The Preschooler

“I Spy” Game and Books

It is probably safe to assume that most people played the game “I Spy” is some form or another during their childhood.  The version of the game I am most familiar with involves having one person locate an object in the room and then revealing only its color.  “I spy something green,” the person would begin.  The other players would then take turns asking “yes” or “no” questions in order to determine which object the first person had identified.  Whomever found the object first was then the person who got to select the next mystery item.

This game may be simple, but it is a great way to teach children how to eliminate objects based on information that is known.  These deductive reasoning skills can then be used in all sorts of problem-solving situation your child will encounter down the road.

The game can also be played using a series of books developed by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick.  The “I Spy” books show photographs full of colorful objects and a list of items to find within these busy pictures.  The books are designed with varying degrees of difficulty and are available for toddlers through middle school students.  (Although adults may have just as much fun playing the games as well!)

Encourage your child to find the objects on her own.  If she gets stuck give her clues to find the hidden object rather than simply showing her where it is.  Once she gets to the point where she immediately knows where all of the objects are on the list, play the “I Spy” game described above, but use the book instead of a room.  Most of all, have fun.  Congratulate her when she finds an object and give her words of encouragement when she is struggling.

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Written by Laura on April 29, 2010