One of the easiest ways to give your kids a head start in life is simply to play with them. Luckily, that’s what do dads do best! Rough & tumble play has been shown to help children manage their emotions, display fewer negative behaviours, and to become more popular with their friends. Let’s take a look at another simple and super fun game that you might like to try out with your kids at home.
Let's RolL!
By David Hawkins
O
ur last rough and tumble adventure (back in the autumn issue) was a free-for-all wrestling tournament, that had dads and kids letting loose and working with each other to come up with cool but safe moves. With the arrival of spring, warmer weather and plush green lawns, let’s try a rough and tumble game that you can play in the soft grass and which requires your child to put in a little more strategic thought.
Steam Roller is a game of strength and ingenuity! Dad and the child lie down, flat on the ground, on their backs. To win Steam Roller, the child has to roll their body like a rolling pin and flip Dad over onto his tummy. Meanwhile, Dad wins if he can end up on the other side of the child. The great thing about Steam Roller is that it forces children to think about what they are trying to achieve and how to approach it. If they just roll toward Dad, they will either find that his body creates a dead-end barrier or they end up rolling right over the top of him! The child will need to explore what happens when their body moves in each rotational direction and how this affects Dad. Which way will Dad roll? Will he move at all? Can the child stop him rolling over the top and winning? There needs to be a balance between attacking and being defensive.
22 Peninsula Kids – Spring 2021
Here are the top tips for making the most out of the Step 1: Don’t squish your child (too much) We all know that Dads weigh a lot more than kids, so it is really important to take extra care when rolling over the top of children. Roll with your arms stretched above your head so that you can lift up onto your elbows and knees as you go over them. Kids LOVE to be squished but only a little bit.
Step 2: Take turns at winning There is no way that a little kid can win against their father in this wildly imbalanced weight and size contest. But a critical part of rough and tumble play is ensuring that children get to win about half of the time. Losing helps them to learn about ‘good sportsmanship’ and managing their emotions. Winning lets them feel like they have defeated a giant!
Step 3: Be supportive Children need to feel like they have earned their win. Give them hints and tips as they try to figure out how to flip you over. Help them to understand some basics about leverage, weight and tactics.