We Know Stuff
If you live in our neck of the woods, you know winter's coming, which means less day light and more time spent cooped up indoors. Instead of letting your kids get an overdose on screen time, why not pick up some fun board games that the whole family can enjoy?
We got to see this game in action at a blogger conference this summer. As we watched the demonstration, we couldn't wait to get our hands on one for Christmas this year. We love that the Chrono Bomb Special Agent Edition gets kids up off the couch and moving. Prepare to have strings tied from every nook and cranny of your home as your kids test their flexibility as they try to maneuver through their maze.
About this game: Use the clamps and string to set up a laser field, with a bomb ticking down at the end of the maze! Crawl through the laser field, picking up gear cards and carefully maneuvering your way to the end. If you touch a wire, the time bomb will tick down faster! Hurry to defuse the bomb and save the day! 10 Cards (8 Gear Cards and 2 Mission Cards), 4 Standard Clamps, Reel Clamp, Sensor Clamp, Sensor, Bomb, Spy Case, Rules. For ages 7 & Up.
Last winter, we spent a lot of time playing the electronic banking version of Monopoly. Although our kids had a blast using the Banker Unit (kind of like a calculator and debit machine all in one), the game was never ending. We would often have to set aside the game to finish the next day and it was getting a bit stressful for us. (True story.) So this year, we're opting for something different: The Monopoly Here & Now Game: US Edition. This version focuses on filling up your passport and owning your favorite cities. Since our kids love to travel, we have no doubt that they will be very excited to play this game.
About this game: In this fast-paced version of the Monopoly game, players race around the board visiting cities and collecting passport stamps. The first player to fill their passport wins! The gameboard features favorite cities like Seattle, New York, and Denver. The game also includes 4 iconic tokens: the Statue of Liberty, a baseball glove, a trolley, and a cowboy hat. Every time someone adds another stamp to their passport, they get closer to winning! The Hasbro Gaming and Monopoly names and logos, the distinctive design of the gameboard, the four corner squares, the Mr. Monopoly name and character, as well as each of the distinctive elements of the board and playing pieces are trademarks of Hasbro for its property trading game and game equipment. Includes 1 gameboard, 4 tokens, 4 passports, 42 passport stamps (22 location discs and 20 First Class discs), 14 Chance cards, 14 Here and Now cards, 1 money pack, 1 banker's tray, 2 dice, and 1 game guide.
Eye Found It! will be under our Christmas tree this year. Although we haven't played it yet, we're excited to do so. We love that this game helps build observation skills and encourages kids to pay close attention to detail. Essentially a matching game, it also promotes teamwork and cooperation. Plus, it's full of the characters that our children grew up with!!
About this game: Explore eight exquisite lands inspired by your favorite DreamWorks films! Join beloved characters like Donkey from Shrek; the Penguins of Madagascar; Po from Kung Fu Panda; and many more in a thrilling adventure through the six-foot game board. It's collaborative fun where together everyone gets to shout; "I found it!".
Lay It Or Break It is by far one of the silliest games we've seen so far this year. We love that this game gets everyone up and moving...and looking ridiculous. It's the perfect game for breaking up any tension that might be a'brewing after a few days of solid rain this winter! Wearing a beak mask, each person must use the Chicken Magnets to carefully lift the eggs and take them back to the nest.
About this game: Get into this crazy race where you try to save eggs from the frying pan and take them back to the safety of their nest. Two players, at the same time, will try to move the eggs without breaking them. The player with the most unbroken eggs will be the winner! Fotorama has a long standing, worldwide reputation for developing games and toys that are different, innovative and most importantly, FUN!
We came across this game at a Blogger Conference this past summer and thought it was pretty gosh darn neat! Riddle Cube stretches everyone's imaginations as you try to twist and strecth your cube into shapes that match the image on your card. It's a race against time and the first player to match 5 challenge cards wins. This educational game is perfect for developing spatial reasoning skills, building problem-solving skills, and encouraging good sportsmanship.
About this game: Can you make a spaceship or reading glasses in 60 seconds? Give it a try with the RiddleCube game. Stretch your imagination as you race your way through this rapid, shape-shifting game of 200 mind-bending picture and word puzzles. Everyone races to beat the clock by folding, twisting, and stretching their cubes into shapes that match the challenge card pulled for the round. Match the challenge card first and collect the card– the first player to collect five challenge cards is the winner! Includes 4 RiddleCube Shape-shifters, 100 double-sided challenge cards, 60-second timer, and instructions.
A few years ago when Blue Orange launched Spot It, they sent us two tins. Yep, this game comes packaged in a super portable, metal tin. We weren't sure if the kids would be interested in it, but from the first game, they were hooked...so were the adults. This fast paced game relies on each player being the first person to "spot" something. It's tons of fun and we love that it requires the kids to pay close attention. Thanks to the nifty tin, this game travels really well and has even gone to Mexico with us!
