In a message dated 7/5/2011 8:31:52 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
pearlsoutreach writes:
Hello Dr.V:
My name is Ms.Mattie. I in need of your help. I will be attending a Deaf
camp in July. I need to prepare activities for the children age range from
3-5 yrs both deaf,and hearing. What type activities do you recommend?. This
is a Christian church that will host the camp. Please advise.
Thank you.
- Ms. Mattie
Ms. Mattie,
A fun activity for Deaf kids (or most kids actually) is to tie balloons onto
the children's ankles with at least 12 inches of string between the balloon
and the ankle and then have the kids all try to stomp the other kid's
balloons. Last kid with a balloon (unpopped) wins. (The extra distance
on the string is helpful to lesson the number of "stomped on feet.")
Also, it helps to blow the balloons up rather full so they will pop easily.)
I doubt you'll have any problems with kids deliberately stomping on other
kids feet (instead of the balloons), but if you are dealing with 3 to 5 year
olds notice that type of behavior you might want to have a squirt gun (or
you can use some other method such as a spray bottle with a streaming spray
option, since some group leaders or parents might disapprove of the use of
even a toy gun) handy to get the attention of any kids who need to be
reminded of the purpose of the activity.
Another fun activity is a water balloon toss. The kids stand in two lines
and toss water balloons to their partner. Then they all take one step
backward and toss again. Then another step backward and toss again. And so
forth, only those who's balloons are still intact stay in the game, until
there is only one partnership left with a balloon.
A drawing table or hat creation table could be fun. They all make
their own hat.
A dress up box is always fun. The kids choose various costumes or
fancy accessories and then you take their pictures and email the pictures to
the parents. (The parents will love you!)
I recommend you go to your local library and get a book on party games.
Preferably you get a book geared toward "family friendly" or "kid
appropriate" party games. Your best search terms for something like this
might be "birthday party games."
Another great source of activities for that age group would be to visit a
daycare center (during the middle of the day not the beginning or end when
they are very busy) and ask the workers for good activities and games for 3
to 5 year olds.
(Then after you've picked out a few, feel free to type up instructions an
email them to me and I'll post them for others to benefit.)
Cordially,
- Bill
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