Friday Family

 

  With snow and cold uncomfortable temperatures outside we are stuck inside a little more then we care to be.  So we do other things instead.  Board games it is.

  I have collected many board games over the years.  Some games I have bought over the years and others are my childhood games.  Either way playing them with my kids makes for some good entertainment and we are warm.

  Playing games with 2 children is a learning lesson.  You experience a variety of a variety of emotions, behaviors and if you watch closely you even catch them cheating!  I know right? Cheating! Now I have noticed cheating for kids is different.  Sometimes its obvious like switching cards or changing the dice but, other times are pure accidentally but coincidentally beneficial. Sometimes they are like magicians with a slight of hand trick.  I thought you were on the blue spot but some how your on the red now.

 This particular day Chutes and Ladders by Milton Bradley was the game of choice.  This game is for 2-4 players and suggested for ages 3 and up.

  You get to pick a boy or girl as your piece which is fun compared to only picking a specific color.

The spinner is fun to play with for advancing your space compare to dice too.

The object of the game is to start at 1 and climb your way to 100.

You get to climb ladders for good deeds such as baking a cake or helping a cat put the tree but, if you read a comic book instead of your homework you slid down the slide.

My kids get along pretty well on this game.  They laugh at each other when they slide down.  Sliding down all the time or on the same spot gets frustrating but they still want to keep playing.

It's nice to see my older child helping the younger one with counting or deciphering the instructions.  This is even a game that they can play by themselves without parental guidance.

When was the last time you played a game?  Do you still have your childhood games?

1970 toys (Wordless Wednesday)

I have searched high and low for some toys I played with.  These are not all of them which makes me think I was spoiled because this appears to be plenty but I had an older brother and toys did get shared between the two of us. So that makes me lucky he shared and smart parents to be so thrifty!

 My first record player!  Yep folks I have come a long way.  These are where the real vinyls came from.

 Every child was subliminally planted with the idea to become a doctor.  The cuff actually pumped a little and I used that stethoscope as a microphone and headset.

 A cruel game that had us sitting down for hours to try and arrange all the colors on the same side.  How long did it take for us to figure out removing the stickers and placing them all on the same side went much faster?

 Merlin! Not quite like Simon but  with the same concept of computer mimicking and interaction.  My brother had this game I was just jealous of the "phone" game.

Our wheels. The big wheel.  I have seen different versions of these now but not sure if they are completely the same.  Rest assured we were kings of the roads with these! Spinning wheelies and burning steam.

  The slinky was an entertaining toy as it seemed to magically move.   Such a fun toy until you got a kink in it then, it just wasn't the same.

 I actually saw this at my kids dentist office.  Another hypnotic toy.  Funny how water, rings and hooks can also amuse you for hours.  My kids want to play with them when they go to their appointments.

  Practiced my customer service, cash handling and math skills on this.  Also helped me learn some colors.  Match the money to the correct slot.  I always gave back exact change!

  I do have a new version of this game.  My younger kids like the suspense of the pending mess when the timer goes off.  Although I still don't know all the exact names of the pieces.

Fisher Price has come a long way!  Everything seems to be plastic.  My toys were a combination of wood, plastic, and metal.  I loved the bell on this toy (as much as the moo from the barn) and the ramp was always fun to roll your cars down.  I have a different version of this for my son as its relatable to children with the ramp and all not the bell or car elevator.

Getting a box delivered of these childhood vintage toys would be comfort and fun to share with my kids.

What were some of your favorite childhood toys?  Did you save any toys to pass onto your kids? Have they survived being passed on?