Family game night is making a return. Classic games such as Scrabble, Life and Monopoly teach players about spelling, strategy and financial awareness. New games on store shelves reinforce these lessons in new, adventurous ways. The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, which receives no advertisement or sponsorship moneys, reviews several games and toys, and Stevanne Auerbach, PhD, known as Dr. Toy, reviews toys for educational and developmental merit. However, if a game is not fun, kids will not play it, and the gamers at BoardGameCentral.com have fun picks for the whole family.
The Scrambled States of America
The Scrambled States of America puts the fun back in geography. Created for children ages 8 to adult and based on a book by author Laurie Keller, this game helps children learn the states' names, capitals, shapes and their locations on the map. The Scrambled States of America has been awarded as Dr. Toy's Top 100 Children's Products, Dr. Toy's 10 Best Socially Responsible Products, Creative Classroom Magazine Teacher Tested Tools and Toys, The National Parenting Publication Association (NAPPA) Honors and the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award.
Blokus
Winner of Europe’s 2003 Game of the Year and the Mensa Select Award, Blokus is a strategy game for players ages 8 and up. The rules are simple. Players take turn placing colored squares on a board. Each square must touch another square of the same color. The player placing all of their squares on the board first is the winner. The game teaches spatial reasoning, logic and strategic planning.
illuStory
This recipient of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award and Parents' Choice Classic Award allows children to create and publish their very own books. The kit comes with the materials needed to write and illustrate a book. The parent then mails the kit for “publication.” The child will receive a 7 inch x 9 inch, 12-page hardbound copy of the book.
Stare Jr.
Stare Jr. takes memory games to a fun, new level. A winner of the National Parenting Center Seal and the Teacher's Choice Award for the Family, this game rewards players for their memory skills. Stare Jr. is the kid-friendly version of the game “Stare,” where players must stare at a card for 30 seconds and then recall what they have seen in order to advance on the board. This game is geared for kids ages 6 to 12, but even younger players can join in the fun with a little help from a grown-up or older sibling, making this a fun game for the whole family.
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