Penny Stones Blog
Archive for the ‘children’ Category
Friday, August 6th, 2010
I stumbled across this fun idea at www.group-games.com: http://www.group-games.com/ice-breakers/mm-game.html
Ages: All. Recommend number of people: Groups of 3-12. Messiness factor: No sweat. Materials required: A large bag of M&Ms or any candy with multiple colors (e.g. Skittles).
M&M Game
This icebreaker is a simple way to help people introduce facts about themselves. It’s very flexible and adaptable – and (if you have a sweet tooth) delicious too! The M&Ms Game goes by other names: the Skittles Game, the Candy Game, the Color Game, among other names.
Setup
Pour M&Ms or any other multicolor candy into a bowl. Have everyone in the group grab as much or as little as they like from the bowl. Make sure that no one eats their candy right away.
How to Play
For each piece of M&M candy they took, they will have to answer a question, depending on its color. For example, you can designate:
- Red candy: favorite hobbies
- Green candy: favorite foods
- Yellow candy: favorite movies
- Orange candy: favorite places to travel
- Brown candy: most memorable or embarrassing moments
- Blue candy: wild cards (they can share anyone they choose)
You can be creative and choose any questions you think would be fitting for your group. The facilitator will then call out the color topic and everyone will go around the room sharing 1 answer per M&M. As an example: if you chose two red pieces of candy, you will have to name two of your favorite hobbies. After the individual has shared that color with the group, he/she may then eat their candy. Continue to go around the room until each color topic has been shared.
Tags: communication skills, conversation starters, ice breakers, icebreakers, school counselors
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Sunday, June 20th, 2010
I’ve been keeping a little journal of quotes. Whenever one of our kids (one girl and two boys) gives us their version of the English language, I write it down so we can remember it. Here are some of my favorites:
“No comments from the popcorn gallery, please.” ~ 10-year old daughter
“You wanna piece of me?” ~ five-year old son as he’s playing a video game
“”I was really starving for my blanket last night.” ~ five-year old son
When our five-year old son was complimented for reading a hard word he said “Oh, I just rememberized it.”
“I’m just like a dinosaur oncologist! I have five books on dinosaurs!” ~ six-year old son
“What’s a time frame? I’ve never seen one before.” (thinking it’s like a picture frame…) ~ six-year old son
When asked how God made a woman, our six-year old son said “He pulled a ribbon out of his pocket.”
“I want to play ‘Corn in the Cobs’” (instead of Corn Hole) ~ six-year old son
“I’m full. Can I have some ice cream?” ~ six-year old son
“We only learn stuff so teachers have somethin’ to do.” ~10-year old daughter
Out to lunch with Papa, Mommy asked her sons to share their sundaes. The older brother replied, “You can have one bite of mine, but you can have as many as you want from my brother!”
Tags: communication, conversation, family, kids, parenting
Posted in Uncategorized, children, communication, family, family relationships, favorites, kids, parenting | 1 Comment »
Monday, January 11th, 2010
My family had so much fun last night playing a game around the dinner table. It’s called Goober Goat and it’s out of a box of game cards from the Original Dinner Games box by Family Time Fun. My daughter started the game with a word that has to do with a farm, “farmer”. The next person has to say a word that is related to it “overalls”. You go around five or six times and see if the final word traveled far from the farm.
The funniest connection was “hawk”, ”eagle”, “bald” – to Daddy. There are lots of fun games, this is is our favorite so far.
Tags: children, communication, conversation, family, family relationships, Games, parenting
Posted in Conversations, Games, children, communication, communication skills, conversation starters, family, ice breakers, icebreakers, parenting | 4 Comments »
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Below is a message I recently received from a school counselor.
Tammy,
This year at the All Ohio Counselor’s Conference, I purchased a bag of Penny Stones. I was excited to buy them because they were something different to use in my school counseling setting. I bought the pink slumber party bag. I have 3 self esteem/friendship groups that I am currently conducting (3rd, 4th, and 5th grade). At the beginning of each group, the students pick one Penny Stone out of the pile and they have to share their answer with the group. The kids LOVE them! They always ask, “Miss Creek, can we please pick another one?”. I just wanted to let you know what a HIT these Penny Stones are with my students.
Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Candice C., M.Ed
Tags: children, communication, communication skills, conversation, conversation starters, counselors, ice breakers, icebreakers, interpersonal skills, Penny Stones, school counselors
Posted in Conversations, Penny Stones, Quotes, children, communication, communication skills, conversation starters, counselors, ice breakers, icebreakers, interpersonal skills, school counselors | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
Thanksgiving Tree on November 30, 2009
Here’s our Thanksgiving Tree, in all of it’s glory. We had much to be thankful for this year! See this link to the previous post about our Thanksgiving Tree.
Tags: children, conversation, family, family relationships, parenting, Thanksgiving craft
Posted in Photos, children, communication, family, family relationships, parenting | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
I’ve been thinking a lot about relationships lately. It may just be that time of year, but, for whatever reason, I’ve been thinking about the difference between how I communicate in this stage of my life versus when I was younger. Today, as a wife and mom, I seem to talk more about the goings-on of everyday life – schedules, meals, appointments, and all that. It’s more on the surface and the goal is to maintain the relationship and the activities we share. When I was in high school and college, I/we talked more about values, opinions, preferences and the future. Conversations were longer and were building, not just maintaining, relationships.
