We've happily entered a new phase here - one where everyone who wants to can be involved in some way in a family game, without the fear (albeit temporarily) of anyone actually eating the game pieces. With a season of maturity, our doors have opened up beyond Go Fish and Memory (though those still stick around too), and the family game range is happily being expanded. As the flurry has picked up in recent weeks, I've been cleaning out our game cabinet - rotating some things in and out, and taking stock to see what we might want to pick up for the winter months ahead. There's a healthy mix of the classics (this year we've happily entered the world of checkers and chess), and some more contemporary favorites, too. I compiled some of those in the SouleMama BookShop on Amazon so you can take a peek if you'd like.
I have to say though that some of the most entertaining of family games are the ones the kids make up. Sometimes I'll pick up a game at a yard sale when the 25cent price tag makes the possibility of missing pieces a risk I'm willing to take, only to find out that it's not complete when we get home. Instead of tossing the whole thing, I save out the best 'pieces' and gather them all in a tin together. Along with marbles, rocks, and other bits of things, these become the inspiration and tools of many a child-made game.
Rat-to-Cat is a new favorite, made by Ezra and based (very) loosely on Rat-a-Tat-Cat. An afternoon with some paper, pencils, acorns, a tea box, and some laminating paper, and voila - a new family game! Just watch out for that "Instructions" sheet...the rules seem to change each time we play the game. Hmn...
And Make-Your-Own-Memory, made this weekend. We ran out of laminating sheets (the horrors!), so I guess that's just what we'll be doing today. I have a feeling some Crazy 8's are going to be tossed into the agenda, too.
I'd love to hear what games your family is loving together these days!
