As a follow up to my last blog about games helping with social skills, I want to touch base on where to get some great games. I want to challenge you also, to expand your horizons and imagination.
To find games, it's true you can go to Walmart, Target or Shopko, but I want you to try another route. In doing this, you will find a selection of games not available at the giant department stores. You will find new games and well worth your time for about the same amount of money.
I want you to check out the local hobby game store. You can find them in your area in the yellow pages under "collectibles", "games" or even "toys" or "comics". In my area there is a store called The Gameboard that sells a wide array of board games to include many educational types.
These are the small business shops and family owned places that you might not know are there. Maybe you've seen them and always meant to check them out? Well, I'm telling you, you should. As I said above, they have access to games the other places done. Educational and imaginative ways of play you haven't considered. Let me give you the names of just a few of these games:
Flip 4 by Mindware games combines strategy and math in an easy to learn format. Click on Mindware for the website.
Yamslam by Blue Orange Games is a dice strategy game with chips, check out the site!
Amuse Amaze by HL Games is a spelling word game that takes you through, yes, a maze. Check it out.
Word on the Street by Out of the Box games (who also makes Apples to Apples) is a word game that you can kind of play tug of war with (verbally).
Zooloretto by Rio Grande Games is about building a zoo and attracting the most visitors.
7 Ate 9 by Out of the Box Games is a card game of math skill.
Other companies to look up are Days of Wonder, Educational Insight, Playroom Entertainment, and Game Wright.
Don't have a hobby store near you? You can order online too. Check out fairs and conventions. Don't limit yourself. And yes, I am saying to support your local hobby and game store.
In my next posting I will be talking about just how important play is to our kids. You won't want to miss it.
2 comments:
Thanks for writing this post! We are always trying to get the word out about how great games are for families, but it really comes best from the families themselves!
Leah from Out of the Box
Thanks Dave for posting this wonderful article. It talks about some of my favorite publishers. My son is Dysgraphic and without board games his world would be so much smaller. It's also great to remind everyone of those hobby/game stores near you. If you don't see the game you are looking for, just ask many of them will order for you and it will cost you nothing more then the cost of the game. So once again "Thanks" for helping others find a new adventure in gaming!
Lynn Potyen, from The GameBoard
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