Attachment Games from age 2- 10. Only Tools needed are Yourselves and a Stick
Attachment play is anything that gets you moving on the same wave length, looking in each others eyes or synchronising movements together. The games lsited below are quick and simple and require no set up.
Emily Hughes Empowered Parent Coach
I am an Empowered Parenting Coach, I help parents who are struggling, to understand themselves and their kids better; essentially so they can have a nicer life! Because, if you are living in conflict and struggle with your kids then that’s a life less rich. Find out more
Mirrors- You or your child pretends they are a mirror and they have to copy the facial expression of the other person
Bananas- The child says Bananas in a funny voice/ accent you copy their funny tone of voice then swap so they are copying you
Crocodile hands- Each put your hands together. With your fingertips touching you have to try and catch each other's hands in your “crocodile mouth” each time you catch or miss you return to the middle with fingers touching
Where does your nose fit?- this game encourages close intimacy. Does your nose fit in my ear? Does your nose fit in between my thumb and finger? Does it fit in my eye? and each time say “it’s a fit we fit together!”
Twinkle eyes- Look at each other for 10 seconds with twinkily eyes smiling trying to keep the eye contact… see if you can make it to 10 seconds without one of you breaking away or giggling
Stick/ Pencil copy- You both hold sticks/ pencils. One of you makes actions with the stick whilst the other one copies.
Parent Puppet- The parent goes all floppy and the child has to put the parent into different positions by moving their body
Press my buttons- You pretend your body is a sound effects machine say “press here see what sound it makes” and make a funny noise. Every time they press a different part of your body make a different sound
Nonsense Poems and Toilet Humour- Children love nonsense poems and children love toilet humour… they are sure ways to get kids laughing. Start by saying something like “A cat lived in a house in Shalamabart and one day he did an almighty…” you can pretend to be shocked by their response for extra giggles. Some parents are resistant to toilet humour thinking it will encourage kids to be rude but kids fascination with poo and wee is normal and toilet humour is a way of getting on their wave length and getting the giggles. It also takes the shame away from natural and normal bodily functions. Some children use toilet humour as a way of releasing tension e.g. after having to repress themselves at school they may come home and revel in toilet humour as a way of playing with that edge of taboo that they can’t play in at school. You can make a rule that toilet humour is just for home and not for school etc.
Test your strength- put your hands up arms outstretched facing your child. Invite the child to push your arms back. Make it a little tricky at first then be shocked when they manage to push your arms.
Staring contest- an oldie but a goodie. Anything that gets eye contact going is good for attachment.
Clapping copying- One of you claps out a rhythm the other has to copy it
Collaborative storytelling- You each take turns to say a line in making up a story “once upon a time there was…”
Abracadabra I turn you into a…- The child plays the role of fairy/ wizard who has the power to turn you into different things
Would you rather- take turns suggesting “would you rather” for example “would you rather wear a hat made of cheese or a hat made of bees?” “Would you rather sleep in the bath or sleep in the garden”
How long can we hug? This is about peaceful co-regulation. Often when we hug our kids it's because we are soothing them after a fall or upset. This game encourages enjoyment of hugging just because hugging is nice. “How many seconds do you think we can hug for?”
Story Massage- Many of you will have done or heard of baby massage but massage is so great for older kids too. In a story massage you tell a story whilst massaging them linking the movements of the massage to your story… don’t worry about your story being good.
Slow motion/ Fast motion- Your child decides whether you will both move in fast or slow motion
Glue Hands- Hold hands and you have to move around the room doing different things but never letting go of each others hands
My dance your dance- put on some music and copy each others dance moves
