The Boops and Yoinks Game
You're welcome!
New game alert!
//
Because I suck at playing, I get really excited when I come up with a new game, and I just found one that is physical enough, but doesn't require lifting and hauling whole bodies (my kids are too big and I am too weak lol)
//
Do y'all know Fishingarrett? omg, we just discovered him and we can't get enough of his irreverent (but methinks respectful and skilled) "yoinks" and "boops" - if you don't know what I'm talking about just watch one of his reels!
//
So the game I invented is a yoinks and boops game and it goes like this:
//
When my kids are in a bad mood, I start booping and yoinking them. Gentle boops, unexpected boops, gentle yoinks - to the belly, arm, leg, finger, nose, even a tuft of hair. To get a laugh and to refresh the mood, yoinks and boops work for us.
//
A gentle finger, hair or nose yoink is the tiniest yoink.
//
Boops can either be to the nose, the head or the belly. Boops can be alarmingly gentle with an anticipatory build-up or delightfully smack-y - depends!
//
Another variation is that my kids lay crosswise on the (king size) bed and start army crawling towards the other edge, I grab their legs and torsos and yoink them back, sometimes attempting a “double ankle yoink” trying to prevent them from reaching the other side.
//
When I don’t want to disturb their play, but want a moment of connection, I walk in and boop them and walk back out.
//
Another variation: yoinks and boops tag, where I just chase them around trying to get a boop or a yoink in.
//
Fishing Garrett will sometimes use his whole body to yoink a giant python, boa or “swamp puppy.” My son especially likes when I tackle or smush him with my whole body, which is the ultimate yoink - works best to do it when it’s unexpected. (Other children without such a high “mischeviousness” setting might prefer a heads-up though)
//
The yoinks are great input for their proprioceptive systems and input to their joints. As always, be gentle, know your child, get feedback from them, and pro-actively tweak this so it works for your family!
//
If you’ve read this pst, but haven’t watched Fishing Garrett in action, what are you waiting for? Call your kids over right now, snuggle them and settle in for content that manages to be entertaining, alarming, mischievous, educational, and pro-Nature all at once!
//
For context: my kids are ages 6 and 8 and feral and love physical/silly games with an element of taboo or irreverence!
//
I’m a coach, mother, mystic.
I work with families, parents, couples, individuals and teens.
Broadly speaking, I coach on neurodivergence, parenting, relating, nervous system literacy, conflict, difference, co-parenting, liberation, crisis, truth and other void/edge spaces.
I warmly invite you to work with me 1:1 or to explore my courses and resources.
I’m offering a limited amount of FREE ask me anything one-off sessions - book here!