Truth: my boys are gamers. Given the choice, they would each be on a screen for all their free time activities. Needless to say, it takes a lot to engage them in anything that doesn’t involve a wireless connection.
We the jackpot a few weeks ago at the KidzVuz Holiday Bash, where the boys devoured everything at the Think Fun table. This is a company that I used to buy a lot of toys and games from when my kids were little but because they are learning toys, I honestly thought my children would turn up their noses if I tried to buy them again.
To my lovely surprise, the Think Fun games for older kids are just the kind of mind-twisting strategy games that keep my gamer kids coming back for more.
So, here are our suggestions for those on your list this year that could use a little non-screen fun.
Rush Hour
This strategy game is like chess on the Capital Beltway or Jerey Turnpike. It kept my boy and husband in a lively match for about as long as it takes to get home in, well, rush hour. Bonus is that it is easy to clean up and store so it will be great for travel as well.
Laser Maze
Alright so this one isn’t quite low-tech, but it’s still not a screen. The boys had fun with this one, where they had to use laser beams and mirrored pieces to navigate the game board and outwit each other to blast their rockets and win. I’m not going to lie, I think this game is pretty cool too!
Code Master
Truth-this was the game that first drew my son in and it’s very close to his beloved video games. That said, code master is really the behind scenes piece of gaming, so rather than mindlessly staring at a screen, they are using their minds to create the programs of their dreams. My favorite part of this? My middle one saying it was really hard but loving it anyway. What’s better than fun and challenging?
So there you have it. Three options for holiday gifts that don’t involve any kind of screens. Be prepared for old fashioned family fun!
Disclosure: I received these games for review from Think Fun after attending the KidzVuz party with a very enthusiastic boy. All opinions are mine or my boys’.
