Playing Charades

Today we played Charades as a group.  We were grouped into teams and acted out words and pictures from our charade cards.  We watched our team members and tried to guess what they were doing.  We all worked together cooperatively.

Purpose of the Activity:

Charades is a fun activity that encourages visual attention, watching another person, concentration, visualization, cooperation, turn taking, listening skills, and auditory memory.  While watching the child performing the “Charade,” others needed to attend to and interpret the demonstrator’s visual cues while simultaneously focusing on the verbal and gestural responses of the group.  The child performing the Charade needs to visualize and accurately portray the information as well as respond with additional cues according to the group's reactions. This type of game involves group cooperation, self-regulation, and attention to succeed.

Home Activities to Help Your Child Grow:

Developing attention, turn taking, and listening in a group are important social skills for children in school, other groups, and as part of a family.  You can play these same games at home.  Try using categories like: animals, sports, daily routines, favorite cartoons or toys, etc. when making Charade cards. This game is a great video opportunity for visual feedback.  Record the activity and reflect on the process and the outcomes.  Have children describe their best performances and what they might do differently to enhance their performance next time.