Child’s Play – Conversation plan for older adults

Tim Warre

10 years ago

Advertisements

This is a conversation plan for older adults, more specifically adults who have children.

Start by writing this sentence on the board.

The exam was child’s play.

Have students try and guess what the expression “child’s play” means. (very easy)

Then bring up the following document on the projector or print it and hand it out:

It is a selection of classic children’s games. Go over them and see if they exist in the country where you are teaching.

Then give out the first page of the following handout:

Split the class into group of 3 -4 and have them discuss the questions.

While they are discussing encourage them to use the following handout for language of agreeing and disagreeing:

Agreeing	Disagreeing	Ending an argument:
We see eye to eye I couldn’t agree with you more. That’s exactly how I feel. You have a point there. I was just going to say that. Absolutely.	We don’t see eye to eye I take your point but I tend to disagree with you there I’m afraid I have to disagree with you there I beg to differ That’s not always the case.	Let’s just move on shall we? I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree.

Your childhood

What games did you use to play as a child?

Where did you use to play?

Who did you use to play with?

Which one of your friends had the best toys or best place to play?

Did you have a garden as a child?

Were there any games or activities that you weren’t allowed to play at school or at home?

What was your parent’s view on children watching TV?

Did you have lots of toys? Did you have to share with brothers and sisters?

What did you get for your birthday / Christmas?

Your children

(If you don’t have children think of other children in your family nephews / nieces or friend’s children)

What games do / did your children play? Do / did they play any of the games you used to?

Where do / did the play? Who do / did the play with?

Are there any games / activities that you don’t / didn’t let your children play?

Are there any activities / games that you think should be banned?

Do you have rules about watching TV or using computers in your house?

How much time do you think a child should spend watching TV? On the computer? Outside playing?

Do / did your children have lots of toys? Do / did they have to share with brothers and sisters?

What do you give your children for birthdays / Christmas?

Get feedback from the class about their responses to the questions.

Then give out the 2nd page and have the students discuss them and decide if they agree or disagree and explain their reasons.

Discuss the following statements in your groups, do you agree or disagree?

Forget toys. Let children go outside and play in the garden, with nothing but their imagination to guide them!
Children are given too many toys that they never play with. Books are more important.
Toys are important educational tools for pre-school children.
Carefully chosen toys can help a child develop.
Children today have less imagination than children in the past.
A child learns more from 2 hours in the countryside than 20 hours in the classroom.
Adverts should not be shown during children’s TV shows.
Some people use children as a fashion accessory.
Children today should be given more free time to play and be children.

Students report back to the class to recycle vocabulary.