Hansa Board Game by Uberplay

Product Details

Compete to become Master of the Hanseatic city-states during the 14th Century.Criss-cross the Baltic Sea in a merchant ship, always on the lookout for a chance to acquire valuable wares.Set up networks of market booths within the cities, which allows goods to be re-sold at the most advantageous time and increases your power and prestige.At the end of the game, the player with the most establishments and the greatest profits, is the winner.Hansa is an outstanding tactical travel and trading game for the whole family.

• GAMES Magazine Best Family Strategy Game Runner Up 2005
• International Gamers Awards Best Strategy Game Nominee 2004
• Deutscher SpielePreis 9th Place 2004

Perikles

Product Details

Perikles is a game from Martin Wallace. Players assume the role of a noble family seeking to become the leader of one or more of 6 ancient Greek city-states. The game plays out in two phases: In the first, players vie for area control in each of the six states, which end in elections. Players who win the election in each state can then "control" that state's army. In the second phase, players use cards to move their armies to attack or defend one of seven battles (each tied to a state, and you can't attack your own!) that are up for grabs that round. The gameplay mechanic is straightforward, with elements drawn from other Euro-style wargames (especially Martin Wallace's Struggle of Empires). What makes Perikles unique is the smooth integration of the area control/voting phase and the military phase.

• Each player represents a powerful Greek family with political influence spread across the six major city states of ancient Greece
• Players strive to become leaders of these cities, thus taking control of their military forces.
• With these forces players will aim to win glory on the battlefield
• Great strategy wargame developed by Martin Wallace
• Historical board game

Memory Pack

Product Details

Includes book, card and board game and unique memory bean bag.

• Includes book, card and board game and unique memory bean bag.

Wings of War: Recon Patrol Blister

Product Details

Boost your Wings of War battles! In the Recon Patrol Booster Pack you will find 2 new Maneuver Decks , with which to fly popular planes such as the Fokker Dr.I and new ones such as the Breguert BR.14 B and LPG Rolland C.II.

• Recon Patrol is not a standalone product. One Wings of War (WWI) game set is required to play.
• Recon Patrol Includes: 29 Airplane Cards, 2 Maneuver Decks (D and K), 1 Target Card

Disney Princess Memory Game

Product Details

It's the classic game of Memory with Disney's Princesses. Just flip over the cards, two at a time, and try to make a match. Find a matching pair and you get to keep them. The player with the most pairs at the end of the game wins! Recommended for children 3 & up.

• Contains 36 picture cards of Disney Princesses
• You find the matching Princess Card and get a match!

The Fourth of July - US History and the Dream of America

With the Fourth of July on its way, Americans are beginning to stockpile their reserves of hot dogs, hamburgers, coleslaw, sodas, and other heart-healthy snacks. This is the time when the whole family - often including weird relatives you never even knew you had - gathers around the barbecue or the picnic bench, or the tree your cat got stuck in when the neighbor set off a bottle rocket. This is the time to watch your kid sister in the downtown parade, or to go play baseball with you pals, or to hang an American flag off the side of your house. More than anything else, this is the time when Americans come together to put on a nationwide display of brilliantly-colored explosives - just as the founding fathers intended.

With all the festivity surrounding the Fourth of July, it can be easy to forget the history behind America's most beloved holiday. Did you know, for example, that John Adams believed July second would forever be celebrated as American Independence Day? After all, that was the day that the Continental Congress declared independence from Britain in 1776. In fact, although the Declaration of Independence was officially approved by the Continental Congress on July fourth, it was only a rough draft covered with edit marks and signed by a handful of members; the remaining delegates waited a whole month for a tidier, more durable copy to be made before they finished signing the document. Even some of the loftiest and most inspiring passages of the Declaration of Independence, which are typically attributed to Thomas Jefferson's mad rhetorical skills, were paraphrased from the Declaration of Rights that George Mason wrote for the Virginia General Assembly only months earlier.

Yes, the Fourth of July is a perfect time to brush up on your US history. Okay, so maybe not the fourth itself, but how about in the next day or two, when you've awoken from your food coma and your sunburn is coming along nicely. You can read about how the American flag painted in "Washington Crossing the Delaware" didn't even exist until a year and a half after the crossing, or how the so-called Boston Massacre actually consisted of five Bostonians who were shot for chucking snowballs at British troops, or how Paul Revere never shouted, "The British are coming!" but rather the far less catchy, "The Regulars are coming out!" These are some of the formative moments of the American Revolution that helped make America, the collective dream of a people, into a reality.

In that vein, the Fourth of July is also an appropriate time to reflect on the ongoing struggle that is our story. The American dream has come a long way since the formation of the United States, whose very definition was threatened less than a century into its existence by the Civil War. Or again in the time of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, when easy money and overindulgence resulted in the not-so-great Great Depression. And let's not forget that the American dream still remains a "dream deferred" for many minority segments of the population. So while we are entitled to celebrate our successes on this great day, we must also take a moment to acknowledge the distance yet to be traveled.

