PLAYMOBIL travel sets makes family travel less stressful

As families plan a big summer vacation, parents try to tackle all the must haves. While kids would love to pack the entire toy chest, mom and dad would prefer not to overspend on baggage fees. Still, kids can benefit from a few, easy to travel toys. A PLAYMOBIL travel set can make those rainy days, long car rides or just general downtime filled with smiles, not frowns. 

PLAYMOBIL has several travel sets that can keep the smiles and fun through the longest car ride, plane ride or rainstorm. Many of the travel sets come in its own travel case. Parents don’t have to worry about pieces falling to the bottom of the backpack. The carrying case conveniently holds all the pieces in one place. 

The case, itself, is part of the play. As the backdrop to the play area, the carrying case is the school house, fire station, or even soccer field. Available in various sizes and themes, kids can imagine a numerous scenarios and play for hours. 

The PLAYMOBIL travel sets come in the following options, Take Along School House, Take Along Fire Station, Police Carry Case, Fashion Boutique Carry Case, Vet Visit Carry Case, and Soccer Shootout Carry Case. The each set comes with figures and props that accompany the theme. The travel sets are recommended for ages 4 and older. Prices range from $9.99-$39.99 depending on the size of the travel set. 

For your family’s next trip, skip the stress and bring on the fun. Pack a PLAYMOBIL travel set and keep the smiles going all trip long.

Telltale Games releases The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries

The Walking Dead television show has become a cultural phenomenon. Fans turn to watch which character will survive the next zombie attack. Recently, Telltale Games and Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment launched The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries. 

This three episode event stars the stars the iconic, blade-wielding character from Robert Kirkman's best-selling comic books, portrayed in-game by award-winning actress Samira Wiley (Orange is the New Black).  In the three episode miniseries, players will enter the mind of Michonne. The game explores what took her away from Rick, Carl and the group and what eventually brought her back. Players  uncover the unimaginable loss, regret and haunted past that impacted Michonne and her character.

"Michonne has long been a favorite character of ours and fans the world over, standing among the most complex and tormented perspectives in Robert Kirkman's universe," said Kevin Bruner, Co-Founder and CEO of Telltale Games. "Allowing players to step into the role of Michonne for the first time makes for a uniquely compelling Telltale experience in The Walking Dead series that will never clearly offer right or wrong answers on the path to survival or redemption."

The first of the three episodes is available for download on PC/Mac from the Telltale Online Sore, Steam and other digital distribution services, the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, and the Xbox Games Store for Xbox One® and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, compatible iOS devices via the App Store, and for Android-based devices via Google Play and the Amazon App Store. The second episode, 'Give No Shelter,' will follow in the month of March, and the miniseries will conclude with the third episode, 'What We Deserve,' in April.

To date, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series has sold more than 50 million episodes worldwide, earning more than 100 Game of the Year awards from outlets including Metacritic, USA Today, Wired, Spike TV VGAs, Yahoo!, The Telegraph, Mashable, Polygon, Destructoid and GamesRadar, and was also the recipient of two BAFTA Video Games Awards for Best Story and Best Mobile Game.

The Walking Dead is set in the world of Robert Kirkman's award-winning comic book series and offers an emotionally-charged, tailored game experience where a player's actions and choices affect how their story plays out across the entire series.

For more information on the game, visit the official website, Facebook, and follow Telltale Games on Twitter. For more information on The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman, and all of his titles, visit www.Skybound.com and www.TheWalkingDead.com. 

  

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.