There’s a classic improv game that’s been circulating in Child’s Play NY classrooms that I absolutely love. It’s called “I Have a Gift for You!” and it helps get the gratitude and the risk-taking sillies (as I sometimes call them) flowing at the same time. It is also totally on theme with the gift-giving season already upon us.
Here’s one way it could go:
- You (holding out your hands): I have a gift for you!
- Your kid: Thank you! I’ve always wanted a [insert anything here, the wilder and more descriptive the better].
- You: You’re welcome!
This gets repeated around a circle or just played back at forth for as long as you like! Endow the gift with the exact physical qualities it has (heavy, sticky, perfumed) and really believe it. A human-sized ice cream cone, a magical stick of gum or an un-housebroken puppy are each funny – and different – to hand off!
Alternate ways to play:
- The gift-giver says what they are giving, and the receiver adds on with “Thank you! I’ve always wanted a ______, now I can...” (do my hair so fancy, feed the pigeons, speak to my ancestors, etc.).
- Propose one gift and take turns adding on special features, ways it makes you feel, alternate gadgets it comes with, product warnings, etc.
Commit to a big emotional reaction when given the product (joy, fear, disgust, etc.) while still expressing gratitude and building on.
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