Money Bags: A Coin Value Game

Looking for a good way to teach your children about money? We love this game at our house.



Money Bags is a game where the players take turns rolling a die to advance around the winding path on the board. Most of the spaces are filled with chores to do, for which money is paid. For example, Wash the Dishes- earn 30 cents. Then the player spins the wheel to see if they get to keep the money (or if it goes into the "Money Bags") or how they can collect their money from the bank. For instance, the spinner may say, "no dimes"- and then you have to collect your 30 cents from the bank using just quarters, nickles or pennies.

There are several places on the board where you can land on "Money Bags"- the and you win all of the money in the pot- this adds some excitement and tears to the game :). Additionally, there is a "Bank Exchange" space where you can exchange your coins in for dollars- and earn money in the process.

The game ends when the first player crosses the finish line. That player gets to collect the "Money Bags," but is not necessarily the winner. The winner is the player with the most money.

My kids love playing this game, and I am amazed at how much they have learned by playing it. The game recommends players who are 7 and up. You can play with a younger child (5 and up) if they have some assistance.


I like this game because it teaches children that money doesn't just come out of the sky (or the money bags pot), it comes from work- in this case, the form of a chore (i.e dish washing, feeding pets) or an entrepreneurial effort (i.e lemonade stand). So beyond teaching math skills, I like that it teaches work=money.

You can purchase Money Bags from Amazon.

Sensory Matching Game

We are wishing daily that spring will come.  After last weeks big snow fall and a daughter almost in tears over it, we decided we needed to come up with a new game to play at home.  This sensory matching game is easy to make with items from your closet.

You will need:

• 4 card stock cut into four equal pieces (16 squares total)
• household items that fall into the following categories: rough [sandpaper, scouring pad], smooth [aluminum foil, paper, ribbon], hard [wood, metal, pasta] and soft [cotton balls, fabric, pipe cleaners] -- use your imagination.
• glue, scissors and a marker
• blindfold

Write hard, smooth, rough or soft on the back of each card.  Each category gets 4 cards.
On the front side glue on the corresponding item, making two identical cards.  For example, I used cotton balls for soft.  On two cards I wrote soft on the back and glued cotton balls on the front.  Once you have made all your cards lay them out with the item facing up.  For a younger child use fewer cards per game.

Blindfold the child playing.  Instruct her to feel all the cards and select two that are the same.   Set those aside until all the cards are matched up.  Next have your child look at all the matches she made and sort them into the appropriate categories.  Checking the back to verify the answer. 

A fun game for yet another day indoors.

Reader Rabbit

My girls love to play on the computer.  Do yours?  I'm not opposed to a little {precious little} time on the computer as long as its constructive, instructive and creative.  Computer time can be a source of education if you are selective.  Of course there is easy and free access to websites like Disney Playhouse, Nick Jr., and PBS Kids, but I've found the challenge and the learning factor to be minimal. 
A couple of years ago, when my oldest was 3, we purchased a set of Reader Rabbit computer games at Costco.  It came with a Preschool, a Kindergarten and a Math CD.  Reader Rabbit is made by The Learning Company the same one who made the Oregon Trail.  Does that ring a bell?  I remember playing the Oregon Trail in elementary school.  Needless to say, we didn't know quite what we were buying.  Surprisingly, I have been VERY pleased with this software.  Let me tell you why.

The preschool CD begins with a story.  The carnival in town closed down and all of the rides are broken.  The object is to help get the carnival back to working order.  In order to do this, you need to complete certain tasks multiple times to earn tickets.  Each ride needs 6 tickets.  This adds up to a lot of work on the part of your child.  These tasks include counting, matching, creating patterns, letters and sounds.  Each task is tucked into a fun scenario of its own.  Such as letters and sounds are matched together as you try to figure out someones order at a restaurant.  You learn the art of pattern making (an early math skill) by assembling a marching band in a parade.  Counting is done in a game of hide and seek.

There are four main characters, Reader Rabbit, Sam the Lion, Mattie the Mouse and Wonder Pony.  The characters are super cute and innocent.  There is plenty to explore.  It takes dedication to get your ticket which is a good thing.  It brings great satisfaction to a child to finally get a ticket they have been diligent at obtaining. You are able to adjust the difficulty according to the level of your child, but the game does that already as more tickets are earned.   My daughter has been content with the preschool CD for a couple of years.  Recently she has begun exploring the Kindergarten CD which introduces more reading and math skills using the same adorable characters and more challenging games.  The Learning Company has Reader Rabbit for toddlers up to 2nd grade.  After that, The Clue Finders  take you through 6th grade.  There is a great selection of games on Amazon starting at about $8.00.  Today it looks like most of the games are on sale, so you may want to make your purchases soon.

