After a lovely late summer it seems to be happening now... bad weather is predicted for Sunday. A great moment to play a game with the kids and we just happen to have a new game in the house. Extra fun!

The predicted autumn weather is however still waiting and the sun is very tempting. So let's go outside. The game can wait another day... although it is very tempting on the kitchen table.

Fortunately, the wait is rewarded. Monday it rains!!!

After the sandwich, during “our hour” (the two youngest children are in bed and the oldest is at school), Nieke asks if we are going to play the caterpillar game. Rondovario! As far as I am concerned, a great moment for some special “big girl attention”.

Fortunately, the game description is clear and simple, so we can get started quickly. The story that serves as an introduction to the game is very funny and gives the game a “head and tail” right away. The caterpillars (4 strings) get new clothes (beads), but since the choice is very large, it is decided to roll the dice for the clothes. One die indicates the color of the garment and the other die the shape. The caterpillar that is the first to have 6 pieces of clothing on has won.

Nieke is immediately in the game and she can perform it smoothly. The combination of color and shape recognition and stringing, makes her "challenged" in different areas and this big lady of almost 4 (!) likes that very much. Of course she wins and that also increases the fun of playing.

Because the game doesn't last that long, she stays focused on the game, but for me as a mother that also has a clear advantage.... Now I can give the children special attention in between, without spending an hour and often a lot of child frustration. You can definitely limit this child frustration with Rondo Vario. For example, when you play the game with two people, the one who starts will always win. This way, as a mother, I can keep the atmosphere going a bit by, for example, making sure that a child wins again after a losing turn. That increases the fun of playing considerably!!!

After Nieke has dressed her caterpillar several times, she also likes to play "freely" with the caterpillars. She decides that she wants to dress a caterpillar with only squares.... she then takes a triangle with full conviction.... oh well, she is only 3, so that shouldn't spoil the fun.

Of course, while playing Rondo Vario, the cogs in my therapist brain immediately started “turning”. All kinds of variations on this game fly through my head. For example, you can also let touch play a role in this game. With a little “manual dexterity” and home industry, you can sew 6 colored bags or you can look lovingly at a handy neighbor or mother... In these bags you can sort the beads by color. When the dice now indicate that you can choose a red square as a piece of clothing, you put your hand in the red bag. Feeling, you then go looking for the square. Another variation is to use an hourglass. This limits the “search time”, which increases the competition element. In addition to all kinds of own variations, the manual also describes some variations, for both young and older children. So this game does not have to be boring for a while.

As far as Nieke is concerned, all these variations are not yet necessary.... for the time being, she is still having a great time with the caterpillars and their clothing. As soon as her big brother is home from school, the game is played again. He likes it too.... he even suggests playing it with a friend from school, when she comes over on Wednesday afternoon. In the coming period, we will be “shopping” for a lot of clothes and I, as a “real woman”, find that very funny of course... ;)