Children enjoy playing commercial games such as Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Jenga, etc. They learn many things from playing games. Learning to take turns is an important leasson that can take many repitions to understand. As children learn to wait for their turn they are also learning self-control. Many children have a hard time losing a game. It helps if you downplay winning and losing. Instead talk about who finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

Homemade games are fun and inexpensive to make together. Here are some ideas you can try:

• Memory Game - Children love to play memory games. The backs of the memory cards can be anything you are able to collect 10-20 items of that are exactly the same. You might use metal circles from frozen juice containers, index cards, yogurt lids, poster board, etc. Put pairs of anything you can find on front of the cards. Some possibilities include pictures from magazines, stickers, photos (be sure to get double prints), or logos from food products.

• Mini Board Game - You can make a board game with themes of interest to your child. If your child loves dinosaurs use those as a theme. Start with a piece of cardboard as big as you want the board to be. Draw a winding path across the cardboard, then make individual boxes or spaces within the path. Decorate the board according to the theme. You can draw pictures, cut pictures out of magazines or coloring books, or use stickers. Write things in some of the boxes like, "Quick sand, go back three spaces." Use plastic dinosaurs as markers. Manila file folders work great for the game board too.

• I Spy With My Little Eye - Describe something in the room by giving a characteristic. Every time you give a new characteristic the other person gets one more chance to guess what it is. Keep giving additional characteristics until the other person guesses correctly. For example, if you are looking at a light switch you might say, "I spy something rectangular." If they don't guess with this clue you might say, "I sly something on the wall." The next clue might be, "I spy something by the door that is about your height." In this game, parent and child can take turns giving the clues. The child may need some guidance in the beginning, but soon they will be thinking up clues all on their own.

• The Missing Object - Lay 5 or more objects on a table. While the child's eyes are closed, remove one object. See if your child can guess what is missing. After a few tries your child may enjoy removing an object while your eyes are closed.

• Cards - There are many fun and educational games you can play with cards. Encourage your child to match them by number, color, or suit. Playing the game War gives children a chance to practice number recognition and the concept of "greater than" and "less than."