Here are a couple of tips when selecting a game and letting your child play on the computer:

• Remember your child will always learn better from you and with you.  At first my girls needed help every step of the way.  Now, though they don't need my constant help, I make a point to be in the same room with them asking questions, encouraging them and staying involved in a more passive role.
• Always, discuss and set rules about how much time they are allowed.  Computer skills have their purpose in learning, but there are so many other things that teach more efficiently and effectively than a computer game.
• Do your research on the game you plan on buying (ie don't follow our example, we just happened to be lucky)  Games can subtly teach your children behavior or attitudes you may not approve of.  This gets trickier as your children get older. Visit Media Wise for more information.
• Look for games that have multiple levels of difficulty and learning and games that promote problem solving.
• In our house computer games are a privilege not a necessity.

I would love to hear your ideas on how to manage computer time and other games that have been good for your family.

Zen Benders

Undoubtedly, there are several times during my day when I need my kids to be entertained, without me being the sole source of entertainment. Because of this, I love kids games that are easy to play, entertaining, and educational all wrapped in one (hopefully good quality) package. It is an extra perk if the game can be played solo.
These are all reasons why I like Zen Benders. This game series comes in little, almost pocket-sized plastic disk container. Each disk contains 8 cubes that have portions of a picture printed on them. Also contained within the disk is a stack of cards. To play this game, you must choose a challenge card from the deck and see how quickly you can create the picture (on the card) with your cubes.

If you are playing the "traditional" rules, you do not allow yourself to pick up the cube, and remove it from the disk. You must slide it around and flip it over (while still within the disk) to try to create the desired picture. The game is recommended for player ages 8+, but by a simple adjustment to the rules, my 4 and 6 year old can play with ease. My children play with all of the basic rules intact, with exception to the rule about not picking up the cubes. I let them pick up all the cubes and then reposition them within the disk, to create the challenge card. This makes the game much easier, and more on their level.



For older children or adults, you can turn this into a group game by timing players as they try to complete the challenge card image. The game comes with 36 puzzles, which are divided into 3 color-coded difficulty levels.

I like Zen Benders because it is a quick game. Tailor made to a child's attention span. My girls can usually get through a challenge card in less then 2 minutes, and then it is on to the next configuration. There is enough movement in the game that it keeps them fully entertained for about 15-20 minutes (about 8-10 cards), which is just long enough for me to make drs. appointments, clean a bathroom, mop a floor, or just regroup :). Much better diversion for them then the television, which can be used a little all-to-often in the summer months.

I also really like this game because it is portable. This could be a great travel (airplane/car) game for the kids. I have brought this along to drs. appointments, dentist appointments, and even church- to keep my kids entertained.

You can purchase Zen Benders at Amazon, Funagain.com, brainathonemporium.com, myriadgames.com. Prices range from $7.99-9.99.

SET Game

Our family has loved learning to play this card game. SET bills itself as the "Family Game of Visual Perception." This high-speed card game is a lot of fun- and at the same time, a real mental work-out.

This is how the game works: 12 cards are laid out for the group of players. The group then looks for a "Set" of three cards within the group which are either all the same, or all different in 4 specific qualities (shading, number of shapes, type of shape and color).

So, for example, in the picture above, the red-outlined ovals would be a "set" because they are all the SAME shape, all the SAME color, all the SAME shading (no shading) and all DIFFERENT numbers. So if you were playing and saw those cards laid out you would call out "SET!" and grab them up. Three replacement cards are set out, and play resumes again. You receive one point for every SET you find. Every time you call out "SET" and do not indeed prove to have a viable "SET" you lose a point. The player with the most points at the end of the game is proclaimed winner.

Understand? If not, play this little daily puzzle that SET has on its website (and on www.nytimes.com/set) and it will help you become more familiar with how the game works, and playing it will also enter you in their weekly game give-away, hurray!

SET is recommended for children 6 and up. We have, however, played this with our daughter who is 4- and she loves it. I would recommend taking out the speed element if you are playing with children younger than 6. When we play with my 4-year-old we just take turns finding a "SET" rather than playing the speed version- to limit her frustration. Our six-year-old will (excitedly) play the speed version with us.

SET can be played with any number of players. Of course, you will be limited to how many people could comfortably sit around the cards. We have played with 4 players, but you could probably play easily with up to 8. That would be a wild game! For those of you non-competitive types (who are not a member of my family :) you can also play SET solitaire-style.

I am a big fan of games that are both fun and educational- and SET definitely fits this criteria. The SET website even includes ideas for using the SET game for math instruction. Due to the educational benefits of this game, SET has been the recipient of a whole litany of awards, including the prestigious "Mensa Select" award. I cannot promise an increased IQ after playing SET, but I will say you will definitely feel smarter after successfully mastering this game.

The only thing that I do not like about SET is the packaging. The cards come in a flimsy plastic case that only survived about 3 weeks of happy fingers in our home. Now, our SET cards are in the game closet, held together by a rubber band. The price of the game is cheap enough, however, that I have been pretty forgiving of this packaging flaw.

This game is fun for the whole family- just prepare yourself for the day your young child beats you! Also, be prepared for how competitive things will get when you play with someone your own age, like your spouse :). Get ready to shout "this round is all or nothing, K?!"

