薩拉·米德/文　李蘋/譯

Remember the last time you were greeted with laughter when you arrived at preschool to pick up your child？ They were racing around with their friends and playing a game that you recognized from your own childhood. Best of all， they were having a wonderful time—and learning more than you know.

還記得上次你去幼兒園接孩子時，歡聲笑語一片嗎？孩子和小伙伴們四處撒歡，玩著你小時候就熟悉的游戲。最重要的是，孩子樂在其中，而且學到的東西超乎想象。

Believe it or not， classic preschool games are much more than just fun for children. They’re actually an essential part of the learning process， helping kids bond with their friends， burn off excess energy and teaching kids skills that will help them later in life.

不管你相信與否，經典學前游戲對孩子來說遠不止是娛樂，它們其實是學習過程中必不可少的部分，能幫助孩子與朋友們建立感情，消耗多余的精力，并教授孩子們一些對其日后生活有助益的技能。

To help you see the learning potential in the games that just seem fun， we’ve gathered together seven well-loved American preschool games. Read on to discover how each game secretly models real-world situations and helps kids learn how to live and act.

為了讓你看清這些看似只是娛樂的游戲如何激發(fā)學習潛力，我們收集了七個備受喜愛的美國學前游戲。往下讀，你會弄清每個游戲如何無形中模擬現(xiàn)實情境，幫助孩子們學習如何生活與行事。

1. Duck， Duck， Goose

1. 鴨鴨鵝

This kid-favorite is an excellent game for teaching strategic thinking. Participants sit in a circle， and one child walks around the outside tapping each head in turn and saying “duck.” When they tap the child they wish to select， they yell “Goose.”? That child then has to get up and chase the child who selected them （the “tapper”） around the circle. The tapper tries to get back to the spot vacated by the Goose before the Goose catches and tags them.? The Goose becomes the tapper for the second round.

這個游戲最受孩子們歡迎，是培養(yǎng)戰(zhàn)略思維的絕佳游戲。參與者圍坐一圈，一人繞圈外走動，依次輕拍每個人的頭，并說“鴨子”。選中一人，輕拍他的頭，喊出“鵝”。然后被叫“鵝”的這個孩子得起身繞著圈追那個拍他的孩子，后者試圖跑回“鵝”空出的那個位子上，不讓“鵝”抓到并標記自己?！谤Z”在下一輪成為拍人的那個。

As kids play this game more， they start thinking about how to pick a “goose” （such as someone who isn’t paying attention） who will give them a better chance of getting back to their seats without getting tagged. Duck， Duck， Goose teaches children to plan ahead and gives them immediate feedback on the quality of their decisions.

孩子們玩得多了，就會開始思考如何選擇“鵝”（比如那些注意力不集中的孩子），才更有可能不被標記，順利回到座位?！傍嗻嗼Z”教會孩子提前規(guī)劃，且對決策好壞能即時反饋。

2. Musical Chairs

2. 音樂椅

This game helps teach kids to resolve arguments peacefully， deal with disappointment and practice patience. Set chairs in a circle， one fewer than the number of children in the game， and then play music as kids walk around the circle. Every time the music stops， children must try to sit on a chair. Kids who don’t get a chair are out. Then remove a chair and begin again.

這個游戲教孩子們如何和平解決爭論、應對失望、磨練耐心。將椅子擺成圈，數(shù)量上椅子比參與游戲的孩子少一個，然后播放音樂，孩子們繞圈走動。每次音樂停止，孩子們必須找椅子坐下。沒有椅子坐的孩子就被淘汰。然后拿掉一把椅子，重新開始下一局。

As a game of Musical Chairs progresses， children must learn to deal with the frustration of being out of the game， therefore practicing patience and waiting graciously. They must also learn to use their words to work out arguments about whose chair is whose or who got there “first.” Be sure to have an adult on hand specifically to ensure conflicts are settled peacefully and to help kids who are no longer in the game stay cheerful.

隨著“音樂椅”游戲進行，孩子們必須學會處理被淘汰時的沮喪情緒，磨練耐性并平和地等游戲結束。他們也必須學些用言語去解決“椅子是誰的”或“誰先坐上去的”這樣的爭論。一定要有一位成年人在場，確保沖突和平解決，并幫那些淘汰出局的孩子們保持心情愉快。

3. Simon Says

3. 西蒙說

Simon Says is an excellent game for helping kids learn to pay close attention to instructions， while also giving them a taste of leadership. In Simon Says， one kid asks their peers to do silly actions by saying “Simon says tap your head” or “Simon says jump like monkeys.” Then the other kids will do the action—but only as long as the leader adds “Simon says” to their instructions.

“西蒙說”是教孩子們認真聽指令的絕佳游戲，同時也讓他們嘗試擔任領導者。在“西蒙說”中，一個孩子發(fā)出“西蒙說拍拍你的頭”或“西蒙說像猴子一樣跳”等指令，讓其他孩子做滑稽的動作。其他孩子會做相應動作，前提是領導者指令中必須要有“西蒙說”。

Kids who don’t pay attention quickly discover that if they don’t listen， they’ll be the only one doing the silly action. That gives them extra motivation to listen closely to the entire set of instructions before getting started.

