Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of combining my kids’ Hot Wheels cars with tennis balls, you know, just for kicks. I’m calling it “Hugo Car Tennis” – Hugo is my son, and he’s obsessed with both. Here’s how it all went down, step by step.
Phase 1: Gathering the Goods
First, I grabbed a bunch of Hugo’s Hot Wheels. We’re talking a good mix – some speedy racers, a couple of monster trucks, the whole deal. Then, I snagged a can of tennis balls from the garage. Pretty standard stuff, right?
Phase 2: The “Court”
Next up, I needed a “court.” I cleared out a space in the living room – basically, I just shoved all the toys into a corner. I used some old building blocks to make a makeshift net in the middle. Nothing fancy, just something to separate the two sides.
Phase 3: Game Time!
This is where the fun began. Hugo and I each picked a team of cars. We took turns “serving” the tennis ball by flicking it with our fingers. Then, the goal was to push the ball back and forth across the “net” using only the cars. No hands allowed on the ball!
- We tried different techniques. Sometimes we’d ram the ball with the front of the car.
- Other times, we’d try to gently nudge it with the side.
- The monster trucks were surprisingly good at blocking!
Phase 4: Scoring and Shenanigans
We made up the rules as we went along. I think we decided that if the ball went over the net and the other person couldn’t return it with their car, it was a point. Honestly, we mostly just laughed a lot. Hugo started making car noises and pretending his cars were talking to each other. It was chaotic, but in the best way.
Phase 5: The Aftermath
After about an hour, we were both pretty tired (and the living room was a disaster). We picked up the cars and tennis balls, put the blocks away, and declared “Hugo Car Tennis” a success. Would I do it again? Absolutely. It was a super simple, silly way to spend an afternoon, and Hugo loved it. Plus, it got us moving and using our imaginations, which is always a win in my book.
