What Are the Best Games for Children Home Alone?

With most families being a two-income unit out of necessity, more and more kids are finding themselves alone when coming home from school these days. It's a simple reality that must be addressed. It can be a very stressful situation for parents and children alike, especially when it involves an only child. And with the economy in the shape it's in, paying for after-school care often times just isn't in the budget for most.

Sure, there is no shortage of after-school programs that children can take advantage of, sports, music and many others. But many times, going to the local Boys & Girls Club or hanging out at a friend's house until Mom and Dad get home just isn't an option. And certainly, any responsible parent will want to know where their child is after school, what with the ever-present dangers facing children these days: gangs, sexual predators and more.

Studies have shown that today more than 40% of youngsters face the proposition of being home alone after school, with thousands of them being an only child. It's another matter entirely when siblings are involved, but nevertheless parents have to deal with the idea of their children being alone at home for a few hours.

It stands to reason that parents want to ensure that their home alone child stays busy and keeps their time occupied with entertaining pursuits. This way the child will want to stay home. Anxiety from loneliness is tough enough for an adult to deal with, much less a child, and keeping the mind occupied will reduce that stress considerably.

Parents have a multitude of options to keep their child entertained after school. If more than one child is involved, lots of choice abound. Indoor games such checkers, Uno, ping pong and traditional board games like Risk, Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit can provide lots of fun for kids. And of course, there are always video games. For an only child home alone, the possibilities are no less endless. Millions of households have some form of Internet access, and if monitored properly by parents, this can be a great safe harbor for children to broaden their mind, stay amused and maybe even make new friends.

Naturally, online free gaming sites are easy to find, offering all sorts of games, such as puzzle, word, card and even arcade and sports contests. The beauty of the Internet is that it pretty much lay outs the whole of human history at your child's feet. Countless educational sites can provide hours of enthralling entertainment for your child and may even make them better in school. Of course, you may opt to have the computer off limits until you're home, so if that's the case, find some arts and crafts that can keep your child busy. This will expand your child's artistic side and challenge them creatively.

For parents who are truly industrious, there are options they can prepare in advance to keep their children occupied while home alone. Everybody loves a mystery and kids are no different. Using kid's lit as a launching pad, you can put together an assortment of mysteries for your children to solve. Compose each story, placing blanks in place of pivotal words and then write above the blank space what type of word goes there. Adding a touch of whimsy to the mysteries will heighten the enjoyment as kids will share a laugh or two as they alternate giving answers to the blank spaces. This type of game is particularly suited to 2 or more players, but parents can surely modify the mysteries for an only child.

Another amusing contest for 2 or more home alone kids is a variation on the traditional "Rock, Paper, Scissors" game. In "Ready...Switch" players will act out a certain gesture, crossing their arms across their chest, forming a "Y" with their arms, or touching their nose. The first competitor starts the game by calling "Ready...Switch," and then each player makes one of the three signs. In the event the motions are the same, then player one gains one point and retains control of the game. Without a match, then control shifts to player two. Whoever gets to three points first wins.

"And the Wind Blew" is an energetic exercise that is designed once again for 2 or more home alone children. All you need is a table, with a ping pong table being ideal. Standing at opposing ends of the table, the kids place a ball of some sort in the middle. The purpose of the game is blow the ball around the table, without it falling off. This can even turned into a form of air hockey, where kids can create their own goal lines and boxes.

Parents need not stress about having one or more home alone kids. The opportunities are boundless for them to keep themselves entertained and happy. Just teach them well and provide as many options as possible so they will never run out of fun stuff to do.

*Home Alone Children, FamilyResources, FamilyManagement.com