Comments on: Top 10 Games at the Hatch House http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/ Giving New Meaning to Parenting Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:37:46 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Megin Hatch http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/comment-page-1/#comment-9177 Megin Hatch Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:53:19 +0000 http://gnmparents.com/?p=1979#comment-9177 Erica- I remember Life from when I was little- Im not sure what the age grp is though- I think I played it in the 3rd or 4th or 5th grade :) Nan- never heard pf Pentago- will keep eyes peeled :) Erica- I remember Life from when I was little- Im not sure what the age grp is though- I think I played it in the 3rd or 4th or 5th grade :)

Nan- never heard pf Pentago- will keep eyes peeled :)

]]> By: Nan http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/comment-page-1/#comment-9173 Nan Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:39:47 +0000 http://gnmparents.com/?p=1979#comment-9173 My boys seem to play Othello, Chess and Scrabble the most. A deck of regular playing cards is great, there are so many card games. Uno is popular here, as well as Connect 4. This year we got "Pentago", a fiendish five-in-a-row strategy game with rotating tiles. Very simple rules, but VERY good. Will make your brain hurt. I agree that specific "Educational" games are usually boring and probably useless. We don't have any that I can think of. My boys seem to play Othello, Chess and Scrabble the most. A deck of regular playing cards is great, there are so many card games. Uno is popular here, as well as Connect 4.

This year we got “Pentago”, a fiendish five-in-a-row strategy game with rotating tiles. Very simple rules, but VERY good. Will make your brain hurt.

I agree that specific “Educational” games are usually boring and probably useless. We don’t have any that I can think of.

]]> By: STL Mom http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/comment-page-1/#comment-9169 STL Mom Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:09:34 +0000 http://gnmparents.com/?p=1979#comment-9169 Erica - My kids (8 and 5) love the Game of Life! There's something about that spinner and the little cars that it so appealing. They don't play it on their own - I'm the banker and help with instructions - but I think they will get independent with more practice. As older kids, my brother and I loved Railroad Baron. I'll have to see if that one's still around. Megin - I agree that most games do teach good skills, which is one reason I'm so glad to be past the Candyland stage (we learned our colors MANY years ago) but sometimes I see games that are supposed to teach kids their times tables, or something like that. I always wonder whether they really teach the skill, and if so, are the games any fun. Erica -
My kids (8 and 5) love the Game of Life! There’s something about that spinner and the little cars that it so appealing. They don’t play it on their own – I’m the banker and help with instructions – but I think they will get independent with more practice.
As older kids, my brother and I loved Railroad Baron. I’ll have to see if that one’s still around.

Megin -
I agree that most games do teach good skills, which is one reason I’m so glad to be past the Candyland stage (we learned our colors MANY years ago) but sometimes I see games that are supposed to teach kids their times tables, or something like that. I always wonder whether they really teach the skill, and if so, are the games any fun.

]]> By: Erica http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/comment-page-1/#comment-9168 Erica Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:40:05 +0000 http://gnmparents.com/?p=1979#comment-9168 Anyone ever played Game of Life? I tried to buy it in Toys R Us but they didn't have it. Anyone ever played Game of Life? I tried to buy it in Toys R Us but they didn’t have it.

]]> By: Megin Hatch http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/comment-page-1/#comment-9167 Megin Hatch Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:37:02 +0000 http://gnmparents.com/?p=1979#comment-9167 Cecily T- Re Apples to Apples- I love when the arguments are far fetched and well argued. Usually leads to a lot of laughs when people get into it. I haven't heard of Acquire, I'll have to check that out. Joyce- we do the same with Zingo and other Think Fun stuff. They also have some great solo games like Rush Hour. I keep looking at Blockus- nice to read your opinion on the travel version. ITFL- Yahtzee just isnt one we keep going back to- should try again though because it's been awhile. Cecily T- Re Apples to Apples- I love when the arguments are far fetched and well argued. Usually leads to a lot of laughs when people get into it.
I haven’t heard of Acquire, I’ll have to check that out.
Joyce- we do the same with Zingo and other Think Fun stuff. They also have some great solo games like Rush Hour. I keep looking at Blockus- nice to read your opinion on the travel version.

