Outshining Mommy

Being a Dad is never easy. Kids always seem to prefer their Mom. I suppose I can understand that in some ways. After all, I’m the one that is the disciplinarian. I’m the one that does all the nasty things like pointing to the corner and telling them to go stand there. How many of you remember the old cartoon series Wait till your father gets home? Yeah, some things never change. My Lovely Wife, although playing a large role in disciplining the kids, still leaves the bulk of it to me and the phrase “Shall I tell Daddy what you did?” is often the trick in getting the children to behave.

There is one thing however where I will always outshine Mommy. There is just no comparison when it comes to this. Somehow, the Lovely Wife just cant do this well – even when she tries, the kids will just shake their heads and say Daddy is better! If your thinking it's cooking, you couldn't be more wrong!




So what is this magic that I have? Nothing more than Silly Games! The kids know they are nothing but silly games -but they love them! The Lovely Wife can't figure out what makes the kids laugh so much and have a whale of a time. She thinks the games are - well, Silly!

Here are five silly games that I play with my kids that they thoroughly enjoy.

The Boat Story
Lie on the bed with the knees raised and together with the soles of your feet on the bed. Place your child on your stomach and let them lie back on your upraised knees. Grasp their hands in your’s and tell this story.

(I pause at the parts in Italics and get the kids to say it themselves – It lends to more participation and of course more fun!)

Once upon a time, there was a girl called Sarah. One day she decided to go to the harbour. She got into a Boat

(this is where you would wiggle a little to simulate the movement of getting into the boat)

The girl started to row the boat out into the sea. (now you move her hands forward and back in a rowing motion). It was a lovely day with the sun shining brightly and the wind blowing in her hair.

Suddenly… it began to rain! The waves became larger. (your rowing action would become a little crazy now and you’d start swaying and bucking your body to toss your child around a bit) The sea swelled and the waves crashed into the boat. The girl was thrown overboard! (you’d jerk your body and tip your child off of you and onto the bed.)

They will be in fits of laughter at this stage and asking you to do it again! The Boat is sometimes varied to an Aeroplane or a Train - anything really.

Sleepy Daddy
Call your child over and ask for a hug. As you are hugging them, rest your chin on their head or shoulders and then pretend to fall asleep. Start snoring while hugging them really tightly. Your child will start squirming and asking you to let them go. Pretend that you are fast asleep. They will start calling out your name, trying to wake you. Let them call out your name for a while and then suddenly ‘wake-up’ and look around you as if startled. “What, what?” you cry out. “What’s worng? Why are you shouting? I fell asleep….”

You’d be amazed how something as silly as this makes them laugh so hard.


Time Machine.
This game is probably the most fun of all as the whole family can play together! Lie in bed pulling the covers over your and pretend you are in a time machine. Flick imaginary switches as you go through an imaginary checklist.

Engine Oil – All okay
Food supplies – yes, okay
Temperature – good
Oxygen supply – check

Finish off with “set the time for the time machine” My son used to love going “back in time” to the Jurassic or Triassic period. After the “Time” has been set, make a hissing sound and lot of bumps and groans. Then make another hissing sound as you lift the covers off and pretend you are in another time period. Let your imagination run wild and try to ‘see’ things that you would in that time period. If Mommy isn’t playing and she happens to come into the room, make her the ‘dangerous dinosaur’ and quickly get back under the covers and set the time machine to present time – returning home to find Mommy!

Stop Running
This is a great game to play when out shopping. First, as you walk along holding your childs hand, tell them in a rather stern voice (but friendly manner, so they know you are playing) “Don’t run around okay? I don’t want you running in the shopping centre”. Walk along slowly and then speed up a little so you are a few steps in front of your child. Pull your hand forward quickly so they are forced to run forward to keep up with the momentum. Then you ‘scold’ them – “I thought I told you not to run!” Keep doing this until your arms gets tired – which it is bound to do! My kids absolutely love this game! A variation to this game is to walk really fast while holding their hands so they are forced to run - or at least jog at a fast trot - to keep up. Then you ‘scold’ them again for running! This is where they break out in a huge grin and say “Daddy, you are the one making me run!”


Kids Rides
Pretend you are a kid ride – you know, the coin operated kind you find in shopping centres. Place your child on your knee and as them what ‘machine’ you are supposed to be. Then ask them to put a coin into the machine (all make believe of course) Once the ‘coin is deposited’ start a rolling, rocking motion with your legs, while holding the back of their shirts of pants – so that they don’t fall off!

All really quite silly games aren't they. I have fun though and so do the kids - and I guess that's what is important. I hope that when the kids are all grown up, they will remember these silly games that we played and how much fun they used to have with Daddy.

I’m sure all of you have your own ‘silly games’ to entertain your kids. What are some of yours?

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This Post was written by Dharm from Dad ~ Baker & Chef