"SEC-S30W3: Family Bonding Activities"

Since it's been ages since I last played this backyard game, I thought it'd be wise to play with my baby boy as he is new to the game. You know the “Gen-Z” kids are not open to playing such games but only glued to tablets and video games.

Your family must choose any one from the above listed activities and mention which one you have chosen what it is all about.

From the listed games, we chose the backyard game. We have so many backyard games but we have chosen “Hopscotch” popularly known as square in my local town. I knew about this game way back in my primary school when pupils are allowed to play during break period.

I mentioned it and my boy was surprised as he asked what kind of game was that, but I told him to relax and wait while I show him.

Hopscotch is a very simple game played by lots of people ranging from 2 upwards. This game is drawn on a sandy ground in squares, the players toss a small object (particularly a stone) into the spaces, and hop through them on one foot, making sure not to hop in the space with the stone.

It's a classic children's game played in many countries, though the layout can vary locally.

The game is interesting as you keep going. From start, you are to be careful when tossing your stone, when hopping, and when building a house, yes a time comes when one player gets to build a house in one of the spaces. But before you get to that level, you must have succeeded in getting to the final stage.

To build the house in one of the spaces, the player ready to build the house would stand outside the drawn squares and turning backward would toss a stone into one of the spaces, and repeating the process in the other side to claim ownership of the both spaces.

How did you do it? Explain in details. Who did what, who won and who lost in case of games?

From start, I drew the squares on the ground making it so visible so that we won't look for the original lines. My boy went ahead to get the stones needed for the game, although the first set he brought were heavy so we both searched for lighter ones.

I started first because he needed to learn the process and follow it. I mistakenly tossed my stone off the expected space and I was off the game. Well, my boy tried his best until he got to the end but failed when it was time for him to build a house.

So starting all over again, we both started together to see who gets off first. I struggled to maintain my position because I was old in this game and needed to prove it, well at the third stage my boy failed when he was about to pick up his stone and mistakenly stepped in that same space. So I won in this stage while he won in the first stage.

What are the challenges of getting everyone together to do this activity together

Well, there was no challenge because first, my boy is a game lover. He loves to play any kind/type of game especially the new ones. I had the available space needed for my squares to be drawn.

About the stones, they were just right there where we could make our choice. I decided we played the game before taking our bath so it serve as an exercise. It was so easy to get my boy to play the game and the end, he was so excited and never wished to stop.

What are the gains and how did it benefit your family

Well, bodily exercise profits a good and healthy living so I would say that alk the jumping, hopping and bending were all part of exercise. It wasn't a difficult game, it was so easy as ABC...

First, learning is something visible in our daily journey in life so my family learnt a new game from me today and that's a gain.

Secondly, the processes added to his happiness, joy of the soul and bonding. I can tell he's not laughed so loud since the day, so the game helped him gain.

Thirdly, the game requires the players applying some safety measures like;

• Playing on a smooth surface
• Wearing proper foot wears
• Avoid slippery areas
• Take turns carefully
• Watch ones balance
• Rest when tired and stay hydrated

Today, we have not just played games, but have also learnt some new things that could be applied even in our daily life.

Who in the family greatly enjoyed this activity and why?

We both enjoyed this game...

For me, it's been a long time since I jumped or hopped in that way so the game gave that opportunity again to experience it once again. As I hopped my heart beat kept increasing and beating very fast. I kept laughing and showing my happiness all through the game time.

As for my boy, he is naturally a game lover and since this game was new, he got more focused in learning it as fast as possible so that he could teach his friends. He kept asking questions from the begining till the end of the game because he wanted to know everything about the game.

Everyone enjoyed the process from the begining til the end. It was just a fun game time that left us all happy eveb when we lost the game.

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I invite @mariami @pandora2010 @eliany