Fun and Games at Parent Talk's Spring Sale

"Family games" by Matthew Hurst

With my twins' birthday coming up, I asked my Facebook friends to recommend board games that would make good gifts.  The wealth of ideas shared was incredible.  Not only did I end up getting some great gifts (Monopoly Junior and Sequence Letters), but I now have an extensive list to keep an eye out for while I shop at Parent Talk's Used Clothing, Toy, and Equipment Sale, coming up this Saturday, May 7th.

Because there are more than enough games to go around at Parent Talk's biannual Sale, I'm sharing my list with you, too!  Below are the best games, separated into categories of the Classics, Newer Names, and Special Focus games.  

There's a reason that games are listed below as Classics.  They are the ones that are tried and true, and great options for the gamers in your life.   

"Little girl playing a board game" by simpleinsomia

Take a look under Newer Names if you are looking for some more options that you might not have played with when you were a kid.  Lots of great games have popped onto the scene since we were young.  I can't wait to look for them at the Sale and bring them home to the kids.  The eeBoo company makes wonderful games for toddlers and preschoolers.  You really can't wrong with any of them.  We have a matching game and a set of story cards from eeBoo, and the kids still play with them at ages 5 and 9.  

Special Focus games are those that have special appeal to a given age group.  For example,  Peaceable Kingdom makes some wonderful cooperative games for the preschool set.

TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS

At this age, my kids were happiest playing games that focused on pictures, color recognition and simple counting.  Busytown Eye Found It! is a favorite at our house. 

"game day at lunch at school" by Liz Henry

Classics

Candy Land

Chutes & Ladders

Cooties 

Don't Break the Ice

Don't Spill The Beans

Hungry Hungry Hippos

Newer Names

Think Fun's Roll & Play

Snail's Pace Race 

Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel!

Special Focus:  Cooperation

Busytown Eye Found It!

Race for the Treasure

Hoot Owl Hoot

Count Your Chickens 

PRE-KINDERGARTENERS

With new logic, math, problem solving, language and reading skills just around the corner, there are so many great board games to pick from for this age group.  There are also a number of card games that are great for this age, including Go Fish, Crazy Eights and Old Maid.  My kids have a set of these old favorites made by Melissa & Doug which has long been a crowd-pleaser.

"Sorry" by frankieleon

Classics

Monopoly Junior

Sorry!

Othello

Guess Who? 

Trouble 

Go Fish

Crazy Eights

Old Maid

Newer Names

Camp

Qwirkle

Blokus or Blokus Junior

Family Charades

Zingo!

Spot It!

Sequence

Spot It! is a compact card game that is easy to bring along to restaurants.  We also have Sequence Letters, and it's been great as the twins start to practice their letter recognition and pre-reading skills.

Special Focus: Logic and Problem Solving

Rush Hour

Camelot Jr.

Castle Logix 

Gobblet

KINDERGARTEN AND EARLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (FROM GRADES K THROUGH 2) 

Kids at this age are becoming readers, mastering their math skills and refining their fine motor skills.  This independence also means many more options for board and table games.   At this age, we discovered the GameWright company which makes a number of card based games that are just so fun.  Current favorites in our house include Sleeping Queens, Rat-a-Tat Cat and Chomp. 

"Queens" by Tedx NJLibraries

  
Classics

Jenga

Uno

Connect 4

Apples to Apples or Apples to Apples Junior

Newer Names

Pickles to Penguins

Skip-Bo

Very Silly Sentences

Suspend

Scavenger Hunt

Special Focus: Modified Versions of Games for Older Ages

Sleeping Queens

Rat-a-Tat Cat

Chomp

These games are often based on the card games we played growing up, which make them fun for both kids and adults.  While these games are geared for older kids, we have found that it's easy enough to make small modifications to the game so that the little kids can play, too.

(ALMOST) ALL AGES

Finally, I'm always on the hunt for games that can be played by my kids independently.  Now that they are aged 5, 5, and 9, there are a lot more options that fit this bill.  Our all-time favorites for independent play include Monopoly Junior and Hullabaloo.

"Alec - Mr. Money Bags" by aisletwentytwo

Monopoly Junior is a simplified version of the classic game, Monopoly.  It uses simple monetary denominations and all properties on a given side of the board are worth the same amount.  Our 9-year-old can easily explain the game and the younger ones picked it up after playing with guidance from us, along with their older brother.  Now, all three kids often choose to play it together. 

