The other day I talked about our family having a weekly family game night, usually on Fridays, today I want to tell you about National Family Game Night coming up on September 23rd. Hasbro is challenging families to turn off their TV’s and play a game together as a family on the 23rd.

I know schedules are hectic, both children and parents are busy, but why not devote one night to getting “unplugged” and enjoying each others company over a game? If you can’t do it on the 23rd set aside a day and hold everyone in the family to making …read more

We try to get together as a family and play a couple games at least one night a week. Usually it’s a board game like Monopoly, Clue, Sorry, or Chess, and the last couple weeks it’s been Ruin.
Once in a while we play games on the Wii together. We have a couple versions of Guitar Hero, and Rock Band, and also have Wii Sports and their Carnival Games. I’d rather play a good board game any day, but my husband and my son love the video games, especially the music playing games like Guitar Hero. Since they humor me on …read more

Buffalo Games sent me a copy of Ruin! to test out for some family fun. My son and I played it the same day we got it. Once he saw the game after school he wouldn’t let me get anything else done until I played the game with him. I did what any parent would do, and told him we could play as soon as he got his homework done (evil mom smile).
I think he got his homework done in record time. He had the game set up within a half an hour after he got home, and was ready …read more

In continuation with last week’s series of posts about games for girls (particularly tween girls), today’s post is about Bling Dominoes Pink. 
Not only does Bling Dominoes Pink come in a pink leatherette carrying case, but each domino is decorated with pink jewels!  The classic game of Dominoes is one of strategy that really makes players think.  Bling Dominoes Pink is recommended for ages 7-12, but I’m certain older girls would love it, too!
Bling Dominoes Pink retails for just $12.99 from Toys ‘R Us and seems like a great gift!
Check out my other posts about games for girls (especially tween girls):

Jenga Pink …read more

Earth Day is later this month, so I thought it would be appropriate to highlight a cool environmentally friendly toy.  A Google search for “eco-friendly toys” brings up a myriad of results, but Earthopoly caught my attention for a few reasons. 
First, I love that a classic toy has been recreated into an eco-friendly version.  Second, I think the Earthopoly version of Monopoly adds even more educational elements into the classic board game than the original version has.  For example, the original version teaches children about money and investing, but the Earthopoly version also teaches them about the world as they …read more

I loved playing Yahtzee as a kid and young adult, but it has been years since I have even really thought of the game.
Well, my family recently had a game night with a good friends of ours and we broke out a new game called Power Yahtzee. We had so much fun with this game that my kids keep begging me if we can play it again.
When we first started, I was wondering if my kids were even going to be able to play it. My older ones are 8 and 9 (10 in a few days!!). We did have …read more

I love Clue. Growing up, I do think that this was my favorite board game, probably because we didn’t have it. I imagine for other people, who actually owned it, the great suspense and intrigue of the it probably wore off after the first dozen games or so. For me, though, every round of “whodunnit” was exciting, challenging, and fulfilling.
After we got married, Bald Man and I started building up our own collection of family games, and Clue was one of the first on my list. For some reason, though, we decided to get crazy …read more

Check out these cute LEGO magnets! My brother-in-law’s friends at Wine Ought also has magnets and wine charms in the shape of Connect Four, Scrabble, Life, Trivial Pursuit, and Sorry! playing pieces. Perfect for the game loving family!

Play Library reader jan asks:
I will be looking for recommendations of books (and games)for my six year old grandson. He’s into all of the gross action figures and video games, but so far I have found books that interest him and we have quiet times under the shade tree with a pitcher of lemonade and cookies.
My son’s just shy of four so I’m not quite sure what would be good. We just learned to play Snakes/Chutes and Ladders which I’m guessing is a little too simple for a six-year-old.
Help!! What would you recommend to jan?