Entertaining games for family game night

With all the chaos that occurs around the holidays, families need to take a moment or two to reconnect over an amusing game. The hour, or two, around the gaming table can wipe away the to-do lists, worry and other anxieties that the holiday season can bring.

Here are a few family games that can bring the laughter and fun to your next family game night.

Name 5

Name 5 is a quick wit, vast knowledge party game with simple rules. Players are asked to name five items to a random question. For example, name five stringed instruments, five breakfast cereals or five purple foods. The key is to provide five answers in 30 seconds. If the person (or team) answers correctly, she continues to play. The goal is to correctly answer the questions and reach the end of the game board. Name 5 retails for approximately $18.99 at various retailers.

Oddly Obvious

Oddly Obvious by Endless Game is a fun party game for three or more players. The answers are placed right in front of the players on a single card. One player give clues to the other players. The first player to shout out the correct answer (which is listed on the card) gets the point. The player with the most points wins. Oddly Obvious is published by Endless Games. It retails for approximately $15 at various retailers.

Quiz-a-Magic

Quiz-a-Majig by Goliath Games is more than just a trivia game; it is the crazy quiz contraption. The “contraption” determines the category and first letter of the correct answers. With a fast reaction, players vie to throw their ball into the funnel. But, luck plays a factor in who wins.

Quiz-a-Majig is recommended for players ages 13 and older. It requires a minimum of two players. The game can be played individually or in teams. Quiz-a-Majig is distributed by Goliath Games. It retails for approximately $29.99 online or at most mass merchants.

Crazy Phrazes

Crazy Phrazes is an interactive, engaging party game that all about mixed up meanings. Teams try to guess a crazy phrase by acting, drawing, spelling or describing it. The game includes 1,200 expressions that people use in daily conversation. When taken literally these phrases are confusing, but the expressions have commonplace uses.

Crazy Phrazes by Goliath Games retails for approximately $19.99. It can be purchased online, toy stores or mass merchants.

Yeti in My Spaghetti, don’t let the snowman drop

What does a steady hand and a bowl of spaghetti have in common?  In the game, Yeti in My Spaghetti these two items combine for an entertaining competition. Produced by Patch Products, Yeti in My Spaghetti is an engaging game for children. 

For younger children, some games can be difficult to play. If kids cannot read or are early readers, some games are difficult to play. Still, kids want to independently play with siblings or friends. Games that involve interactive play, without reading, are a great option. 

Yeti in My Spaghetti is simple and easy for children ages 4 and older. The game requires at least 2 players. First, players add the noodle pieces to the bowl. After all pieces are in place, the Yeti is placed atop the pile of noodles. Each player, in turn, remove a piece of noodle. The game continues until the Yeti falls into the bowl. When the Yeti falls, the player with his turn loses. 

While the game is intended for enjoyment, the game does have some educationally application. Kids can understand how an item is supported. Which is the best strand of noodle to remove to prevent a fall? Could one noodle cause the whole structure to collapse? Can my choice make an opponent lose?  All these questions and many more help kids to think strategically and spatially. 

Yeti in My Spaghetti is distributed by Patch Products. The game retails for approximately $17.99 at many retailers and online. The game is recommended for children ages 4 and older. It is recommended to be played by two or more players. 

What is hiding in that bowl of spaghetti?  Don’t let it be a Yeti that fell in. 

Originally published in Naperville Children's Toys Examiner.

Thames and Kosmos science experiments on the go, travel with science

As families travel for Spring Break or plan a fun summer vacation, parents fear the boredom factor. How will the kids stay occupied on airplane trips or long car rides? While electronic devices are an option, kids can benefit from an activity that is smart-device free. The Thames and Kosmos Science Experiments On The Go are a great travel friendly option.

The Thames and Kosmos Science Experiments On The Go are fun experiments that are travel friendly. Whether the kids are cramped on a crowded airplane or stuck in the back seat of the car, these science experiments keep a child's mind active and boredom away. Plus, a few of the items can make for great adventures once the family has reached its final destination.

The kit includes 8 experiments and a 10 page manual. Kids can assemble a simple pair of binoculars and explore the world around them. For the more adventurous, they can set up a mini cable car to run between windows or tray tables. Just make sure that the people around you are willing to share in the fun. 

Other activities include: explore rotational speed with a spinning disk experiment; build a balance scale to measure weights; calculate how far a distance is on a map, and how fast you are traveling. For those who prefer not to build, there are fun facts about migrating animals and how fast Earth is traveling through space. Also, learn about optical illusions with a spinning top and a lenticular postcard. 

The Thames and Kosmos Science Experiments On The Go kit is recommended for ages 8 and up. It retails for approximately $13.95. For more information on the kit and where to purchase it, please visit the Thames and Kosmos website.

The Game of Life, family game night decisions lead to fun

Family game night sparks laughter and fun. While electronic games offer the bling, classic board games give everyone a chance to converse, share and break away from the screen. Some days are good and others are struggles. Choices matter. Life has many twists and turns, but these choices are part of the fun in the Game of Life.

Hasbro's classic board game, The Game of Life, has been a family game night favorite. As your car travels along the path, players make decisions and have changes thrust upon them. Choose a career path or college life and collect your salary throughout the game. Following marriage and kids, should you buy a house? In between these decisions, action cards bring levity to the mundane. From making your opponent laugh to winning at a game of chance, these action cards can help fill your bank account.