Cranium Hullabaloo is a take on another Hasbro game, Twister.  It comes with a talking console that calls out each of the "steps" in the game.  While the twins are the ones most likely to play this game on their own, their brother will often join in.  One of the twins, my daughter, will often play on her own, too.


About the Author
Wendy Todd lives in Needham with her husband, Aaron, and three kids aged 9, 5 and 5.  She previously served on the Parent Talk Board of Directors as both Playspace Chair and President.  She started volunteering for PT's biannual Sale in 2008 and has been a returning member on the Sale Committee for several years, now.  She plans to stay on the Sale Committee until her very last bargain is found! 

Gift Guide for Needham Winter Marketplace

Local shopping, quality products and home-grown businesses all in one place and just in time for the holidays.  What could be better?  A gift guide, of course!  The Needham Winter Marketplace is a great way to get ahead on your holiday shopping list, and this gift guide will help you plan your shopping trip so that you can make the most of your visit.

Women in Your Life (Sisters and Best Friends)

Beautycounter's Lip Sheers are bestsellers for this clean cosmetics company.  Twig is my sister's favorite shade for everyday wear.

"look at me :-)" by Rosemarie Voegtli

B-Buckled's sparkly belt, made with elastic to change the look of a simple black dress, is an ingenious solution to the "too many parties, not enough outfits" problem of the season.

Hamilton Grace offers gorgeous, hand-made jewelry like its medium-stone drop earrings.  This is the perfect pair for my statement-piece-loving best friend!


Other Women in Your Life (Daughters, Nieces, Tweens and Teens That You Love)
 
Rebeccah J's leather bracelets are a great addition to your favorite girl's jewelry box -- not too edgy, but not too subtle either!

Do you know any kids who are missing camp or who are just looking for some cozy and cute winter wear?  Camp Headquarters has you covered, with adorable PJs, lounge pants, hoodies and other items adorned with cheeky prints.  I am getting my niece the doughnut print pajama pants!

Stella & Dot table display by Ricki Benjamin

Try the Stella & Dot pave wishing bracelet for a teenager you love.  It is classy enough to steal for yourself, and the delicate setting is perfect for any girl.

Parents and Grandparents

Hughes Photography offers portrait sessions for families, and the photographer knows how to work with kids, so the pictures turn out perfect.  You can surprise your in-laws with a portrait of the grandkids or gather the whole clan for a photo shoot for the ages!

If you want to honor your parents with an adorable memento, you can go to The Kids' Place to personally decorate a serving platter, and even use your kids' own hand prints.  This is a gift they can actually use when you celebrate special occasions together!

 

"Wibble, wobble" by tiffany terry

Men (Husbands, Fathers, Brothers)

Golfers will love the golf carry-all and travelers will appreciate the tie case, both by R. Scott and featured by Ame & Lulu.

My husband has sensitive skin that reacts to a lot of products.  I am thinking of buying him Rodan + Fields' sensitive skin treatment from its Soothe line this Christmas.

My dad likes to throw everything in the dishwasher, which results in a fair number of rusted or warped kitchen utensils.  I might take pity on him and pick up the Cutco can opener for his stocking.  It's a dishwasher safe, ergonomically designed can opener with a lifetime guarantee that makes me feel like even he can't break it. 

Your Friend with a New Baby

Barre3 offers amazing classes that are perfect to build up the core of a woman recovering from pregnancy (and to de-stress moms and kid-free women, alike)!

"training" by teammarche

The Artful Educator features stimulating and gorgeous alphabet wall art, while Inklings creates delightful pillows for a nursery or kid's room as well as personalized note cards (I am itching for the watercolor baseball design).  

How I wish I had known about myBibzy when my twin droolers (and spit-up champs) were born two years ago.  Its onesies with built-in three layer bibs minimize laundry and outfit changes and streamline life when you need it the most.

The Younger Set (Kids under 10 Years Old)

Needham's new toy store and meeting spot, Architrave, has high-quality wooden trains and accessories that are a must-have for any growing collection.

Books about empowerment from Inspire Our Kids are sure to bring out the good cheer in our little ones.  I am also planning to scoop up the Yoga Pretzels card deck for my aspiring yogi first-grader and the Tales from Old Ireland book with accompanying CD for our endless hours in the minivan, both from Barefoot Books.

"Eagerly" by mliu92

Ribbon Candy's DIY necklace and bracelet kits are the perfect gift for your creative boy or girl, especially during the winter months when crafts are the ticket to getting through your day!

Treat your daughter to Madley's coordinating mother-daughter necklace sets.  My daughter and I have the red and white plaid set for the holidays, and I have my eye on the Hailey for an elegant all-seasons alternative.  The Evie is perfect for anyone who cannot wait until summer!  Also, there is now a new offering for moms and their boys -- matching necklaces and ties.