The SET game retails for $12.99 and can be found in many specialty game/kid stores here in NYC (notably Kidding Around, Whipper Snippers, Dinosaur Hill, and Mary Arnold Toys). You can also find it on Amazon (Fat Brain Toys) for $9.67. You can also find set in a store near you by visiting www.setgame.com and entering your zip code on the "where to buy" page.

Bananagrams

I have always loved word games. I grew up in a family that played a whole lot of Boggle, Probe and Scrabble- and fondly remember the Webster's Dictionary as being always nearby to prove/disprove a "word" of suspicious origin.
Now that I have children of my own, I am hoping to pass on the "word game" love. In addition to the aforementioned classics, I have added Bananagrams to my own family's game shelf.
Bananagrams is somewhat similar to Scrabble. The tiles are very similar in size, as are the basic rules of word layout/usage.
A Bananagrams game begins by turning all of the 144 letter tiles (the "Bunch") face-down. Then, each player chooses 11-21 tile pieces (depending on the amount of players). Some lucky player in the group then yells "Split" and each player turns over their tiles and proceeds to simultaneously create their own free form individual crossword with their selected tiles.
When a player runs out of letter tiles, that player will shout "Peel" and will select a new tile from the "Bunch." All players must also take a tile when this happens. If a player encounters a letter tile that they do not like (a.k.a the dreaded q, z, or x) then they can yell "Dump" and exchange their undesirable tile for 3 new randomly selected ones in the "Bunch."
When all of the letters in the "Bunch" are gone, the first player with no letter tiles remaining shouts "Bananas," and then their crossword faces the scrutiny of opposing players. Other players can inspect the player's word formations for misspellings or proper nouns. If the Webster dictionary can exonerate the player of any/all word violation accusations, they are then declared winner of that round. If not, the player becomes a "Rotten Banana" (Wa. Wa. Wa....) and has to return all of his/her letters to the "Bunch" to be played by the remaining players.

I like this game for a few reasons:

• It is small- all of the pieces zip up nicely in a little 8" canvas banana which doesn't take up too much room on my tiny game shelf.
• It is portable- you do not have to lug a whole box around with you when you decide to take it out and about. The game creators suggests playing Bananagrams at a restaurant while you wait for food. This sounds like an excellent diversion for my girls (who usually fill up on the bread basket/chips and salsa during this wait) and we will definitely bring it along the next time we are out.
• It is very simple- the rules are basic and uncomplicated. This game is a perfect precursor to teaching a child Scrabble. With Bananagrams, children can gain confidence in basic word formation, and worry about "triple point" squares, and tile point values after the basics have been mastered.
• It is a fast moving game. No game we have played as a family has lasted longer than 5 minutes. It can, however, be extended by playing more rounds on those days when you have a little more time and/or competitive instinct.
• It is educational. Spelling is improved and vocabulary is expanded through play.
  

Overall, a great game to play with your family. Your very own canvas banana filled with 144 letter tiles will peel about $15 dollars out of your wallet. You can purchase Bananagrams at Amazon, Nifty Cool Toys, or Creative Kids Stuff.

-Theresa

eeBoo Paper Doll Game

I was first introduced to the eeBoo brand a few months ago when my 6-year-old received this "Paper Doll Game" as a birthday gift from a friend. EeBoo creates child-oriented products using images from well known illustrators- resulting in games, stationary, and toys that are fun and beautifully designed.
My 6 and 4-year-old love to play this game which was designed by Lizzy Rockwell. It is not an "academic" game by any stretch of the imagination, but still one that children can learn from.

This game begins by all of the players selecting a paper doll (there are 5 of these, which are made of heavy-duty card stock). Next, you spin the wheel to see what category you get to add an article of clothing from. If you land on "shoes" you have five pairs of shoes to choose from for you doll. If you land on "bottoms" you can choose from skirts, pants and shorts. There are 5 categories in all: shoes, hats, bottoms, bags, tops, and even hobbies. To add a little drama to the game, there is a "lose a piece" section of the spinner board, where you have to give up an article- which can then be swiped by another player on their turn. You win the game by entirely outfitting your doll with clothes and a hobby (it is not just the clothes that make the girl :).

I like this game for a few reasons. One, because it is simple enough that my 2 girls can play it on their own. There are no complex rules to follow, so the results are generally peaceful. No huge arguments over how to play. Secondly, it is a great game to reinforce turn-taking and decision making skills in young children who are just learning to play board games independently of mom and dad. This is especially true with my 4-year-old.

Lastly, the game is fast moving. None of our games have lasted longer than 10 minutes. A great game to play when you would like to spend some family time together, but only have a short time to do it in.

Overall, very cute game that I recommend- unless of course you have a household of boys....then you may want to try the Picnic Game, or the Build-a-Robot game.
Another added perk: a laundry bag is included to put all of the clothes/accessories in when the game is finished. My hope is that maybe someday my children will get as excited about the laundry basket in the hallway, as they are about the one in this game.

Oh, and one last thing- no scandalous outfits can be found in this box (major bonus). You will not be teaching your daughter to dress like a Bratz doll if you purchase this game.
You can purchase the eeBoo Paper Doll Game at Amazon and Geniusbabies.com.
Priced at around $14.