Table Topics
Mind-stretching brain games and conversation starters. It's the perfect opportunity for sharing stories, building knowledge, strengthening character, and having fun!
Player one starts by saying any word that comes
to mind. The remaining players must name a
synonym for the first word.
To adapt this game to differing skill levels you
may allow younger players to blur the lines
regarding parts of speech. For example, if
the original word was sweet a less advanced player
could say the word sugar and still be correct, but
a more advanced player must say sugary!
(Sweet and sugary are both adjectives while sugar
is a noun.)
Want to keep score? Give each person who
correctly names a synonym a point. Also,
give the person who named the original word a
point for each correctly named synonym given by
the other players. This gives an advantage
to players who can name words that have many, many
different synonyms.
Read another issue of Table Topics
Relate the properties of materials with the way they are used
Unwelcome behavior can sometimes be unconsciously reinforced instead of punished. Think of some examples of how we may reinforce negative behavior.
One that comes to my mind is crying when being teased. The person doing the teasing is interested in having more power than another person. The tears of his or her victim are like the trophy of triumph.
Have you ever seen an exasperated parent give in to the demands of a loud, unruly child? That parent is guaranteeing that the next time there is a disagreement in public, screaming will take place.
Can you think of other examples of how bad behavior can be unconsciously reinforced? Can you think of ways that bad behavior can be punished and more acceptable behavior be reinforced?
Parents, don’t hesitate to allow your child to discuss his or her own bad behavior. Surprisingly, the best solutions for changing negative behaviors often come from the children themselves.
