Preteen Games
“Try these winning preteen games for an adolescence that‘s filled with fun.”
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At this age, there’s still plenty of room for play. She’s old enough to walk well behind you in public, but still reaches for your hand during a scary movie. Don’t look now: it’s that in-between age. How do you keep your adolescent entertained?
Head Games
Between the ages of 10 and 13, youngsters are becoming slightly less rough-and-tumble and more cerebral. Encourage your child’s mind development with preteen games that make them think. Try Monopoly and Boggle rather than Operation and Perfection; the latter still have a place during downtime, but don’t involve the strategy or mental muscle of more complex games.
Cards are another playful pastime that a growing attention span can handle. As preteen games go, Poker and even Pinochle will now replace War and Go Fish. Up the ante with increasingly complex card games to keep your adolescent interested.
Get Physical
While all this headwork is a welcome challenge, it’s important to balance sedentary play with something a bit more physical. Sports may challenge and occupy your youngster; if she loves being part of a team, get her involved in soccer, softball or field hockey. Try ping-pong, badminton or racquetball (or singles tennis) for the child who’d rather stay active during the entire game time.
The games don’t have to involve sports in order to constitute exercise, however. Keep your child moving at home by making a game of everything from picking up the laundry to bathing the dog. Have a family “relay race” to see who can pick up his or her messy items from the living room first. You’d be surprised: even an “all grown up” 11- or 12-year-old will find herself giggling and joining in this preteen game in no time.
Video and Computer Games
Most adolescents love video and computer games. Be smart about allowing your child this kind of play. Denying video games entirely could have the opposite effect, with your preteen sneaking to friends’ houses to play. But allowing a free-for-all including the latest in horror of violence isn’t wise, either. Try for a compromise when buying these types of games.
The Entertainment Rating System can help. Look for games that are rated E (for everyone), E10+ (for anyone ages 10 and up) or T (for teens; be sure to use your discretion and play the game yourself first to see just how mature the game is). Another way to decide in advance whether to buy a video or computer game for your child is to discuss the game with other parents in your neighborhood or at school. Chances are someone has witnessed or played the game before and can tell you a bit about it.
Childhood Favorites
When looking for games to occupy your child, don’t forget that she may still have a soft spot for a much younger-geared toy, game or doll. Don’t make her give these up just yet. It may surprise you to know that children often hold onto a favorite Barbie, G.I. Joe, truck or even blanket well into the preteen years and beyond.
Your child may be embarrassed about her “childhood love”; don’t make a fuss over the fact that she still secretly sleeps with a baby doll discretely at the foot of her bed. Instead, realize that she’s moving quickly enough toward preteen games…and toward the end of childhood. Allow her this time of transition to remember what childhood is all about.
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