Family Games for Children, Adolescents and Parents.This part of the Cranberry MH store is for family games. These games foster parent-child interaction, and are excellent activities for families to work together on as a whole. Simple game playing can be a great way to help individuals bond. They can be fun ways to help a blended family learn to interact with and respect each other. They are a great way to help with communication, expression and relationship building. Today's technologies provide an excess of individual entertainment and activity. Television, video games, and iPods are the most common modes of personal interest for most children and adolescents. Add text messaging, cell phones, on-line chat rooms, IM and sites like Face Book, and the actual amount of personal interaction goes down dramatically. And all of these are barriers to talking and playing with your child, adolescent or family. Not to mention your busy schedule as a parent and adult. These family games are simple to play, so that even the youngest can participate. The goal is NOT to foster competition. The goal IS to have an activity that children and adolescents enjoy, while they talk. Many children do not want to sit and discuss themselves or their problems. (Many adults have difficulty with this!) Having a game that serves as a distraction, and allows short comments and inquiries, allows kids to express themselves more easily. During play, parents may want to ask questions about their child's life. This should be done gently, and always allow the child to answer in their own way, or not at all. Having a sense of control over their feelings and how to communicate them is important. Very young children will need to have rules explained at the start of the game. Take your time with this. Most people are initially drawn to the newness and parts of the game which are attractive (by design). Setting up the game, and covering rules may happen in parts. Also with very young children, playing by the official game rules may not be possible or desirable. It is OK to play by your own rules, or even create a new game with the pieces of the intended game, as long as everyone knows the rules and sticks to them. Many children struggling with personal issues will want to WIN, sometimes at all costs. Remember, this activity is not to compete, but to get to know your child or adolescent. Finding out that they are driven to win, or crushed if they lose, or if they cheat purposefully, will tell you something about where they are emotionally and give you ideas of what to talk about and how to help them. These games are short in playing time, so that they may be completed (an ending is important). They may be played several times, as many children relax and want to continue the interaction. Many times these family game activities can be scheduled as regular events, which are usually looked forward to. As an adult, your responsibility is to consider your child's needs, and to maintain fairness. At first you might find that they need to win or control the situation. But you might be surprised how skillful they can become when comfortable, and how insightful and expressive they are capable of being. Very young children, or children with certain Learning Disabilities, may need assistance with reading or with math and numbers involved with playing these games. Offer this help supportively, and let them struggle to try on their own if they want to. Children enjoy playing games. They can enjoy playing games with their parents and family with these activities. These games provide a fun way to interact with your child and family that can minimize arguing and conflict. They allow a way to treat children and adolescents as capable individuals, deserving respect for their skills and emotions. Children with social skill problems can benefit greatly from this type of interaction, since the game rules help to guide behavior and consequences. See the store section on Special Games for Specific Disorders for activities designed address emotional, behavioral, or social skill issues more directly.
The following games have been used for the above reasons over a long period of experience in psychology. The items offered are for your information, and links to vendors are included if you are interested in purchasing one on-line. Feel free to search the Web, or your local stores, for these and other items to use in increasing interactions with your children and your family. Have fun, and get involved with your child or adolescent. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please use the Contact Us form.
Just click on the game title, or the game picture, for a new window to purchase the item from our selected vendor.
Playing cards is the perfect way to spend time when families and friends get together. The Bicycle Family Games set has everything you need to start a game of classic favorites or to introduce new games to your entire family. Included are two decks of Bicycle playing cards, suitable for all card games, along with an authoritative and easy-to-use book with rules and strategies. Arranged by type of game, the Bicycle Family Games book includes information on teaching popular games to children with a range of suggested age levels, as well as more complicated games appropriate for older children and adults. In all, 25 of the best games for families are clearly explained, including:
I Doubt It Bicycle Family Games is the ideal way to bring family members of all ages together for fun and conversation. Every Double Decker includes an information-packed, illustrated book and two high-quality packs of playing cards from the U.S. Playing Card Company, manufacturers of the famous Bee, Bicycle, and Aviator brands. These innovative book-and-card sets are perfect for card players of any age, whether on the go or stuck inside on a rainy day.
Connect Four Game Travel Folio Milton Bradley Hasbro Games. The original four-in-a-row checkers game. Play anywhere. Take anywhere. Everything you need is in the zippered case and storage pouches keep checkers secure during travel and play. Easy set up and storage. 2 players, ages 7 and up.
The classic whodunit game! This Bookshelf edition is handsomely designed in a color book shaped box that sits spine out on most bookshelves, they are sure to please every fan of this beloved game. For more than 50 years, this mystery's kept everyone guessing! Poor Mr. Boddy's been murdered in his own stately home! Who could have done it? And how? And where? Was it Colonel Mustard in the Conservatory with the Revolver? Or did Miss Scarlet commit the crime in the Library with the Candlestick? With six suspects, six possible murder weapons and nine rooms in the mansion, there are hundreds of possibilities, and plenty of clues to investigate! For 3 to 6 players
Classic Sorry! Based on Marvel's most famous hero, Spider-Man. In this Special Edition of The Game of Sweet Revenge, join Spider-Man, New Goblin, Venom and Sandman in a race from Start to Home. Run, jump and slide around the gameboard to get your team home before your opponents do. You may hit a few bumps back along the way. sorry! But that's the fun and excitement that has made this classic game a family favorite over the years! Gameboard comes with deck of cards, 16 Spider-Man movers and stands, and instructions. Ages 6+ For 2-4 players.
Old Century Classic Seven-in-One by Front Porch Classics Connect with friends and family through seven timeless classics: chess, backgammon, card games, poker dice, cribbage, checkers, and dominoes. This elegant wooden game set is beautifully detailed to enhance any room in your home and will provide hours of unplugged family entertainment. Dimensions: 13"L x 13"W x 2.5"H For 2-4 players ages 8 to adult.
Updated to reflect today's life. Spin the wheel of fate! A family classic for more than 40 years. Good deeds earn LifeTiles and more money down the road. Includes: Gameboard, 6 plastic SUV pawns, Pink & Blue 'people' pegs, 3 Plastic mountains, Plastic Bridge, 6 Plastic Buildings, Label Sheet, Spinner, Stack of play money, insurance policies and bank loans, 25 LIFE Files, Deck of 36 cards, Banker's tray, Instructions. For ages 9 and up.
Battleship! You're the commander of your fleet, so prepare your strategy and lead your troops to victory! Call out your coordinates and mark your hits and misses. "D-6! "It's a hit! Try to destroy your opponent's fleet before they destroy yours-then remove the mission sheet from the command unit to reveal the battlefield. The new double-sided battle grid brings even more excitement to BATTLESHIP!
For generations, wooden blocks have been favorite tools for the imagination, allowing children to design and build whatever they wish! Our solid, rubber wood blocks are cut into a variety of fun, architectural shapes, finished to prevent splinters and slightly rounded at the corners to keep play safe. Best of all, each of the precisely engineered blocks -- in shapes including rectangles, columns, pillars, arches, triangles, and more -- are exactly related in size to the basic unit block. The block set helps develop problem solving and perception skills while nurturing creativity.
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