New Hasbro Board Games for All Ages
Whether it’s Boxing Night in front of the fire or a rainy afternoon under canvas, board games are sure to help a family while away a few hours together. Hasbro recently introduced a new version of the firm family favourite, Monopoly. For the Monopoly Cheaters Edition (ages 8+) players are actively encouraged to bend the rules and to “cheat to win” as they skip round the board, avoiding paying rent as they go. It takes a while to get into “cheat” mode but it soon becomes second nature… and lots of fun for the kids when Mum or Dad get caught red-handed! Fantastic Gymnastic Vault Challenge (ages 8+) is a game of skill that requires lots of practice and a little bit of luck. Each player has to launch the gymnast at just the right time in order to send him over the vault and to land perfectly.
Team Thompson became super competitive at this one but 9-year-old Isaac seems to have the best technique! The third and final game put to the test this month was Speech Breaker (ages 14+). Although aimed at older children and adults, we all had a go (from 6 to 46 years old!), much to everyone’s amusement. Each player assumes the role of a journalist. They then have to report live from the scene that’s described on their card without using any of the words printed on the card. The rest of the team has thirty seconds to guess what’s happening… it doesn’t sound too hard until you throw in a microphone with speech delay and a headset for the reporter that plays back their delayed voice.
This game resulted in a lot of laughter and very few correct guesses! Hasbro Board Games are available from High Street toy retailers and online shops such as amazon.co.uk. Prices start from 16.49GBP
Lonely Plant Kids – Travel Themed Books
Regular readers will know that we’re huge fans of the Lonely Planet Kids books… they’ve been lifesavers during long flights and airport delays! When a new batch of titles get released, we confess to getting more than a little bit excited… 101 Small Ways to Change the World is a lovely new edition with practical tips and fun and creative ideas for how every child can play a part in making the world a better place to live. From buying ‘local’ to taking time to talk to the new kid in class, the emphasis is on caring and helping out.
The Thompson kids read this one together (6, 9 and 11years), resulting in lots of family discussions on how to look after our planet and be kinder to one another. Ancient Wonders – Then & Now is a beautifully illustrated book that allows the reader to explore man-made wonders the world over. To take a step back in time to discover how and when each wonder was built, they can lift the flap to reveal more information… fascinating for readers of all ages. Team Thompson have already started to compile a list of “must see’ wonders for future travel adventures! If you’ve ever faced a lengthy (and unwelcome) delay in an airport with children in tow, you’ll know just how many questions a bored six-year-old can fire at you in an hour. This book might help provide them with the answers they’re looking for!
How Airports Work is an interactive exploration behind-the-scenes. Readers can find out what really happens to their luggage once it gets checked-in, how that large hunk of metal called an airplane actually manages to fly and what goes on in the cockpit. Take a peek and find out something new. All three titles proved a huge hit… Lonely Planet Kids books can be ordered online at lonelyplanet.com. All three titles are priced between 9.99 and 12.99GBP
Click to view article images:
