Play I Notice Newness
by
Barbara Sher 
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Newness Game
Let’s say you are on a path or a street that you have walked on many times before; a path to school, for example. Your child, however, is not in the mood to walk. Perhaps he didn’t sleep great the night before, or maybe he was grumpy about leaving something he was doing at home. It doesn’t really matter what it is right now, but it does matter that you get to school.
During those times play a game
Play the game of “I notice newness”. Look around and find something you hadn’t noticed before. It could be a design around a door or a “face in the bark of a tree”. Or, maybe it is some thing that wasn’t even there before like a flower that bloomed or a new sign.
Engage your child and pique his interest
Does she see it, too? Give clues if needed like “It’s a certain color” or “it’s near the stop sign”. When he finds it, challenge him to find something you hadn’t noticed before.
You can bring in the spirit of competition and see who can find something new first!
“I Notice Newness” can be a “code” between you two for other days when you’re walking that same path. The name will signal that the game has begun. Who can find something new the fastest?
Barbara Sher M.A.,O.T.R, an occupational therapist and author of nine books on children’s games. Titles include EARLY INTERVENTION GAMES SPIRIT GAMES and EXTRAORDINARY PLAY WITH ORDINARY THINGS.
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This post originally appeared on our September/October 2015 Magazine
