Secret Message Game

Secret Messages

Watching something appear from nothing feeds a child’s delight in magic. In this game one person writes a letter or draws a shape on a piece of paper or index card with a white candle. The shape or message made of wax can’t be seen well until it’s painted.  The magic part happens as your child paints over the paper and a shape or letter suddenly appears!

Materials

Heavy white paper, such as index cards
Candle or white crayon
Paints and brushes or paint bottles with
sponge tops

Set up

Using the candle, draw persons name, message , simple shape or pictures on the white index cards.

Variations

Variations on this game would be to do a card for each letter of the child’s name and then encourage him to put them in the right order to spell his name.

If you have a small group (or family activity) have every one write secret messages and give them to each other.

What is being Learned

Children learn to do an action and anticipate a result.
When they paint on the card, something will appear.

If the variation is used in which the children give other cards, they practice a social give-and-take.

Modifications

For children who need more input on drawing the shapes themselves with candles, use colored crayons so they can see what they have drawn. The paint, put on by another player, will make the shape stand out more.

For children who do not have the fine motor control to use a paintbrush, use bottled paint that has a sponge applicator that will cover large areas more easily.

For children who do have good fine motor control, know how to read words and need an extra challenge with a reward, have them cut out letters one by one with a scissor and then put them together to spell a word. The word could be a clue to where a treat is hidden!

Whether it’s the easy or harder way, playing the secret message game can be fun for everyone.

Barbara Sher M.A.,O.T.R, an occupational therapist and author of nine books on childrens games. Titles include EARLY INTERVENTION GAMES SPIRIT GAMES and EXTRAORDINARY PLAY WITH ORDINARY THINGS.

What is Memorial Day? Fun Facts (watch video)

What is Memorial Day?  A  federal holiday observed annually in the United States on the last Monday of May.^[1] Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War. (Southern ladies organizations and southern schoolchildren had decorated Confederate graves in Richmond and other cities during the Civil War, but each region had its own date. Most dates were in May.) By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.^[2] As a marker it typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.

[Source Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

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Originally published in the May/June 2012 Issue of Parenting Special Needs Magazine