Madley's accessories for kids, designed to match with Mom, also look good on their own.

Gracious Hosts of All of Those Holiday Parties and Family Gatherings

I have given Zinnia Designs' simple but brilliant zip code dish as a coin or key receptacle. Perennial Designs' gorgeous flower arrangements never grow old and are the perfect addition to any host's table or entryway.  I am coveting Westborough Wick's Home for the Holidays candle, always hand-dipped in a mason jar for a classic, rustic look and scent.


About the Author
Joanna Noon is a Brookline native who loves living in Needham with her husband and five children.  She worked in education before becoming a stay-at-home mom.  Joanna is a longtime member of Parent Talk and is excited to serve on the Parent Talk Board as Membership Co-Chair.

Got Something to Say? Blog it!

Parent Talk wants to hear from you!  The Parent Talk Matters Blog is a place for members to connect by sharing their experiences, insights and comments. If you have something on your mind, the Parent Talk Matters Blog may be the perfect place to say it as a guest blogger!

"Bloggeur, after Cassandre" by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Got an interesting story or helpful insight on parenting or child development? Maybe you had a great experience at a Parent Talk event.  Want to tell others about your fun idea for a craft, activity, recipe or outing?  Do you have a unique solution to a common problem? Can you share your impressions on the book you recently read?  Or do you have the expertise to provide a helpful answer to a "How To..." or other question?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above and want to be a guest blogger, email Darlene W. Cancell, Parent Talk's Blog Coordinator, at promodw@gmail.com.  Please put "Blog Volunteer" on the subject line.  Briefly state what your idea/experience is and why you want to write about it.  Or, if you don't have a topic in mind, just contact us so we can ask you about a writing assignment in the future. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Do you have any comments related to this post? Let us know, below.

Graco SnugRide Click Connect Giveaway and Review

Written by The Blog Committee

Did you know Graco has come out with the first car seat that allows a child to ride rear facing until they are two?  It works from infancy to toddlerhood in a standard bucket seat style car seat. It's called the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 40 (as it fits up to a 40 pound child) and Parent Talk has one to GIVEAWAY!!  It's a $220 value and would be a wonderful gift for yourself, or another expecting parent.

There are lots of interesting safety information on the Graco Safety website.

Three car seats in a row!

Parent Talk co-President Mary Richman tested out the car seat with her four-month old daughter.

We were excited to try out the new car seat.  I have to admit, I love our bucket seat so I have high expectations :)

I did the carry test and while I know the Graco is a bit heavier than some bucket seats, it didn't feel too heavy compared to ours (Maxi Cosi). Which is great because I tend to grab ours and carry it while running in and out of stores or doing pick-up and drop-off with the older kids. Installing the base in the car was incredibly easy. I used the shoulder belt and I had it in and snug in just a few minutes.  Getting the baby in and ready to go was just as simple - the straps were easily adjustable, she seemed nice and comfy tucked into the seat and the seat easily clicked in and out of the base.  All-in-all a nice ride.  The only thing I saw missing was a bit more of a hood to shade the baby from the sun and wind. While I didn't get to really make use of it, I do like the built in kick board for the older kids. An update that should save some car seats from dirt and damage!

Since we drive a very large SUV, I wasn't really concerned with the seat fitting, but I was surprised to find that at the infant or lowest setting it was just an inch or so away from the back of the driver's seat. I'm only 5' 4" and the seat was set up for me. When I changed to my husbands seat settings, I noticed the car seat was just pressing against the back of the driver's chair.  Needless to say, if we wanted to use this for a larger child we couldn't have it behind the driver as it just wouldn't fit safely. It did however fit very nicely as one of three carseats across the second row.

Here are the giveaway details:  Contest is open to all current Parent Talk members.  You need to enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway will be open until Sunday, Nov 18th at midnight.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to Charlene from Metrowest Mamas for hosting us at a party at MiniLuxe in Wellesley. If any moms need to get away, this is the place!

The Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 – the first and only newborn to two-year infant car seat that actually grows with your baby from four pounds all the way up to 40 pounds. The car seat is designed for a parent on the go. The infant car seat can be easily removed from the base and used as a carrier when the infant is small, providing portability and convenience so you can easily move your infant in and out of the car without disturbing them.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently made the recommendation to keep all children in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2. Graco set out to make this product so parents can keep infants rear facing longer while still keeping them comfortable.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Graco. The opinions and text are all mine.