ITFL- Yahtzee just isnt one we keep going back to- should try again though because it’s been awhile.

]]> By: Megin Hatch http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/comment-page-1/#comment-9166 Megin Hatch Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:32:28 +0000 http://gnmparents.com/?p=1979#comment-9166 STL- I am so with you about Candyland and Hi-Ho and all of those games! Here's what I think- I think there are so many games that are educational games- take Monopoly- the kids are doing math and reading while playing. There are a lot of games that call for strategy and reasoning which is hugely educational. I try and play games that are engaging and play them in a way that makes them educational. Does that make sense? Aurora- I haven't played Bingo in ages- although when I volunteer at school they often play different variations- with letter sounds and such. STL- I am so with you about Candyland and Hi-Ho and all of those games! Here’s what I think- I think there are so many games that are educational games- take Monopoly- the kids are doing math and reading while playing. There are a lot of games that call for strategy and reasoning which is hugely educational. I try and play games that are engaging and play them in a way that makes them educational. Does that make sense?

Aurora- I haven’t played Bingo in ages- although when I volunteer at school they often play different variations- with letter sounds and such.

]]> By: inthefastlane http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/comment-page-1/#comment-9165 inthefastlane Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:17:00 +0000 http://gnmparents.com/?p=1979#comment-9165 I grew up on Yahtzee. LOVE it! An I have to 2nd the Zingo. Even my 3 yo can play and love that game. I grew up on Yahtzee. LOVE it! An I have to 2nd the Zingo. Even my 3 yo can play and love that game.

]]> By: Joyce http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/comment-page-1/#comment-9164 Joyce Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:53:12 +0000 http://gnmparents.com/?p=1979#comment-9164 Great Topic! Zingo is made by Think Fun. I have given it at more 4 year old b-day parties than I can count. Every game we have from Think Fun is wonderful and educational. Others that I love, but have not been mentioned are: Sequence Jr (4-6 year olds) Blockus-- I like the travel version for 2 players better. The big board when playing with two is just tooo many options. And my friends with a bit older kids highly recommend Payday. Great Topic!

Zingo is made by Think Fun. I have given it at more 4 year old b-day parties than I can count. Every game we have from Think Fun is wonderful and educational.

Others that I love, but have not been mentioned are:
Sequence Jr (4-6 year olds)
Blockus– I like the travel version for 2 players better. The big board when playing with two is just tooo many options.

And my friends with a bit older kids highly recommend Payday.

]]> By: rob http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/comment-page-1/#comment-9163 rob Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:01:34 +0000 http://gnmparents.com/?p=1979#comment-9163 Oooh...Milles Bornes! Meg...we have to get that. I used to love that. I am loving that family game night is finally emerging thanks to the Punks hitting their individual strides. We had fun with Clue too. I think I'd put that on my top 10 and knock out Uno or Connect 4. Oooh…Milles Bornes! Meg…we have to get that. I used to love that.
I am loving that family game night is finally emerging thanks to the Punks hitting their individual strides. We had fun with Clue too. I think I’d put that on my top 10 and knock out Uno or Connect 4.

]]> By: Cecily T http://gnmparents.com/games-at-the-hatch-house/comment-page-1/#comment-9161 Cecily T Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:53:09 +0000 http://gnmparents.com/?p=1979#comment-9161 I have Apples to Apples, and frankly I must be the only person on earth who doesn't find it funny. (Actually, the whole group I played it with didn't get it either.) Could someone explain the allure? We had a blast at the beach this summer with old favorites like Clue, UNO (Muppet edition), and Acquire, which is my husband's all-time favorite. I have Apples to Apples, and frankly I must be the only person on earth who doesn’t find it funny. (Actually, the whole group I played it with didn’t get it either.) Could someone explain the allure?

We had a blast at the beach this summer with old favorites like Clue, UNO (Muppet edition), and Acquire, which is my husband’s all-time favorite.

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