123 Mix & Match Game

Product Details

Pre-K & up. Three games in one teach number concepts from 1-14 in a fun format. Children learn number recognition and counting skills with 28 matching tile pairs. No reading is required.

• Learn number recognition and counting skills with the 123 Game
• Includes 28 matching tile pairs
• Games allow equal participation, regardless of age and skill level
• Excellent quality time activity
• No reading required

Sibling Rivalry and How to Prevent It

"Mom, He Is Looking at Me With His Eyes!"

How do you prevent sibling rivalry? Don't have siblings in your household? If it is too late to try out that only child thing, it might be time to start working on dealing with and accepting sibling rivalry. Yes, that's right: accepting it.

It is not anyone's fault; it is just what they do

Sibling rivalry is something that happens, even in the most perfect of families, even with the most idyllic of homes. (You remember Cain and Abel?) It is natural that Child A will feel usurped from his position as the baby. It is natural that Child B feels like the second string, reserve team. Wait and see what happens when other letters are thrown into the mix later in the game. Accept that sibling rivalry is going to happen. Accept that you cannot stop it or that you did not make it happen. And, accept that no matter how carefully you try, any intervention will look like you are taking the side of one or the other of these battling brothers or snipping sisters.

You cannot fix it all of the time

Your eighteen-year-old son can drive to his job and then to college classes without anyone with him, but your sixteen-year-old is still working on his permit and has to have you sitting beside him. This is not something that you decided, not a rule that you made. And while any reasonable person would understand it, there is no such thing as a reasonable sixteen-year-old. You walk in one day and find the two head-locked in the living room, the signs of their obvious scuffle all over the room. There is not a lot that you can do at this point other than pointing out the fact that fighting is never the answer and that you are disappointed in the behavior. Two-year-olds will fight over the same toy, even if neither wanted it before the other grabbed it. Twelve-year-old girls will be angry that they cannot wear big sister's makeup or high heeled shoes. It is part of their childhood and how they learn to deal with one another now can set up their relationship for life.

Disputes are fine, physical fights are not

Will the little angels go their whole lives without fighting? You are lucky if they can make it through an entire meal most of the time. Set the boundaries early, reinforce them early and then let them work these things out for themselves. The rules are simple: no name calling and no physical fighting.

Yes, you love them all equally but not the same

Okay, big mom secret spilling out: Equal is not the same as identical. You might love the funny way that one child grins, or the way that your son looks just like his daddy. You are liable to share something with one child that the others do not care about. Just because you and your youngest can sit under a tree and read does not mean that you like her better, just that you share a common interest with her.

Uncommon interests but common time

Just because you do not share the same interests does not mean that you should not spend time with your other children. Make an effort to connect with them, especially when they reach the ages that makes them feel like they are locked away from you the most. Let them know that you care about what they are interested in and that you care about them.

Remind them what family means

Look at your relationship with your own siblings to get a clue of why they are behaving like rabid wolves. If you have not talked to your sister because you are still holding a grudge for the doll she ruined when you were young, or rarely call your brother at all, it is time to mend fences so you can set a good example. After all, you get to pick your spouse and your friends, your family are the treasures you are given whether you wanted them or not.

Math Bingo

Parents and teachers are generally very well aware of the importance of a good understanding of math. Mathematics is not only one of the most important subjects on the curriculum, but also provides a foundation for other school subjects (including of course the sciences), and indeed many aspects of ordinary everyday life. The study of mathematics begins with arithmetic, which is the oldest and simplest branch of the subject - arithmetic of course includes counting, as well as addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.

It's well understood by teachers and parents, that, just like many other areas of life, regular practice at solving math problems can greatly contribute to improving a student's math skills. Practice however is not enough - students must be interested in what they are doing, or otherwise they simply don't learn very well. As a result, many teachers actively seek out new styles of presentation, and engaging activities for their classes. It is perhaps with this in mind that an increasing number of teachers are now adapting variants of the game of bingo for use in the classroom.

There are almost endless ways that bingo can be integrated into a math class - one of the best things about the game is that it is flexible enough to be adapted to a variety of different classroom situations. Most variations of math bingo require the teacher to play the part of the bingo caller, and for each of the students to be given a bingo card printed with math problems. As in the normal game, the objective of the game is to get a line of 5 items, however in math bingo the items are marked off by filling the squares out with the (hopefully correct) answers, rather than just crossing them off.

If you want to play math bingo, you will of course need bingo cards printed with math problems. That needn't be a problem - it's easy to print them from your computer - free ready-to-use math bingo printables, or easy-to-use bingo card creation software makes the job a snap.

