Books published by publisher Hunter House Inc. ,U.S.

This lively and imaginative book is being used in homes and schools in over 13 countries to help children learn about music and sound while they develop the ability to listen, concentrate, be creative, improvise, and trust one another. Using audiocassettes or CDs, of popular songs and simple instruments children and adults get to play listening games, concentration games, musical quizzes, trust games, guessing games, and more. The games are not competitive--they encourage and reward children for participation, not for winning. The SmartFunActivity series encourage imagination, social interaction, and self-expression in children. To make the books easy to use, games are marked according to appropriate age levels, length of play time, and group size, using helpful icons. Most games are non-competitive and none require special skills or training. The series is widely used in homes, schools, daycare centers, clubs, and summer camps.

This action-packed compendium offers parents, teachers, and anyone else who works with kids a wide array of ingenious sound and dance activities from a variety of cultures to get kids singing, dancing, listening, interacting, and involved. 101 More Music Games for Children includes games that facilitate musical development, such as sound games, rhythm games, game projects, and card and board games. All of them have simple, clear rules, and they stress excitement, humor, challenge, surprise, and cooperation rather than competition. Whether or not kids are "musical" or play an instrument, these activities can help them: develop musical skills such as spontaneous singing; create, play, and recognize various rhythms; appreciate the structure of sounds; and learn how to play with all kinds of instruments. Like its best-selling predecessor, this book encourages and enhances creative expression, social interaction, family relationships, and kids' budding powers of listening, concentration, and discrimination.

The movement games in this book are intended to cultivate children’s social and creative abilities. Some are based on playground games, others on professional theater and dance exercises. The games described are divided into ten categories including touch and reaction, concentration and puzzles, impersonation and cooperation, and music and movement.

This book is filled with dance games that the whole classroom or family can play and learn from. These noncompetitive games reward children for their involvement, encourage them to use their imagination, and show them how to express how they feel without using words. Black-and-white illustrations add to these simple games that release a child’s spontaneity and self-expression.

Drama games are not staged plays but a dynamic form in which children explore their minds and the world around them. They can use their play-acting in sensory games, pantomimes, story games with puppets, in creating masks and costumes, and much more. Drama games allow children to get more in touch with themselves and what they want to be, and are a delightful way to discover the freedom, creativity, and expression of acting- and living. The SmartFunActivity series encourage imagination, social interaction, and self-expression in children. To make the books easy to use, games are marked according to appropriate age levels, length of play time, and group size, using helpful icons. Most games are non-competitive and none require special skills or training. The series is widely used in homes, schools, daycare centers, clubs, and summer camp.

Originally written for drama teachers working with students aged 9 to 18, this collection of short, snappy theater dialogues makes the perfect short break activity in any classroom, camp, or youth group situation. Students get much more out of these dialogues than just acting practice: they increase alertness, cultivate curiosity, boost literacy, and improve school attendance. The one-to-one dialogue format facilitates friendships and allows shy students to demonstrate new skills. Written by a family of drama experts, each dialogue centers around a theme related to young life: food, parents, hobbies, movies, even falling in love, to name just a few. Each dialogue is introduced with brief notes suggesting different ways of playing them at different ages and tips for adapting the dialogues to different age groups and situations. 101 Dialogues, Sketches, and Skits is part of the SmartFun Activity series from Hunter House, which includes over 25 titles that have sold more than 200,000 copies to date.

The games in this book help teachers, parents, and others who work with children maintain or restore order, refocus children’s attention, and break up the classroom routine. Most of the games are quite short and can be used between academic activities as a treat or quick break. Many are noncompetitive, most don’t require props, and none require special skills or training. All can be played with the whole class; there are partner games, small group games, and outdoor games. Clear, complete instructions are included for each activity, and icons denote appropriate age levels, time, and group size. Author Allison Bartl has tested all of the games herself and recommends that the teacher or parent fully participate in each game, both to relax and to provide a model of good social behavior. Tips and thoughtful quotations from Goethe, Rudolf Steiner, Seneca, Lao Tse, Mother Theresa, and others are also included.

Yoga provides not only an excellent, low-impact workout, it also helps young people in key areas such as body awareness, flexibility, concentration, stress reduction, and self-expression. The exercises and games in this easy-to-follow guide are specifically designed to fit the needs of teenagers and to show teens how to work out and train their bodies in a relaxed way. It requires no advance knowledge or preparation and can be used by anyone working with teens between the ages of 10 and 20. The exercises are divided into static postures, dynamic postures, and exercises in pairs. There are also visualization and meditation exercises based on the four elements of nature as well as an introduction to the basics of yoga philosophy. The book can be used with large and small groups or as part of a parent-teen activity. Practicing yoga together is a perfect opportunity for parents and teens to exercise, talk, and spend time together in a healthy, positive manner.