Walk a Mile in Their Little Shoes

For most youngsters, and in all likelihood a fair number of adults, taking a walk may not be the most pleasing of activities. A proclamation such as “Hey kids, forgo those cartoons this morning and lets go for a walk in the park!” made after breakfast on a Saturday is not usually met with a enthusiastic response nor is the suggestion to put away the Nintendo DS after dinner for a stroll around the neighborhood. But as my family’s recent 2 ½ hour saunter along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia proves – a walk can indeed be a fun time … Continue reading →

Five Cool Ways to Beat the Heat!

Boy-o-boy is it hot here on the East Coast and I see that the rest of the country is also baking under the summer sun. Oppressive heat is just no fun at all for families, as being outside for long stretches becomes increasing difficult and kids wear themselves out more easily so extended sightseeing or playtime itineraries are nearly impossible to manage. It is important then to find fun things to do with your kids while staying cool. Here are five tips for having fun beating the summer heat as a family. Play in a sprinkler. Sprinklers are cheap, easy … Continue reading →

Sequence for Kids – Game Review

I bring absolutely no knowledge of Sequence to the (game) table. I have heard of, but had never played, the standard edition of the well-known board game and until it was given to my daughter as a 3rd birthday present I had no idea there existed a Junior or “Kids” version. Despite the box entering our home nearly four months ago (my girl turned three in early March) we have just recently started to play Sequence for Kids. I am already at the point where I am requesting that we play Sequence for Kids – I love this game that … Continue reading →

Big Brain Academy

I can just imagine the reaction from my boys if I pulled out workbooks or anything school related this time of year. And yet they are thrilled with one of our new Wii games. Big Brain Academy, Wii Degree is all about exercising your brain and training it to work faster. The “Academy” tests your thinking skills in five categories, Visualize, Analyze, Memorize, Identify, and Compute. Each of the categories have three games. The graphics are cute and playful, and the games are short. Maybe that is partly why the games don’t feel like work. Some of the games even … Continue reading →

Chocolate and Chocolatier Fun

The kids and I have a new obsession, Chocolatier. No, not chocolate. Although that is part of the fun, too. Chocolatier is actually a new computer game. The object is to travel around the world, and build a chocolate empire all the while collecting recipes for the confections and reuniting a divided family. If that sounds complicated, it’s because the game is complicated. Don’t worry though, the game starts easy enough and the players can learn as they go along. The player has to travel to different ports around the world for supplies. The boys actually learned a little geography … Continue reading →

Set: The Family Game of Visual Perception

Set: The Family Game of Visual Perception is a unique card game. Set has won awards from MENSA, Dr. Toy, Parent’s Choice, and Games Magazine. It retails for under ten dollars. The rules say that the game is for ages six to adult, but younger children are able to play. They may get frustrated, though, at the lack of turns. That’s right. No turns. Everyone goes at once. If that’s the case, they may enjoy playing a solitaire version of the game. The object of the game is to match a set of three cards. The cards have squiggles, ovals, … Continue reading →

Candy Land – An All Time Classic Board Game

My three-year old has been home everyday for a month now. We yanked her out of her old school/daycare in mid-May, allowing her to be home with her new little sister, her mommy and, depending on the day, one of her grandmothers or myself. The sure-to-be painful transition back to school starts on Monday, June 18th. It is a new school, but is running a camp format for the summer, something totally new and fun, so we are hoping the excitement and adventure quality of camp will help her overcome any trepidation she may experience (wishfully thinking, I know). In … Continue reading →

Hi Ho! Cherry O – A Classic Counting Game

With my newborn daughter, a mere two weeks old come tomorrow morning, sleeping peacefully just a go-go-gadget arm length away, my three-year old and my wife sat down to a game of Hi Ho! Cherry O. The classic Milton Bradley game was just handed down to my family yesterday from my brother’s clan whose two kids (age 7 and 9) have outgrown the basic counting fun Cherry O has to offer (the game is recommended for children ages 3-6). Hi Ho! Cherry O is billed as a child’s first counting game and while that is not 100% true for my … Continue reading →

Egg and Spoon Race – Game Review

The Egg and Spoon Race Game from International Playthings is such fun. The game retails for around seven or eight dollars. It’s recommended for ages three and up. It comes with four different colored plastic spoons and eggs, so four people or relay teams can play at once. The cutest part of the game is the tiny white beanbag with a yellow circle on it. It looks like an egg yolk. I first saw this game in a dog training class. We had to do the egg and spoon race with the dog’s leash wrapped around our wrist. They didn’t … Continue reading →

Two Unexpected Travel Toys

Tonight at dinner we talked about travel toys and activities for a rapidly approaching trip to visit family. Last year we took a insanely long car trip. The adventures make for great stories, although I wouldn’t be in a hurry to sign up for the same trip again. One of the funniest things though, was discovering two unique travel toys. The first surprisingly fun travel toy is pipe cleaners. They are inexpensive, colorful, lightweight and quiet. With three kids in a van, the quiet part is much appreciated. Kids can twist pipe cleaners into animals, shapes, bracelets and necklaces, pretend … Continue reading →