Rio Grande Games Canyon Board Game

Product Details

Canyon Game Rio Grande Games. It's a canoe race and a card game all in one. Movement in the race is determined by the card game. However, there are plenty of strategic decisions on the river. The first one across the finish line wins. Author: Frederick Herschler, Players: 3-6 Aged 10 and up, Length: 45 minutes

• Canoe race and card game in one
• Length: 45 minutes
• Players: 3 to 6
• Age: 10 and up

FAMILY GAMES & TOYS Touch Chess & Checkers

Product Details

This hand-held electronic game with touch pen technology is the perfect chess or checkers partner and tutor! Play against the machine or a partner, or watch the machine play itself (AutoPlay). Numerous functions teach beginners and coach advanced players. Chess features include Hint Option (gives ideas for next best move), Great Games (16 classic chess matches you can follow), 34 selectable Book Openings for play and learning, Automatic Skill Ranking, Game Save (in memory), Threat Indicator, and much more! Includes batteries and protective pouch.Ages 8 and Up

Music Memo Game

Product Details

An all time favorite, the memory game of concentration that's fun and educational. Easy to learn but challenging to play. Players turn two cards up until they have a match. Player with most matched pairs wins. Music themed images include famous composers, pieces and locations. Set includes 72 cards total.

• Music themed Memory Game
• 72 cards depicting 36 images
• Includes a multi-lingual information booklet

Family Fun and Education With Board Games

Most families will own at least one board game, possibly Monopoly, Candyland, or another traditional board games such as Bingo, or Yahtzee. There are a variety of others available as well, and some of them are new and others have stood the test of time allowing for family fun, as well as an educational experience for all ages.

Scrabble is an educational game board, which helps introduce new words and spelling to young and old. Introduced in 1938, besides having a few variations developed through the years, it has stayed the same and stood the test of time.

Up words, another educational vocabulary and spelling game is well known for not only family fun, but it's educational use as well. You'll use tiles, similar to Scrabble, but can stack letters on top of others in order to make new words.

The old standard of Monopoly is owned by almost 75 million people around the world. Monopoly not only helps with math skills, but is a bit of strategic game that the whole family can play no matter how young or old. Besides helping with math, it also has been known to improve reading and comprehension skills, as well as give a chance for team playing, real estate education, as well as money comprehension skills.

Yahtzee is an old-time favorite of many, as it is a small board game type that only requires a pad designating dice throws, and a pencil for each player. Five dice and a cup to shake them in and math skills begin in proving immediately as you have to add up the dice in each throw. The nice thing about Yahtzee is that you do not have to have the traditional score sheets, but just need to remember poker hands and you can make your own.

Most of these types of games have been around for a very long time, because not only are they fun but educational as well. You'll find math skills improve, spelling and vocabulary can improve, as well as money comprehension, team playing, and many other sportsmanship skills. One of the best things about most of these traditional board games is the time spent with family. You'll be amazed at the conversations that go around the table during a long Monopoly game, or the fun that can be had with Yahtzee.

Boardgames can be educational and fun and that's what is so attractive about them. Even simple games like Candyland, and Chutes and Ladders can help a child learn to count, learn sportsmanship, and enjoy time playing with friends and family. Board games have been around for a very long time, and every family usually has one of these games tucked in a closet somewhere.

Math in the Real World - Why You Need to Do Well

Standing in front of bags of shredded cheese that are on sale at a rate of 3 bags for $5.00 I noticed that a larger bag of the same brand of cheese was being sold at its regular price of $1.50. That's approximately 17 cents cheaper than the "on sale" bags. In today's tough economic times, you have probably found yourself comparing prices a little more closely at the grocery store, and you may be shocked at some of the "deals" that aren't really deals. Without a firm grasp of basic math skills, a person could find herself falling prey to one of today's many marketing schemes. Your child will use the skills she develops in math class to accomplish many tasks throughout her everyday life, which is why you need to ensure that she does well in her math studies.

Spotting Real Deals

From tricky signs in the supermarket to "buy one get one free" sales, marketers are out for consumers' money. Those who have strong math skills are able to navigate the plethora of "deals" in the marketplace. Marketers count on consumers seeing the word "free" and thinking that they are automatically getting something free. The truth is, buy one get one free really just means that the items are 50% off -- a good deal, unless you can find something similar for 60-75% off the original price. Some marketers count on the majority of the American public not using their math skills. Understanding fractions and percentages is crucial to becoming a savvy shopper and keeping more of your hard-earned money. This is why it is so important for your child to do well in math class. She'll be better equipped to manage her money, a skill that will lead to a higher standard of living.

