Monkey Around: The Wiggle & Giggle Game
Monkey Around: The Wiggle & Giggle Game Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Learning Skills
Physical
- Gross motor: balancing, hopping, etc.
- Hand-eye coordination: holding, tossing, catching, etc.
Social-Emotional
- Listening and following directions
- Imitating
- Pretend play
Cognitive
- Recognizing and matching body parts
- Understanding spatial concepts: on, over, under, etc.
Language
- Building vocabulary
About the Game
Monkey Around is a get-up-and-move game. While all of the actions in the game are appropriate for children aged 24-35 months, every child develops at his own pace. So, feel free to improvise! If your 2-year-old isn't ready to catch a tossed banana, have him hold both hands out, palms together forming a little "bowl" and drop the banana from a few inches above his hands. If he easily hops on one foot, encourage him to hop forward.
If your child is unfamiliar with one of the actions, do it first and then let him mimic you. You'll be surprised how quickly he catches on. Two-year-olds love to show off their skills, whatever they are, so let him!
Components
40 cards, 1 beanbag banana, 1 game board.
Set Up
- Unfold and set out the tree game board on the floor.
- Place the banana nearby.
- Mix up the monkey cards and place them face-down in a pile nearby.
How to Play
On your turn:
- Take a monkey card.
- Do the action.
- Add the monkey card to the tree.
Take turns until you have added five cards to the tree.
Example cards: "Hold hands in a circle and spin."; "Rub your belly and pat your head."; "Balance the banana on your head." (Solo); "Pretend to eat the banana." (Solo).
Who Wins?
No one wins or loses. Monkey Around: just play and have fun!
Extend the Play and Learning
There are more ways to play, learn, explore, and connect with Monkey Around!
Object Matching
Match the Banana! Take the banana for a "walk" around your house, outside, or to the store. Invite your child to find things in the world around her that are similar in color, size, or shape as the banana.
Conceptual Thinking
If It's Not a Banana . . . After your child has played the game with the banana have her choose another familiar object to use with the same instructions. A favorite small toy or stuffy works well. This will help her apply and generalize what she has learned in the game to the world around her.
Problem Solving
"Can You?" Challenge! Provide problem-solving opportunities that develop thinking skills by challenging your child to use the banana outside the game in new ways. Can you make the banana roll? Can you make it slide? Can you stand it up on one end?