Waiting Games for Kids

Verbal Games

• Verbal games are easiest while waiting, since all you need is your voice. They're helpful for distracting your child when you are standing in line so he doesn't get antsy. You and your child might even find others in the line joining your game!

  I Spy: You can tailor this game to your child's age and abilities, making it fun for the whole family. For very young children, use colors: "I spy with my little eye something that is green," for example. Older children can identify items starting with a certain letter.

  Twenty Questions: One player picks an object or a person, then the other player asks questions answered with "Yes" or "No." The questioner must figure out what object or person the other player has chosen asking no more than 20 questions.

  The Picnic Game: Start this game by saying "I went on a picnic and I packed...," then name an item that begins with A. The next player repeats the phrase and the first item, adding an item beginning with B. Players alternate, repeating the items already named, then adding a new one beginning with the next letter of the alphabet.

  Singing Songs: Never underestimate the entertainment potential of singing songs with your kids. Small children love the hand movements that go along with "Itsy Bitsy Spider." Older kids will love joining in with "The Wheels on the Bus."

Paper and Pen Games

• If you have a little longer to wait, such as in a restaurant or waiting room, pen and paper games provide longer-term entertainment.

  Tic-Tac-Toe: This perpetual favorite is easy enough for most kids, even if they don't understand the strategy involved.

  Dots and Boxes: Draw a grid of evenly-spaced dots on a piece of paper. Each player draws a line from one dot to another (across or up and down, not diagonally) per turn. The player who draws the last line to complete a box puts her initials in the box. The player who has "claimed" the most boxes by the end of the game wins.

  Pictures: Very small children love watching their parents draw pictures. Draw an animal and ask your child what kind it is, then ask him what that animal says.

Hand Games

• No one can resist getting a little silly and having fun with hand games. For parents, these games will bring back memories of school recess and other fun times with friends.

  Thumb War: Grasp your child's hand by the fingers, leaving your thumbs and your child's sticking up. Chant together "1 2 3 4, I declare a thumb war" and start trying to pin one another's thumbs. Since you will probably outmatch your child in strength, letting her win once in a while might encourage her to keep trying.

  Rock, Paper, Scissors: This classic game is usually used to settle arguments, but is still fun on its own. Remember: rock beats scissors, paper beats rock, scissors beat paper.