relaxing games for kids (before bed)

Thunderbird4

fizz wrote: »

Wait till you have over-stimulated kids who are up till 3 in the morning and then you really will get it it with soddin knobs on.

From a parent who learned the hard way.

fizz.x

You may be surprised to know that other people have raised children before.

If a 9 year old kid is so stimulated by playing ludo that they don't go to bed until 3am then I don't think you're playing the game properly!

iammumtoone

fizz wrote: »

Wait till you have over-stimulated kids who are up till 3 in the morning and then you really will get it it with soddin knobs on.

From a parent who learned the hard way.

fizz.x

So what activity did your kids do before they went to bed?

Did you read the OP properly maybe you misunderstood. I am not talking about computer games (others seemed to understand that). I fail to see how playing a simple game can stimulate to that extent. We turn off the TV and play a game for 15 minutes or so, like someone pointed its a good way to bond and actually talk.

iammumtoone

Laurie_Sicard-Askey wrote: »

I come from a different era. I used to read stories to my kids and then they went zonko.

I do still read to him at times as well.

KiKi

Hi OP, I love a great word game using scrabble tiles called Bananagrams. It's super quick, and word-based. You don't have to buy it, you could use scrabble tiles if you already have them, and just look up the rules online.

You know your child best - I can't imagine many 9 year olds getting too het up playing one quiet game before bed! Maybe if you played with loads of kids and made it competitive, they would, but do what you think's right.

KiKi

SingleSue

I have a weird brain...relaxing stuff makes it so that my brain whirls around and I can't sleep, so I have to fill my brain just before bedtime so that it is sated and I can go to sleep.

My parents couldn't work it out when I was young, the more they did the relaxing, supposed to make the child go to sleep things, the more I couldn't sleep. Think they gave up in frustration one night, I found a book to read that was exciting (well to me, it had lots of information to digest - we're not talking Mills and Boon easy ready stuff!) and bingo, I fell asleep.

I've got one son who is like me who has to fill his brain before sleep and two who need to wind down before bed.

susancs

Hangman, 20 questions, charades.

I think playing a quick game before bed is a lovely way to end the day. I wish I had thought of it with my teenagers, when they were younger. We did play board games and quick games but not every day like you do. I was surprised at the number of dds friends who had not played board games and really enjoyed them when they were got off the shelf when they visited.

meer53

I read to both my kids before bed, thats relaxing enough IMO. Why not encourage him to read himself in bed ? Or ask him what he would like to do ? My son used to play computer games, never seemed to stop him sleeping, my daughter just loved to read with me. Now she's older she watches TV, i used to switch it off at bedtime but she's 16 now so i just leave her to it !! My son is 30, i have no idea what he does at bedtime anymore

iammumtoone

meer53 wrote: »

I read to both my kids before bed, thats relaxing enough IMO. Why not encourage him to read himself in bed ? Or ask him what he would like to do ? My son used to play computer games, never seemed to stop him sleeping, my daughter just loved to read with me. Now she's older she watches TV, i used to switch it off at bedtime but she's 16 now so i just leave her to it !! My son is 30, i have no idea what he does at bedtime anymore

I used the word relaxing as I didn't want suggestions of hyper games to play just before bedtime, not because I want to use the games to relax him. The main idea behind playing games before bed is to spend time together (I enjoy playing the games with him, he likes it as well, I am not forcing this on him) the timing is just because it is easier, he has completed homework etc and isn't allowed on the computer at this time so no need to drag him off it to play

He does read books to himself in bed, every night a whole book or more :eek: I also read to him in bed but not every night, he is getting older now so not so keen on this, hence the idea to play games together.

penguingirl

I like the idea of a game before bed- it actually sounds less stimulating than a book! What about jigsaws?

iammumtoone

KiKi wrote: »

Hi OP, I love a great word game using scrabble tiles called Bananagrams. It's super quick, and word-based. You don't have to buy it, you could use scrabble tiles if you already have them, and just look up the rules online.

KiKi

We don't have scramble but I have ordered this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pairs-Pears-Word-Game-Connecting/dp/B002PDM288/ref=sr_1_2?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1469903215&sr=1-2&keywords=bananagrams as it cheaper than bananagrams and seems to be easier, my son is not very good at spelling so this might help. Thanks.