The Tickle Monster
One of my favorite games to play is the tickle monster game. You are probably familiar with it. It’s a very popular game. That’s not surprising seeing how much fun it is to play.
The rules of the game are pretty simple. The tickle monster comes to giver me tickles, and I have to try to stop the tickles from happening. I can try to prevent the tickles, or I can try to stop them once they have already begun. It’s much easier to prevent them. Once the tickles have started, it’s difficult to keep your wits about you.
The Benefits of Tickle Time
Tickle time can be a delightful way to bond and interact with your baby. Here are some potential benefits:
- Emotional Bonding: Tickling can create joyful interactions between parents and babies, strengthening emotional bonds.
- Sensory Development: It helps babies become more aware of their bodies and surroundings, enhancing their sensory processing skills.
- Social Interaction: Through tickling, babies learn to respond to social cues, smiles, and laughter, aiding in their social development.
- Physical Development: Gentle tickling can encourage babies to move, wiggle, and engage their muscles, supporting their physical development.
However, it’s important to ensure that tickling is gentle and enjoyable for the baby. If a baby shows signs of discomfort or distress, it’s best to stop. Every baby is different, so always pay attention to their reactions and preferences.
How to Play
This is a two-person game. One person is the tickle monster, and the other person is me. The tickler can use their hands to do the tickling, but it’s much more fun when they use their mouth. Those are the tickliest tickles of them all.
It’s not just the tickles themselves that make it fun. It’s also the anticipation of the tickles. The tickle monster goes left, but I block with my arm. I let out a bit of a giggle. The tickle monster goes low, and I launch a foot. I’m having fun, and I giggle some more.
The tickle monster fakes right, then up high, and finally goes in on the left and nibbles my rib. I shriek and try to wiggle out of the way. I kick my feet and roll onto my tummy, but the tickle monster plants a raspberry on my back. That tickles!
The tickle monster backs off to catch its breath. I roll onto my back again, ready for the next wave of tickles. The tickle monster looks at me, and I know it’s coming. I giggle as I raise my arms and prepare to defend my tickly bits. Here come the tickles!