I remember calling a few of our new neighbors after we had moved into our home in Ohio in 1998. Each time, I expected to talk to the ladies like I did with my friends in California. But each time, after a few minutes, I got the impression that if I wasn’t calling for a specific reason, the conversation was ending quickly. They were busy and didn’t have time to chat on the phone. So I adjusted my expectations and my phone calls.
While maintaining a relationship is good and coordinating schedules is necessary, I think it misses out on “the good stuff”. Until recently, I wasn’t aware that I’d become like my neighbor ladies. Upon reflection, I’m afraid I’ve slipped into the mom mode of talking about surface stuff.
I want to really know what my kids are thinking and how my husband is feeling. I like to share stories and dreams. I want to hear about wishes and fears. But those things take time to share. There has to be a level of trust and time to let the conversation flow.
From now on, I’m going to be more intentional with the conversations I have with my loved ones. I’m going build, not just maintain, my relationships.
Tags: children, communication, communication skills, conversation, family, family relationships, friendship, interpersonal skills, moms, parenting, relationships
Posted in Conversations, children, communication, communication skills, family, family relationships, friends, friendship, interpersonal skills, parenting, relationships | No Comments »
Saturday, November 21st, 2009
Games for Educators newsletter reviewed Penny Stones today. Here’s an excerpt:
It was delightful for all of us to get to know one another better. One student remarked,
I have known my friend since kindergarten, but I never knew that she. . .
We loved getting to know others and at the same time telling about ourselves. It was fun for us to discuss topics that maybe we would have not imagined without the aid of the category, such as naming a superpower one would like to possess. We agreed that Penny Stones is fun and is a great tool to use at the beginning of the school year or for any icebreaker activities.
Click here for the full review: http://www.g4ed.com/index.php/game-reviews/307-penny-stones-a-game-of-conversation
Tags: communication, communication skills, conversation, family, Games, ice breakers, icebreakers, interpersonal skills, Penny Stones, reviews
Posted in Conversations, Games, Penny Stones, Quotes, children, communication skills, conversation starters, ice breakers, icebreakers, publicity, relationships | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
Sometimes I think I really blow it as a mom. And today was one of those days. I had to go into Cleveland and pick up 150 Penny Stones. My kids came home from school as I was packing them to be shipped to customers. I had promised them that I would be done with Penny Stones when they got off the bus but I’ve been working more days than not recently.
My daughter asked me if we could get our gear ready for our Girl Scout camp out this weekend. I said “Of course! As soon as I finish this I can work with you on that.” So she patiently waited as I stuffed and taped and labeled.
Because my son’s basketball practice time was changed, we had to leave earlier than planned. And I couldn’t help my daughter. The look in her eyes let me know I REALLY disappointed her. How is it that I can renig on promises I’ve made to my kids, something I would not do to a friend?
I love my kids more than anything but I don’t think my actions have spoken those words to them today. Tomorrow I’m going to be at the bus stop and the computer will be off.
I’m thankful tomorrow’s always a new day.
Tags: children, family, family relationships, interpersonal skills, parenting, relationships
Posted in children, entrepreneur, family, parenting, relationships | 5 Comments »
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
Thanksgiving Tree on November 12, 2009
To help us remember what we’re thankful for, my husband and I started making a Thanksgiving tree on our refrigerator when we were newlyweds. It’s become a wonderful tradition over the years. I always enjoy seeing what friends and family are thankful for during the month of November.
To make the Thanksgiving Tree, we cut the tree trunk and limbs out of paper grocery bags and cut the leaves out of construction paper. We keep the leaves and markers in a basket on the counter. We each try to write at least one a day. And we invite any visitors to write one too.
On Veterans Day, my father and and old friend came to visit and they added to the tree. Then it was my turn to watch the other leaders’ children during the Girls Scout meeting. Each of the siblings made three or four leaves. So in less than a week it’s already looking pretty full! I’ll post a picture from Thanksgiving to show the tree in all its Thanksgiving glory.
Tags: children, family, family relationships, friendship, parenting, relationships, Thanksgiving craft
Posted in children, family, family relationships, parenting, relationships | 1 Comment »
Friday, November 13th, 2009
Penny Stones in the Journeys of Life Booth
I had the pleasure of going to the All Ohio Counselors Conference in Columbus, Ohio on November 5. It was my first counselors’ conference. Penny Stones were on a table in the Journeys of Life booth and I was the “celebrity inventor”.
The response of counselors to Penny Stones was amazing. Never have I had so many people look at Penny Stones and ”get it” instantly. Counsleors would walk by the table, see the Penny Stones, read the questions, and say things like “I love this!” , “How cool!” or “What a great idea!” I sold out on the first day!
I’ve been to many trade shows. And counselors, as a group, are the nicest and most friendly customers I have ever met. Not only were they supportive of Penny Stones, but they were very supportive of me as a woman owning my own business. I can’t wait for the next conference!
Tags: children, communication skills, conversation, conversation starters, counselors, ice breakers, icebreakers, interpersonal skills, Penny Stones, school counselors
Posted in Penny Stones, Trade Shows, Uncategorized, children, communication skills, conversation starters, counselors, entrepreneur, ice breakers, icebreakers, interpersonal skills, school counselors | No Comments »
