We are gearing up for The Million Minute Family Challenge here at home. Nationwide parents and kids will back away from the laptop, tv and cell for 20 minutes each day September through October to play board games together. And, no…playing online does not count.
Board games are like throw pillows and books–the coziest homes I remember always had a supply. My parents used to host annual New Year’s Eve cocktail parties capped off by marathon Monopoly games. Believe me, everyone had a blast. The times we spent together playing these games are a big part of what made our home a home. Here’s a list of seven suggestions for beginning a library of classic board games to help you cozy up and unplug.
Checkers
King me! King me! Nixon’s dog, the great equalizer. This game of logic and strategy should be first on your list. A set is easily found thrifting but, I do like the neat wooden version offered up by trendy toy maker’s Melissa & Doug. The checker pieces store on a string attached to the board!
Dominoes
Bones are always a good bet because you can teach a guest how to play quickly. They’ll be sure to catch on and begin beating you in no time. Many versions of dominoes are played worldwide so friends or guests might show you a new game. I prefer Five-Up, also called West Coast or Muggins. It and many other versions are easily played with the classic double-six set of dominoes. I like this inexpensive color-dot set in its own storage tin.
Uno
A splashy version of crazy eights played with a specially printed deck. I secretly hate card games. There is nothing worse than having an evening of fun soured by a sore loser who refuses to lay off blaming their partner for missing an opportunity or miscounting. Bluh! But, lots of other people love card games so you need a conflict-free option. Uno is just that..no partners. If you lose, blame yourself. Kids and adults alike really love this game so it makes for hours of multi-generational fun.
Scrabble
This crossword puzzle come alive may spark a few feuds and the rules are a bit prohibitive to say the least. But, Scrabble makes the list because it’s a phenomenon with a cult following. I’m a Word geek and love, love, love it. Instead of bringing a bottle of wine, wrap up a classic version of the game and present it as a host or hostess gift.
Operation
A real shot of nostalgia. This battery operated game of dexterity challenges players to “operate” on Sam–a silly-looking patient–by deftly picking up little plastic body parts with a pair of tweezers. Best thing, if any player has really awful hand-eye coordination the game becomes that much more fun. Hasbro has introduced versions that replace Sam with a talking Homer Simpson, Sponge Bob, Iron Man and Spider Man. But, the original is still the wackiest.
Parcheesi
This game is actually called Pachisi, an East Indian game that has been Westernized into Parcheesi and later on, the game Sorry. This game is simple but full of twists, turns and surprises. There’s lots of dice rolling and it’s best if you buy extra dice so each player holds his/her own set. Parcheesi is one of the least anger inducing games I’ve played. It’s quick, so kids have a chance to rack up a win and forget about their last loss. Growing up, everyone I knew had Parcheesi. The game board and pieces make me drool so, I want a retro set that looks like the ones I used to play.
Monopoly
Did you know that this game was actually invented by a woman? Lizzie Magie was infatuated with the concept of Georgism (single-tax) and patented a concept for a game based on its principles. Monopoly is a little further down on my list because it is bound to incite a fight. Who will be the banker? Who gets the top hat or the race car? Why are you cheating? Keep a copy on hand anyway. Everyone loves it and after all, it’s how a good number of us learned to count money. This set is a deluxe remake of the original 1935 printing. It looks very much like the one my Dad cherished so much and played every New Year’s Eve.
