PLAY IDEAS

What shall we play this week?

Weekly games made with things you already have at home. A box, a blanket, some pegs and a little imagination. A new game every week; sign up to the newsletter to get it by email.

THIS WEEK’S GAME

A cave in the living room

Ages 3+ · 30–60 minutes · with things you already have

You’ll need

A big cardboard box or two chairs, a blanket or sheet, a few clothes pegs, some cushions and a torch.

Build the cave

Turn the box on its side, or put two chairs back to back with a gap between them.
Drape the blanket over the top and hold the edges down with pegs or a few books.
Put the cushions inside so the cave floor is soft.
Dim the lights and switch on the torch.

Play in the cave

Shadow show: shine the torch at the blanket and make a rabbit, a bird or a dog with your hands.
Cave paintings: tape paper inside the blanket and draw animals, just like the first people did.
Sleeping bear: one person is the bear asleep in the cave while the others creep closer. When the bear wakes up, everyone runs!
Whisper story: only the person holding the torch may speak. Take turns adding a sentence to build a story together.

Don’t tidy the cave away straight away: reading a book in it at bedtime is part of the game. Never shine the torch into anyone’s eyes.

Pretend play

Move and outdoors

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