Tag! You're It: Fun Activity Ideas

A empathy-building activity where family members try to communicate their snack choices without speaking, just like Gabby might.

Instructions:

1. Sit down for snack time together.

2. Explain the rule: For the next 10 minutes, no one can use their voice to ask for things.

3. Encourage your child to use gestures, facial expressions, or draw on the whiteboard to ask for the juice or crackers.

4. After the timer ends, discuss how it felt. Was it hard? Frustrating? Fun? Connect this back to Gabby's experience in the book.

You will need:

• Dry erase board

• Favorite snacks

Create a living room obstacle course that focuses on different ways of moving to celebrate diverse abilities.

Instructions:

1. Clear a safe space in the living room.

2. Use tape to mark a path and pillows as 'rocks' to navigate around.

3. Run the course normally first.

4. Run the course again with a modification: try doing it while crawling, or while holding a ball with both hands (limiting arm use), or hopping on one foot.

5. Talk about how changing the rules allows different people to participate.

You will need:

• Painter's Tape

• Throw pillows

Paint rocks with messages or symbols of kindness to hide in the park for others to find.

Instructions:

1. Wash and dry the rocks.

2. Discuss symbols that mean 'everyone is welcome' (hearts, smiley faces, holding hands).

3. Paint the rocks with bright colors and these symbols.

4. Once dry, take a walk to a local park and place them where other children might find them to brighten their day.

You will need:

• River rocks for painting

• Acrylic paint markers

A collaborative art piece where 'tagging' a partner means it is their turn to add to the masterpiece.

Instructions:

1. Roll out a long piece of paper on the floor or a table.

2. One person starts drawing.

3. Yell 'Tag! You're It!' and pass the crayon/marker to the next person.

4. The next person must add to the drawing exactly where the previous person left off.

5. Continue until the paper is full, showing how working together creates something beautiful.

You will need:

• Large drawing paper roll

• Crayons or Paint sticks

Crafting badges to wear that show the child is an 'Inclusion Hero' who looks out for others.

Instructions:

1. Cut circles or stars out of the cardstock.

2. Have your child decorate their badge with words like 'Ally', 'Friend', or 'Helper'.

3. Discuss what responsibilities come with wearing the badge (e.g., asking someone sitting alone to play).

4. Attach the badge to their shirt and wear it proudly for the day.

You will need:

• Cardstock paper

• Safety pins or badge holders