“Nanny Nanny Boo Boo, You can’t catch me!” Squeals shriek through the hallway. Laughter echoes throughout the kitchen. Around the island, past the coffee table, and back down the hallway we run in our game of “Tickle”. My boys take off in every direction and the game is on.
My two year old is always the easiest prey. Like a duckling running from a fox, his bottom waddles from side to side as his little legs go in every direction. It is one of my favorite things to watch. I can’t help but laugh as I take him down. I tickle him relentlessly until he is out of breath then I am on to my next victim.
My three year old is quicker, but horribly clumsy. He trips over air frequently and is constantly attacked by stationary structures like walls. He tries to escape but his feet fail him. He slams into the floor in a manner that looks some what painful but laughs none the less. My second victim has been taken down, to be tickle tortured until he squirms away.
Then its time to get my six year old. He is fast and quick and if it weren’t for the fact that he wants to be caught I am not sure that I would ever actually catch him. When I finally get a hold of him he quickly begs for mercy, because he doesn’t actually like the tickling part… it is the chase that he is seeking. The sooner I let go the chase can resume so I release him only to pursue him again.
But now the game always takes a new level. I charge after them, they run in panic. Screaming and not looking back. I duck behind a bedroom door, or jump in the shower and hide behind the curtain. I remain quite and listen.
They notice I am not behind them. They call out, “Mom?…Mom?” I laugh to myself. I hear their footsteps. They get closer and closer. I make no sounds whatsoever. I wait like a lioness in the thicket ready to prance and catch my prey. They get close. They step in and “Aaaahaaaa!!”
They scream. They flee. They laugh. And the game starts all over from the beginning usually not ending without at least five pleas for “More…more. Again….again.” The game never gets old.
Play Tickle with your little one today.
