them as categories on your paper. For e.g. housing, car, spouse, job, pet(s), salary, first child’s name. Make sure to leave enough room under each category to write 4 selections.

The Future-Telling Game: MASH

2. Each player writes down their 4 answers for each category. There will be 2 things they want and 2 things they don't want. Write them in a column under the category title.

3. Player 2 then begins to draw a swirl on a separate piece of paper. Player 1 will say "Stop" at a time they choose after at least 3 seconds, and player 2 stops and draws a line through the swirl from the endpoint to the starting point. They then count how many times the swirl intercepts the line drawn. This is the magic number you’ll use in the next step to reduce your options.

Count how many times the swirl intercepts the line drawn. This is the magic number (Alternatively, player 2 will make tally marks instead of drawing a swirl. When player 1 says "Stop", player 2 stops drawing marks and counts them.

4. Start crossing off options using your magic number. Player 1 or 2 counts each item down the page (starting with the MASH), and crosses off the answer that they land on.

For instance, if four lines were counted in the swirl, every fourth answer is crossed off the list. This continues until there is only one item in each category. Each letter in the title is considered an answer and should be crossed off accordingly.

5. Keep counting, and every time you get to that magic number, cross out the option you landed on. When you get to the end of the categories, go back to the beginning.

When only one option is left in a category, this is Player 1's future. Repeat.

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Get Moving Game: Simon Says

This game is a great way to get children moving, especially on rainy days when they can't go outside.

Get Moving: Simon Says

How To Play

One player takes the role of "Simon" and gives instructions for the children to follow.

The instructions are usually for physical actions and are preceded by "Simon says". For e.g., "Simon says jump in the air" or "Simon says stick out your tongue".

If Simon gives an instruction that does not include the phrase "Simon says", then the children should stay still.

If children follow instructions without the words "Simon says", then they are out of the game.

If two or more of the last players are eliminated at the same time, then Simon wins the game.

Simon Says Suggestions

1. Simon says touch your foot

2. Simon says jump like a kangaoo

3. Simon says crawl like a worm

4. Simon says point your fingers

5. Simon says clap your hands

Game: What's Missing?

This game is good for memory, language skills and social engagement.

What's Missing?

Place a range of objects or photos on a table. For e.g. a hair brush, doll, sock, microscope, cactus, pencil, spoon, tube of toothpaste.

The children sit or stand around the table so they can see all the objects or photos

Tell the children to close their eyes and then remove one of the objects or photos..

Then, tell the children to open their eyes.

The first child who says what's missing wins that round.

Continue with other objects or photos.

Game: All Birds Fly

A listening and action game for groups.

1. One player is selected to be the speaker and stands in front of the group of children.

2. The speaker then names 10 things using the sentence "{birds) fly". The speaker raises their arms above the head and imitates flying. However, then, "bird" is replaced by the object of the speaker's choice. The children can only imitate flying if that animal or object can fly.

For example:

1. "Birds fly" (arms imitate flying)

2. "Eagles fly" (arms imitate flying)

3. "Dogs fly" (arms down and still)

4. "Computers fly" (arms down and still)

5. "Pelicans fly" (arms imitate flying)

6. "Pigs fly" (arms down and still)

7. "Seahorses fly" (arms down and still)

8. "Moths fly" (arms imitate flying)

8. "Aeroplanes fly" (arms imitate flying)

9. "Chairs fly" (arms down and still)

Any player who raises their arms when that thing can't fly, or doesn't raise their arms in time, is out of the game. Some forms of the game only allow birds as the flying objects.

The speaker will try to confuse the other players by speaking fast and confusing the players.