10 Fun Play Ideas and Games for an Only Child
by The Genius of Play Team
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Patience is a Virtue: Games can be a great tool to help teach only children how to wait their turn and the importance of losing.
Miss/Mr. Independent: Focusing on their independence has been shown to boost their ability to think more creatively.
Not a Small World, Afterall: Just because your child may grow up without siblings doesn’t mean they need to grow up in solitude. Lean on your network of immediate family, cousins, and friends. Technology has made it easier for everyone to feel like we’re together even when we’re apart.
Growing up as an only child, kids are often confronted with many misperceptions about what childhood as an “only” is like. Most common is the stereotype that being an “only” equates to being “lonely.” But life without siblings doesn’t have to be lonely, and it certainly doesn’t have to be boring.
A big key to raising an only child is that it shouldn’t be looked at differently than raising multiple kids. Sure, parents may have more time to dedicate to one kid vs. two or more, but when it comes to playtime, it isn’t one-size fits all. Like any kid, an only child needs a balanced diet of play, from activities kids can do on their own to help build independence – and so you can get some work done – to activities you can do together and with others to build social skills.
Jacks Game
Strike that balance between independent and group play in an old-fashioned game that can be played with 3+ players or practiced and played alone. Have your child spend some time mastering the art of the game and then challenge them to a fast-paced battle!
Homemade Playdough
Not only does making your own playdough get kids’ creative juices flowing, but this easy recipe creates storable dough you can use for months to hold a child’s attention for solo play.
Housework Hustle
Kids can dance and sing their way through boring old chores like straightening up their rooms and putting away their toys. It can also turn something no one likes to do into an active bonding experience amongst families.
My Own Plant
Custom designing a pot for their plant will help give kids an added sense of ownership, and plant care in general can be a great way to teach kids responsibility as well as compassion for life.
Emotions Book
Encouraging kids to craft their own books doesn’t just serve as a fun activity but a creative and healthy way for kids to share their emotions.
Jumping Jack Syllables
Looking for a fun way to practice some English language skills? Use jumping jacks to jump out the number of syllables in a word. Start with something simple such as days of the week or months of the year. Kids can learn and get in some exercise at the same time!
Auto Alphabet
You don’t need to go on a road trip to play this alphabet version of the classic game I Spy. Have kids list the letters of the alphabet on one side of a piece of paper and make their way down the list as they spot something beginning with a certain letter. Kids can work on it on their own or it can be a fun family activity to do together.
Cat's Cradle String Game
While parents can play along to pass the cradle back and forth, Cat’s Cradle is also a great launch pad for children to play alone and evolve their string creations into new wonders, like a witch’s broom or the Eiffel Tower as they practice patience.
Egg Carton Butterfly
Just like a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, repurpose old egg cartons into butterfly creations in this fun craft project. It’s a craft that will require some parental assistance to get started, but then it’s up to kids to let their imaginations soar. Not into butterflies? Kids can use one cup of the carton to make a turtle or a ladybug, use three cups to make a bumblebee, or use a full half carton to make a butterfly’s predecessor, a caterpillar!
Roller Coaster
Encourage cooperative play! Have your child play with a friend or get down on the floor yourself and play together to create the ultimate marble roller coaster course using available household items. Compete to see who can score the most points every time the marble makes it into the cup.