Our kids have outgrown almost all restaurant "kid" menus. The word puzzles are too basic; the characters on the menu seem too tired; the mazes don't hold their attention; and tic-tac-toe always ends in a tie. The upside of this "post-coloring sheet" development means that our short people are much more likely to engage in chit-chat around the table. In the moments, though, when a lull in conversation happens, or, God-forbid, that "hanger" sets in, Billy and I love to roll out an activity that keeps the time engaging and creative. In pursuit of this desire, we recently stumbled onto a new game that keeps everyone entertained.

My daughter calls it "squiggling," and here's how it works:

1. The first person ("The Squiggler") draws a few random shapes on a page. (here's one)

2. The second person ("The Artist") turns those squiggles into meaningful drawings and then explains what they are.

This one is a skateboard ramp. See it?

3. For the next round, the players switch roles. So, The Squiggler becomes The Artist. It doesn't take long to have a large array of creative images that are birthed from random squiggles. In the example below you'll see the leg of a person with "jello" legs, a skateboard ramp (as seen above), mountains, a duck with a scarf, an alien hand, and a sun.

That's it! Grab some crayons, throw down a few squiggles, and you'll be amazed at the creativity that happens while you're waiting for your meal to be served.

Also, feel free to use this at the office with the person sitting next to you during excruciating meetings (not that I'm ever in those or anything!). If you do this and happen to get busted, remind people that doodlers have a better retention rate. Really. True fact! Check out the link here.

Happy squiggles.

Keeping Dinner Fun