Winning the game is simple. The player with the most money at the end of the game wins. Did you career decision help or hurt? Should you have sold your home at the right time? Just like real life, The Game of Life is all about the right decisions.

Playing the Game of Life on family game night is a great way to see how and why family members make choices. The younger set may not want to buy a house. While the older set is determined to have the best job. Usually, the most laughs come from the choice to have kids. Boys don't want girls and who wants a car full of babies. The laughter from an engaging board game can make a memorable event.

The Game of Life includes: Game board, 6 Plastic Pawns, Pink and Blue "People" pegs, 1 bridge, Label Sheet, 3 Mountains, 25 LIFE tiles, Banker's tray, 7 Buildings, 24 Spin to Win Tokens, Spin to Win Strip, Deck of 54 Cards, Spinner Base, Ring and Dial, Stack of Play Money, Bank Loan and Pay Raises and Instructions.

The game is intended for ages 9 and up. It is played with 2 to 4 players. The Game of Life by Hasbro retails for approximately $19.99.

Marvel Super Hero Mashers imaginative new combinations

Marvel Super Heroes have extreme strength, unrelenting determination, and undying bravery. For example, Spider- Man can swing between buildings and the Hulk can smash barriers in his path. What if these two powers be combined into an imaginative new combination? Now kids can create their own super hero with Marvel Super Hero Mashers.

Marvel Super Hero Mashers is a new action figure from Hasbro. This line of action figures allows the user to create his or her own #MyMashUp. Each figure comes with completely interchangeable parts and accessories. Swap heroes or create a hero/villain combination; let your imagination guide you.

Marvel Super Hero Mashers have two versions, the regular figure and the Battle Upgrade Figures.

The Marvel Super Hero Mashers action figures will feature 13 figures in the assortment. Kids can interchange Spider-Man's body with Green Goblin's head. Whether you want a uber-powerful superhero or a diabolical villain, the Mashers conform to your imagination. This version retails for $9.99.

The Battle Upgrade Action figure comes with multiple battle gear pieces. The Iron Patriot comes with a launching missile. The battle gear is interchangeable, like the figure assortments. There are seven figures in this assortment. The Battle Upgrade figures retail for $14.99.

Get the kids outside to play with these active toys

The warm weather is here and school is almost over. In my house, it's important to keep the kids outside and active while they are out of school.

Here are a few toys that can keep the kids entertained and away from the television.

Froggy Catch:  This easy to master game of catch is good for all ages. Each player gets frog catcher and a soft ball. The ball easily sticks to the Velcro frog. Perfect for little ones who are learning to catch.Retails for approximately $9.99

Diggin' Active Dodge Tag: We all remember the classic dodgeball game. This version of the game comes with soft dodge balls that stick to Velcro vests. Retails for approximately $19.99.

Banzai Titan Blast Rocket: Want gigantic fun? This 7 foot rocket inflatable rocket soars up to 100 feet in the air. The rocket launches by pumping water into base. Not recommended for young children. Retails for approximately $55.

Zarts: A fun game consisting of 9 inch foam darts that can stick to any smooth surface. Players can use the targets provided or create their own. Retails for approximately $19.99.

Skyrocopter: Can't wait to see an item take flight? Foster the fascination with flying with this simple toy. Pull the string and send the skyrocopter flying up to fifty feet in the air. Retails for approximately $9.99.

Many of these toys can be found locally at Learning Express Naperville, which is located at 2863 W. 95th Street Suite 123.

Does your child have a favorite outside toy? Share your tips and ideas with us.

Originally published June 3, 2010

Zoomorphs let a kid's imagination run wild

I like toys that make my kids think. Whether it's a building or creating an object, I appreciate any toy that helps kids' use their imagination.

Recently, my kids were given Zoomorphs as a gift. Zoomorphs are build-able animal toys. Each set has four animals. Each animal piece can inter-change with the other animal pieces. The piece easily snaps together.

We have the safari animal set. It includes an elephant, leopard, zebra, jungle butterfly, parrot, and lizard. There are a total of 47 pieces in the set.

At first my kids wanted to build the "normal" animals. We did the zebra and elephant. Then I suggested that we build "crazy" animals. We put the butterfly wings on the elephant body. Then added some zebra legs, a leopard tail and some lizard legs. The kids couldn't stop laughing. Then we build more and more "crazy" animals. We switched legs and tails and bodies and heads. There were so many mixed up animals.

The other fun part of building the animals were coming up with names for our mixed-up animals. Whether it was zeb-ard-phant or a parro-fly, my kids were hooked. My kids constantly ask to play with the Zoomorphs and want to make the mix-ed up animals.

The Zoomorphs are not suitable for children under the age of 3 because it does contain small parts. The pieces themselves are durable and easily snap together.

In addition to the Safari set, Zoomorphs have the following sets, dinos, runners, insects, rain forest, myth morphs, jumper morphs, night morphs, pets, and diggers.

Zoomorphs can be purchased locally at Anderson's Bookshop (123 West Jefferson, Naperville, IL 60540 630-355-2665) and Learning Express Naperville (2863 95th St., Suite 123, Naperville, IL 60564, 630-922-3334). Zoomorphs also can be purchased on-line at kazootoys.com and boingtoys.com.

Published may 3, 2010