LilSugar

15 Favorite Family Board Games

LilSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:00:01 -0700

Board games are a timeless way to gather the family for an hour or two of fun. What child didn't satisfy a sweet tooth with a trip across the Candy Land board or become a small sleuth figuring out the culprit in Clue? While many of these great games have only changed their graphics over the years, new ones have also hit the toy store shelves. Take a look at our 15 favorite board games for families to enjoy! Source

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Do You Know Your Classic Games?

babysugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:00:40 -0700

There is nothing like a classic game night to bring back memories of my childhood. I remember sitting around the kitchen table and battling it out with my parents and sister as we played endless rounds of Uno and Monopoly. As I begin introducing my daughter to the world of board games, I thought it would be a good opportunity to see how well you remember a few of the classics.

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Mommy Alert! Cranium Cadoo Recall

LilSugar — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 06:00:30 -0800

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled 38,000 Cranium Cadoo Board Games that were sold between October 2007 through January 2008 for about $20.

The popular children's game's die has excessive levels of lead on its surface paint. Though no incidents or injuries have been reported, anyone with a board game lot number (printed under the plastic tray on the bottom half of the box) between 2007195 and 2007244 should discontinue use immediately, throw away the die and contact Cranium, Inc. at (877) 272-6486 to receive a replacement.

Bringing Sexy Back: Romancing the Home

babysugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Don't want to spend $100 on dinner and then fork over another $60 for the babysitter just to have a few hours to yourselves? Then plan a date night at home. When the kiddies are tucked in bed and mom and dad are all alone, turn up the heat with some of these easy ideas.

Set the table with the finest dinnerware. Pulling out some old china may remind couples of their wedding and all the hoopla that accompanied it.
Light some candles around the house instead of using regular lights.
Set up a picnic blanket and have dinner and wine on the floor.
Make popcorn and cuddle up to classic old movies.
Pour some champagne and fire up a big bath tub full of bubbles.

To see some more home date night ideas, read more.

Buy some massage oil and get to rubbing.
Cook dinner together.
Face off in a board game challenge.
Make sundaes for dessert. Don't forget the whipped cream!

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Junior Jetset: Tips For Traveling

babysugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:20:27 -0700

Whether by planes, trains or automobiles, traveling families have their work cut out for them. In addition to carrying all the essentials, parents must consider entertainment and comfort before jetting off to their oasis. Make for a pleasant trip and avoid any Griswoldesque disasters by heeding some pointers from a well traveled mama.

Pack an easily accessible carry-all bag that can endure 24-hours of travel. Include: diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, hand sanitizer, water, snacks and a change of clothes.
If flying, have the tot wear easily removable shoes and jackets as they have to deal with TSA just like us!

To see the rest of the tips, read more.

Bring some fun along: travel versions of board games, Crayons and paper, books, a DVD player, an iTouch or iPhone, and chewy bright toys for the babes. New ones are especially helpful as they can distract the tot a while longer.
Bring a special treat or candy for a brewing storm. An M&M for good behavior can go a long way.
If bringing a car seat along for the adventure, invest in a simple apparatus to help wheel the child along. It will keep mom and dad from lugging the seat on their backs through the terminal.
Bring as little as possible. Much easier said than done, just remember a sink and some soap can handle some tough messes and make everything new again.
Carry a small first-aid kit in case of emergencies. Fill it with Tylenol, band-aids, thermometer, motion sickness pills, sunscreen and anti-itch cream.
Lastly, relax. Kids can pick up on the stress from mom and dad so sit back and enjoy the ride!

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Tell Mommy: Should We Reinstate Etiquette Classes For Tikes?

LilSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:00:02 -0700

There was a time, not so long ago, when etiquette was not only taught at home, but in classes outside of school. Parents sent their lil ones to seminars to learn about proper salutations, placement of eating utensils and everyday social graces. A dining experience at a restaurant recently made me wonder if our generation of parents should seek out such classes for our kids. As I watched tots of all ages running around the restaurant - some throwing food to get their parents' attention - I could only imagine what Emily Post would have said if she were alive to have witnessed the scene.

A colleague recently told me about the etiquette classes her grandmother sent her to at Lord and Taylor as a child. She learned the proper placement of silverware at the table, where to put her napkin at different points in the meal and how to excuse herself from the table. While she may have learned these nuggets at 12, she carries them with her today and tries to instill them in her preschool-aged son on a daily basis. While he still has his moments where he is almost swinging from the rafters, he knows that noodles must be eaten with a fork, rather than his fingers.

Aimee Symington recently introduced an etiquette board game, Blunders, to teach manners and polite behavior in a fun and exciting way. Would you buy it or send your child to etiquette class?

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Toy Box: Family Time Fun Dinner Games

LilSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Get your kids excited about family dinners with a fun game that will keep them sitting in their seats! Family Time Fun's Beginner Dinner Games ($15) is a little tin box filled with 51 games to play while seated at the dinner table. The games don't require a board or pieces, just a mouth that works and food on the plate.

While some games encourage tots from three to six to eat different colors, others require them to make up a song about an item on the table and have each family member hide something on their lap while the kids try to guess what is missing. Great for keeping wee ones in their seats, Beginning Dinner Games is a great way to keep the TV off and the conversation flowing.

Toy Box: Playskool's Noodleboro Learning Games

babysugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:00:25 -0700

In this world of instant and text messaging, cell phone conversations and general rudeness, it is a wonder our children have any sense of social skills at all. Teaching children manners is never an easy task, but it becomes even more difficult when there are so few good examples. The team at Playskool recently introduced a new line of board games designed to introduce social graces to the junior set. The Noodleboro line includes three games that teach manners, listening and sharing. Each game comes with a book and CD featuring a story to go along with the game's theme and some fun songs that support the social skills. We had the opportunity to test out the games over the past week. Take a look at the slideshow here to see what we thought of these products.

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Toy Box: Grooving on a Groovin' Balance Board

babysugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Teaching patience and a balanced perspective to a youngster can be a brain teaser for many, dare I say most, parents. Toys that encourage learning that type of behavior are too few and sometimes plain boring. The Groovin' Balance Board ($98) may teach a tot a thing or two while providing them hours of pleasure. Children can learn to balance and play a labyrinth game all while strengthening their core muscles.

At $98, most parents will only want to buy one so taking turns will be mandatory. But if the lessons go according to plan, sitting out and waiting a turn will be a piece of cake.

Wee Are the World: Kids Being Kids

babysugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:00:43 -0700

Having a child with special needs can be challenging. Being a child with special needs is likely harder. When their peers run outside for recess or jump off a diving board, some tots with cerebral palsy or debilitating conditions find themselves watching from afar.

It's not so in Loganville, Georgia. The residents of the small Atlanta suburb built a special rubberized field in 2004 that allows special needs children, including those in wheelchairs, to scoot around from base to base. The games only last two innings, but it's all these athletes need to make them feel a part of things. Their healthy able–bodied peers aid and cheer them on as they round the bases. This is one situation where everybody wins - no matter what the score is!