On the first Sunday of every month during the 2011-2012 season, the Casa Grande Valley Historical Society will emphasize family activities. We invite you to bring your children to explore the museum and to play games with us.

We know that:

• Games are universal.  
• Games encourage discussion about cultural knowledge. 
• Children learn investigative skills. 
• Families involved in games can encourage the sharing of oral histories.
• Comparing games provides a vehicle for cultural sharing. 
• Children improve their language skills.
• Rules of games, how they are established and what happens when they are broken, can lead to discussions about how people, and children especially, deal with or have dealt with conflict resolution in the past.  

Games for children are like work for adults.  Playing games is a way for children to learn, to explore, to know, to imagine, to share, to create.   Even the most serious things can have a game-like side.

Music, poetry, art, and games follow childhood. Children's games--recreational activities mainly enjoyed by children--vary from culture to culture. It is difficult to classify games because of their great number and variety. Children enjoy both active and passive games. Some games are played according to formal rules or with prescribed equipment; others are spontaneously played. Games involve skill and chance, are played outdoors and indoors, and they often involve words or guessing.

Games offer children an opportunity for cooperation and action. Children's games have always been spread and perpetuated by imitation.  Many of them, such as "Hopscotch" or "Marbles," have long histories.  One and the same game, namely "Hide and seek" is played all around the world.  Games go in and out of fashion and new games appear.  Some games are seasonal or local.  Some, like "Monopoly" and "Scrabble," can be played throughout the year.

Games also provide a link between the past, the present and the future.  We hope FAMILY FUN SUNDAYs at the Museum will encourage children and adults to share in games that allow them to experience history and culture in a new and vital way.

Activities might include stories and reading, spelling bees, making taffy or candied apples, learning to play games from the past, creating art, singing and music making.

Family activities are scheduled from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

For more information, call 520-836-2223. begin_of_the_skype_highlighting