This parable talks about the two sons and encourages us to reassess, to be willing to change our mind, to question our answers. The games therefore link to these key ideas and sprinkled in there is the idea of two, matching two, and counting.
Yes/No
Under 7’s
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
Ask the youngster(s) “can you…(insert action)” and have them shout out yes or no. Then specify a single child and say “X will you….(insert action demonstrate or mime)”. Examples – Can you do a star jump? Can you whistle? Can you tidy your room? Saying you can/will and doing are different things.
Pairs
All Ages
Small group
Requires setup time
Quiet game
Can be seated
Print this little pair’s set and see if you can match them all up and say how they relate to the parable of the two sons. Pairs is played by having all the cards faced down. Players take turns in flipping two cards hoping to get them to match, matches are left face up, non-matches are returned to face down and the next player tries. Access the PDF by clicking on the image.
Second answer
All Ages
Any size group
Requires setup time
Quiet game
Can be seated
A simple guessing game. Hide some small prizes under many cups — there must be more cups than prizes. Ask a child to guess how many prizes there are. Turn over 1 cup or remove an empty cup. Would they like to change their answer? Talk about how we change our beliefs when new information appears.
Stop/Freeze
All Ages
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Can be seated
This is a great game just to get the wiggles out. Start but shouting out an action (walk, wiggle, hop etc) and let the kids begin to make it their own movements. Give them a few seconds, then shout Freeze! Award the most interesting pose with a high five and start again. Talk about how the kids changed the starting instruction to make it their own, how do we change from one viewpoint to another.
Simon says
Under 7’s
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
Use this classic following directions game to link to how the sons did or did not follow the fathers’ request or their reply.