不注意聽指令的孩子很快就會發(fā)現(xiàn)，如果不仔細聽，自己會是唯一做滑稽動作的人。這會讓他們更有動力去認真聽完整套指令，然后再執(zhí)行。

4. Row Your Boat

4. 劃船游戲

Self-awareness is an important skill for children to develop as part of the learning process. When children are small， this can start with physical self-awareness. Knowing how to moderate one’s body is a very useful skill that prepares kids for later life. The game here is simple： pair children up facing one another with knees bent up in front of them and holding hands. Instruct them to rock back and forth in time to the song “Row， Row， Row Your Boat.” They’ll need to work together and keep an eye on their own movements at all times. It works best to play this game with a CD or a song on YouTube， so you can incorporate a “freeze” element by stopping music abruptly. This helps children focus on auditory cues and match their physical movements to them.

自我意識是學習中的一環(huán)，是兒童成長中的重要技能。孩子還小時，可以先培養(yǎng)身體自我意識。了解如何控制自己的身體是一項非常有用的技能，讓孩子能適應以后的生活。游戲很簡單：孩子們兩人一組相對而坐，雙膝向前彎曲，手拉著手。指導他們隨著歌曲“劃呀，劃呀，劃小船”前后搖晃。他們需要共同努力，始終關注自己的動作。玩這個游戲時最好同時播放一首CD或優(yōu)兔上的歌曲，這樣你可以突然停止音樂，在游戲中增加“凍結”元素。這能讓孩子們關注聽覺線索，讓身體動作跟上音樂。

5. Hide and Seek

5. 捉迷藏

Hide and Seek is a great game for teaching problem solving. In order to stay hidden for the longest possible amount of time， children have to assess their options so they can pick the best possible hiding spot. This builds spatial awareness， because kids must consider factors such as which hiding places will offer the most cover from the most vantage points. As they gain experience with the game， kids will take an even more in-depth assessment approach， thinking about which spots are frequently used during free play and therefore most likely to be checked first.

捉迷藏是一個教孩子們如何解決問題的好游戲。為了藏得盡可能地久，孩子們必須評估自己的選擇，選出最好的藏身處。這培養(yǎng)了空間意識，因為孩子們必須考慮多種因素，如哪個藏身處位置最有利，能提供最大的掩護。隨著游戲經驗增加，孩子們會做更深入的評估，會考慮在自由活動中哪些位置經常被使用，因此最有可能最先被查看。

6. Parachute Games

6. 降落傘游戲

Playing with a parachute is a fun way for kids to learn teamwork. Kids stand around a circle， holding a parachute （or large sheet） between them. When a ball or some other object is placed on the parachute， kids toss the ball up and down. Kids must move in sync or the ball will fall off the side of the parachute. If playing with a big parachute， kids have to work together to keep multiple balls in play at the same time， or learn how to throw the parachute up so one child can run underneath before the parachute falls.

玩降落傘是孩子學習團隊合作的一種有趣方式。孩子們站成一圈，手拉著降落傘（或大床單）。將球或其他物體放在降落傘上，孩子們一起將球拋上拋下。孩子們必須同步移動，否則球就會從降落傘一側掉下。如果使用大降落傘，孩子們必須一起努力，讓多個球同時運動，或學會如何把降落傘拋起來，讓一個孩子能在降落傘落下之前跑到傘下面。

7. Sleeping Lions

7. 睡獅游戲

It’s important for kids to learn how to stay focused despite distractions. During this preschool game， all the children lie down and pretend to be asleep. Then one person walks among the group （without touching anyone）， trying to convince kids into reacting and opening their eyes. The last kid to still look like they’re “sleeping” is the winner.

讓孩子學會即使受到干擾也能保持專注很重要。在這個學前游戲中，所有孩子都躺下，假裝睡著。然后一人在他們中間走動（不碰到任何人），試圖說服孩子們做出回應，并睜開眼睛。最后一個仍能假裝“睡著”的孩子就是贏家。

Sleeping Lions encourages kids to be silly as they try to wake up their peers. To stay “asleep，” kids have to keep themselves focused on not moving a muscle—no matter how their peers try to distract them. That’s extremely hard for young children to do， and the focusing they practice during Sleeping Lions will help a child later on when they’re trying to learn in boisterous environments.

“睡獅游戲”鼓勵孩子們在努力叫醒伙伴時玩花樣搞怪。為了保持“睡著”的狀態(tài)，不管同伴如何打擾，孩子們都必須集中注意力，一動不動。這對于年幼的孩子來說非常難。他們在“睡獅游戲”中鍛煉的專注力將有助于他們日后在喧鬧的環(huán)境中學習。

（譯者為“《英語世界》杯”翻譯大賽獲獎者）