10 Games I Play with My Dad

What you need to play

• A brave adult (dad, mom, uncle, aunt... anyone with a healthy back!)
• An excited child whose weight the adult can comfortably support
• A soft surface: bed, mattress, mat, or fluffy rug
• Creativity and good humor to give the commands!

Objective

The child must follow the adult's instructions, placing hands and feet on specific parts of their own or the adult's body. The challenge is to maintain balance — and fun — without falling! But if they fall, it's okay: the bed is there to cushion the fall and laugh about it.

Rules

• The adult lies face down on a soft surface.
• The child carefully gets onto the adult's back — on their knees or standing.
• The adult starts giving commands, such as:
  • “Right hand on my head”
  • “Left foot on my lower back”
  • “Left hand on your shoulder”
  • “Stand on one leg for 5 seconds”
  • “Walk from the lower back to the shoulders as if on a suspension bridge”
• If the child completes the command without falling, they score a point.
• If they fall or slip (safely!), the game restarts from the beginning.
• The game must be played on a soft surface to ensure everyone's safety.
• The child cannot jump or jolt the adult's back.
• The commands should be appropriate for the child's age and balance — the important thing is to have fun, not become an Olympic gymnast!
• If there is more than one child, they can take turns per round or per successful command.

This game helps the child learn body parts in a fun way, while working on balance, focus, and motor coordination. For the adult, it can also be a light and humorous way to relax the back (as long as the child's weight allows, of course!). More than anything, it creates a moment of physical and emotional connection, full of laughter and complicity between those playing.