Monday, April 26, 2010

Can't Touch This*

As the kids roll along in the big jogging stroller, we see many things (cars, trucks, squirrels, etc.), hear many things (cars, trucks, birds), smell many things (cars, trucks, skunks), taste many tasty stroller snacks, but touch? The kids are mostly told to STOP touching each other! So, to engage this fifth - and so important a - sense, we made a new game.

As we pass street sign or stop sign posts at each intersection, we alternate passing them on the right or left so that the kids can "tag" the post. We slow down, of course, to avoid injury, but don't stop! You'll have to pry their little hands off! It helps the time pass and breaks things up into short intervals. I was surprised by how much with kids liked playing this.

(A disclaimer: this is not for when you are in a hurry. You also need to be careful to avoid wooden posts with splinters, rusty staples, etc.)

This is especially fun when it involves going up and down curbs or struggling through brush. Make it an adventure :)


*Credit due to MC Hammer???

2 comments:

Running Mommy said...

I couldn't agree more!

I love it when we see a catapiller on our running trail. I pick it up on a stick and let the girls touch it! FUZZY!

Crumbs said...

Nice idea! I could totally see how tagging a post would be fun.

I used give my son a spray bottle when I ran in a group, and he would squirt people as we passed. Nearly everyone appreciated the mist (and I helped him avoid people who probably wouldn't!).