About this game: Spot it! is the addictive, feverishly fun matching game for every generation. The first thing to know about Spot it! is that there is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any two cards. Got it? Now all you need is a sharp eye and a quick hand to play all five party games packed into the grab 'n' go tin. Including up to eight players, Spot it! is a cinch to learn, plays fast, and is irresistibly fun for all ages! Award-winning game of visual perception for the whole family. For 2 to 8 players. Develops focus, visual perception skills, speech-language skills, and fine motor skills. Includes 55 cards and illustrated rules in a durable travel-size tin.
My sister and I grew up playing Candy Land so when our girls were old enough, we happily picked up this game for them. There's something magical and sweet about this classic game where kids get to race each other to the castle at the finish line. Even better? The rules are so simple that the kids can play this game by themselves - so it has a prime spot in the game draw for when I need to mop the floors in peace!
About this game: Start down the magical road to sweet surprises! This adorable version of the classic Candyland game features the colored cards and fun illustrations that kids love, with different destinations like Cupcake Commons and the chunky Chocolate Mountains. Choose your cards, move your pawn and let your imagination soar as you make your way to the castle to win! Includes gameboard, 4 pawns, card deck and instructions.
Once our kids started to outgrow the younger games that they had known and loved for years, we were on the hunt for some new games. Since all of our kids love to draw, Junior Pictionary was one of the first games we bought. This classic family favorite game is great for banishing the winter doldrums. We love that everyone gets a chance to be artistic and that it encourages lots of laughter. Pictionary Junior is perfect for the school-aged set because it features topics that any child can draw.
From the Manufacturer
About this game: The beloved game of quick sketches and hilarious guesses now features a new board for faster game play. There are two levels of clues (1200 Adult, 800 Junior) so that everyone can play. For 3 or more players. Ages 8 and older. Includes clue cards (1200 Adult, 800 Junior), 2 card boxes, 4 category cards, 4 pencils, 1 drawing pad, 1 game board, 4 movers, 1 sand timer, 1 die, and instructions.
Every Thanksgiving, we go to a super low-key brunch at Daniele's house. Last year, the kids decided that we would start a new family tradition. Everyone would play Disney Hedbanz after we ate. Grandma was the funniest player by far!! This game is great for young AND old players. We can't wait to play again this year!
About this game: Disney Hedbanz - the game that's all about using your head. Discover the quick question game of "What am I?" featuring all your favorite Disney characters. Ask questions to figure out if the cartoon on your head is a person or an object from one of your favorite Disney movies. Be the first player to guess what you are and win. Disney Hedbanz - where everybody knows but you. 2-6 Players. Mickey Mouse Ears on Each Headband. Non-Stop Fun with your Favorite Disney Characters. Includes: 6 Mickey Ears Headbands, 24 Mickey Chips, 1 Sand Timer, 72 Cards, Instructions.
To this day, I have no idea where our Connect 4 came from. One day, it was just here. I'm guessing it was a birthday gift, but sadly, I have no idea who gifted it to us. Anyways, our kids regularly go to this game whenever they're bored. It's easy-to-use, has simple rules, and it gets their brains pumping. My husband and I can also be found playing this classic game with our kids as we slug back our morning coffee on lazy Sunday mornings.
About this game: Classic Connect 4 game is disc-dropping fun. Choose yellow or red discs. When you get 4 discs in a row you win. Includes grid, 2 legs, slider bar, 21 red discs, 21 yellow discs and instructions. Game should be played with at least two players.
Over the summer, our babysitter brought over her "old school" version of Battleship. To be completely honest, I didn't think our kids would care for it because they live in a world where video games rule. I was SO wrong. When I walked back in the door, they were screaming about sunken battleships and who kicked who's butt. Long live sibling rivalry with this classic game.
About this game: Take on your friends in head-to-head battles in the exciting naval combat game of Battleship! Search for your enemy's ships on the high seas and eliminate them one by one. Do it fast, because they'll be trying to destroy your fleet at the same time! The game's realistic naval crafts put you at the center of some seriously realistic action, and the convenient portable battle cases let you battle on the go. Launch one attack at a time or use the Battleship Salvo feature to make multiple strikes on your turn! Call your shot and fire in the classic combat of Battleship! Battleship and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. Classic Battleship game lets you hold head-to-head naval battles. Red pegs mark strikes and white pegs mark misses. If you can locate your enemy's ships you can destroy all 5 for the win. Battleship Salvo feature lets you launch multiple strikes. Portable battle cases let you play anywhere.
As kids, we grew up playing chess with our father. And no matter how much we pouted, he never let us win. So when our kids became interested in game, we tried to follow suit. Anyways, when the kids saw this Super Mario Chess Collectors Edition in the toy store this summer, they just had to have it. As an adult, I prefer a traditional chess board, but the kids really love this one-of-a-kind game.
About this game: It's a battle for the mushroom kingdom. Mario and Bowser are battling it out once again. This time in the classic strategy game of chess. Chess, super mario. Pick your team and take control of 32 hand-painted playing pieces. This one of a kind game is as much fun to play as it is to display. 3.25" high. 10.5" wide.
