Parking Lot Game

I mentioned that I had been playing the parking lot game with Charger lately.  It's a simple game that I had heard about a few years back from My Montessori Journey.  I played it a couple times with Mustang, but she didn't have any particular love for the game.  Charger, on the other hand, LOVES it.

 I had been using Explode the Code book A (Get Ready for the Code) with Charger.  He was doing pretty well, but then all of a sudden he just did NOT care anymore.  I knew I had to come up with another way to engage him.  When I came across The Parking Lot game, I thought it would be worth a try.

It is EXTREMELY EASY to prepare.  It takes a piece of paper, a pen, and some matchbox cars.  I went as far as using a piece of card stock, a permanent marker, and a laminator but you wouldn't have to.

One day, I asked Charger to go get 10 matchbox cars.  He came back with 8 and mentioned that he couldn't find anymore.  No problem, 8 cars will do alright.

I asked him to park his first car on the 'mmmm' sound. It took all of 2 seconds and he was ON THAT!  He parked them all really fast, eagerly waiting to hear the next sound.  This was a huge difference then in his workbook where he would not pay attention at all.

The next day, the FIRST thing he asked me was-when are we having school?  I have 10 cars!!  

Since then, he has had his cars in a basket or bag ready to take them to school EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.  He asks if he can be first to have his language lessons, and asks to play The Parking Game.  

I have gone so far as to add the I Spy Game to The Parking Lot Game.  I will put 1, 2, or even 3 objects above the lot and he has to find the object and then park his car.  I am currently trying to figure out other ways I could incorporate his cars, because they really get his interest.  If nothing else, his parking lot will have new letters next week :).

Seriously, if you have a little boy in your life that likes matchbox cars, play The Parking Lot game. You may just have a break-through.  

God Bless and Happy Learning!!