Math in Everyday Life

Shopping is not the only place your child will use math, although it is probably the most obvious example. For instance, if she wants to paint a room, she won't know how many gallons of paint to buy unless she grasps the geometric concepts that allow her to figure out the area of her wall space. Sure, she could guess, but she'll end up buying too much or too little and wasting her money, gas, and time trying to correct her errors. Another situation where math skills are used is with cooking. Your child will find that most recipes are too large for a small family, so she'll have to cut them in half or even in quarters. This task is impossible without an understanding of division and fractions.

The Current Mortgage Crisis

If the American people had a better grasp of mathematics, we may not be in the crisis we're in today. For a number of years, banks have been lending people more than they could afford. Those who understand how to look at their monthly deposits and expenditures are able to better decide on how much money they should take out. Your child shouldn't ever rely on other people to tell her what she can and can't afford. Instead, she'll gain independence by being able to figure out for herself just how much money she can afford to pay for her home. Math skills will be crucial when she is looking at her budget and deciding just how much of a house she can afford -- or if she's in a position to afford one at all.

Stores and lenders are not going to be looking out for your child's best interests. They are looking to make money. It is your job, as a parent, to equip your child to look out for her own best interests. Math skills are used every single day. Whether she is shopping for groceries or house shopping, math is not a subject that your child can afford to struggle to understand. Your student will be able to make wise decisions if she grasps the concepts she learns in math class.

If your child has weak math skills, talk to her teacher to see what you can be doing to help her. With the overcrowding in schools getting even worse, teachers are being handed larger class sizes and fewer resources. Although your child's teacher doesn't want to see any student struggle, she may not be able to offer your child the one-on-one attention that is needed. You may want to consider hiring a professional tutor to ensure that your child gets the help she needs. After all, math skills are skills that she will need as she faces decisions both big and small over the course of her lifetime.

High School Fund Raising Ideas

Students from different organizations in high school usually initiate high school fundraisers. These organizations sometimes lack the financial support of the school itself, not because the school is unaware of their situations, but because the school budget is already allocated to other school activities and development.

Most high school fundraisers are to enhance school activities such as the Junior and Senior Prom, the annual out-of-town travels and even the basketball and football games. School organizations like the Debate Club or the Drama Club may also try to raise funds for uniform, costumes and props.

Many companies offer their products and services for such school fundraisers. Some candy manufacturers, for example, offer more than half of the profit for all candies sold. They also go the extra mile of offering free shipping and free booth and banner set up to the needy high school. They sell some of their best selling and all-time favourite candies such as Hershey's Chocolate Bars, Snickers, Milky-Way, M&Ms, and more.

Other high school fundraisers auction off the talents of the students themselves. Some school clubs offer concerts, plays or charity games to the public for donations and ticket costs. A cheerleading group may offer to do a cheer camp or give dance lessons. Honor students might offer tutorial services for a fee.

To ensure a high school fundraiser goes without a hitch, always remember to check the financial and product information of the companies you are going to get as a partner. If during the fundraiser you experience a problem, discuss it with your partner immediately. Agree to take on only as much as you can handle. Usually the community will rally around the needy group and even if they don't purchase the product or service being offered, they may donate to the cause anyhow.

Educational Games

Learning is made easier if it is mixed with fun and play, especially for children. Playing takes a vital role in the growth and development of a child starting from infancy to early and late childhood.

During the first months, the behavior of an infant is purely reflexive, but as he becomes acquainted with the objects and activities outside his body, he starts to react by reaching out to grasp, feel, and manipulate whatever it is that catches his attention. The more they play, the more they become aware of their environment. At this stage, parents can help their children's learning process through games that can be done simply by showing or holding out a toy for the child to reach out and grasp. This helps the child to develop and control his motor responses, sensory impressions, and physical motions.

Early childhood refers to the first two to seven years in the lifespan of a child. At these ages, children show an increased ability to assimilate new pieces of information from which the foundation of conceptual thinking is laid. They find enjoyment and fun in educational games and activities that involve grouping of things or objects into same or different categories, playing of roles, interacting with fellow children, building blocks and puzzles, and other types of activities that can develop his mental and social skills.

Educational games are commonly used in schools as a teaching tool for easier learning. The child learns to adjust and control his responses since rules are set for the games. He learns the value of sharing, courage, patience, and self control as he mingles with other children who may be far too different from him. With parents and teachers around to give proper assistance during games and plays, learning, growth, and development can surely be successfully attained.

Brain Game # MK112 (kit requires soldering assembly)

Product Details

Just 4 LEDs and 4 push buttons provide hours of fun. The aim-of-the-game is to repeat a pattern, which is generated at random. The pattern is played both visually and audible or visually only (selectable). It features 4 difficulty levels, which can be selected at start-up. The replay speed gradually increases during the game, to make it even more challenging. Low power consumption. Microprocessor controlled. Auto power off.* Power supply: (3) 1.5V AA batteries (not included)* Dimensions: 2.0" x 2.6"* Similar to Simon Says* Ages 12 and up