Back to school! August 2016

Would it be safe to say, in all of your games, there are no losers? And if so, why is that a good thing.

Personal Portraits - 1 to 30 players, Adults Click for a larger image For Adults who like to talk over, reflect about and generally explore who they are and what is important to them in this ever challenging world. In a non-competitive, relaxed friendly format, we paint verbal portraits of each other using the image cards provided. The cards are both serious and playfully humorous. We rank the Images on each other's charts as well. How important, for example, are Family Reunions to Jim? More important than having a Car? And where do Politics fit in? To add to the enjoyment, there are Quips to consult, Koans to answer and Furtunes to consider, as revealed by the Gypsy at the end of the game. Rules provide for Solitaire play, a Couples version, and a Group version for up to 30; thus, this is a game suitable for a few or for Socials, Parties... Includes: 12 personal portraits charts, 600 image cards, 180 koans, 150 fortunes, quips booklet. © 1997My games are outside of the usual win/lose paradigm. There is usually an objective to be realized, but I don’t specify that if you achieve the objective, then you all win and if you don’t achieve the objective, then you all lose. What I do state is that at the end of the game, you determine how far along you got.

How many vegetables did you store away before winter set in? How far up the mountain did you get before you had to return home? Thus, there is always a measure of success to celebrate. This is more like real life and out of the box of rewards and punishments. I recommend studying the work of the psychologist, Alfie Kohn, who makes clear why being realistic is a good thing.

First Impressions 4 to 20 players, Ages 12 to Adult Click for a larger image The game that has everyone talking! Often we form first impressions of each other based on what someone likes or dislikes, or how they look or speak. This game, in a non-competitive, relaxed and friendly format, allows players to describe these first impressions using the Special Idea Cards provided. The Cards are sometimes serious, sometimes playful and humorous. Always thought-provoking. Some suggested uses: Ice-breaker & socializer Focus point for conferences Classroom aid to nurture communication skills Seniors recreation time Get to know each other! Share some laughs. A great resource for groups of young & old. Play quickly or take your time. Easily adapts to all situations. Never worry about being eliminated or losing. Includes: 10 personal charts, 220 card themes, rules. © 2003I also design games that are purely co-operative, in which the players are engaged in a process with no particular objective to work towards. Examples of these are such titles as PERSONAL PORTRAITS and FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Sometimes, people just want to play a game for the fun of it. And my definition of fun does not involve the shedding of blood and maiming of limbs.

AUGUST NEWS 2016

‘Tis the season for young and old to prepare for school. And when I say “young”, these days I do mean young. Reminiscing…I wasn’t 6 years old until November, so technically I was not quite old enough to enter grade 1. I watched with some sadness as my buddies went off to school, while I stayed home and even at that early age to amuse myself I invented games to play. My mother says that to this very day I still play games and should seriously think about getting a real job. But back to the present…our neighbour’s child is eligible for school. The little one tested with a strong pulse, is able to move her limbs freely and can say, Goo. Off to school she goes next month. Times have indeed changed.

Co-operative games have proven to require less teacher intervention than games where only one can win and everyone else loses. So, in the interests of furthering the needs of early and late education, what follows is my list of recommended educational resources.

Animal Trackers (c) 2014, Jim Deacove A CO-OPERATIVE PUZZLE GAME OBJECT: Look carefully and match the tracks in the Forest leading to the animal dens. When we arrive, flip the Forest card to see what animal we' tracked to its den. Then read the fascinating facts about the animal we found. Everyone has a part in helping to discover the animals in the forest. CONTENTS: 6 Forest/Den Cards, 6 Sets of Animal Tracks, Rules A GREAT GAME for a CLASS, for CAMPS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, for FUN RECREATION, and EDUCATION - where ever groups gather to play together. AGES: 4 to 7 PLAYERS: 2 to 12 +FOR THE YOUNG
Animal Trackers – learn about wild animals, their tracks, homes, habits
Beautiful Place – children’s ecology game
Early Years – early educational tools for math, spelling, story telling
Home Builders – puzzle together homes in different cultures
Ssh Mom’s Asleep – learning good manners and helping with the chores
Yard Sale – reduce, recycle, reuse
Zucchini – grocery shopping, menu planning
Birds of Summer - 2 to 6 players, Ages 7 to Adult Click for a larger image A Co-operative Card Game™. Players are parent Birds trying to save their Baby Birds from Predators such as Hawks and Cats. The cards provide 6 Places for Nests, 6 Birds, 6 Predators and 6 Kinds of Food. All the action takes place on the Neighborhood Chart. Predator Dangers are placed near the Neighborhood. Places to make Nests are played first, then Nests, then Food for each Nest, which attracts a Predator. Will we, the parent Birds, be able to chase away the Predator? Clever play will make all the difference, as we talk over our plans and make careful choices, with each player making an important contribution. This game is exciting and educational: memory, math and problem solving skills are nurtured as well. Includes: 35 cards, neighborhood chart, rules. © 2006SEVEN TO ADULT
Birds of Summer – birds, babies, predators
Let’s Go Digging – archaeology for kids
Let’s Go Sugaring – how to make maple syrup
NINE TO ADULT
Let’s Go Hiking – hiking skills, what to look for, what to avoid
Then There Were None – saving endangered species
BOOKS
Games Kit – paper/pencil games for math and spelling in any language Games Manual – active co-operative games for the young requiring little or no equipment
Explorers - 2 to 12 players, Ages 12 to Adult Click for a larger image The adventure scenarios in this game are the actual journeys of such explorers as Marco Polo, Nansen, Scott, Drake, Cook, etc. Players pick a journey, make preparations, assemble crews, and venture forth. They make the trip together, each handling different aspects of the expedition. Lots of adventure, and an educational eye-opener about the life of explorers. A good family and classroom game. Includes: 18 x 22" world map board, dice, land and sea log of adventures, money, crew cards, assorted charts. © 1982TWELVE TO ADULT
Explorers – adventure scenarios of various explorers based on their journals and diaries
New America – college level challenges to redesign the social system of North America
STRATEGY
Messages – create verbal messages, mental quickness required
Starwords – form words based on the photographs provided
Choices - 4 to 24 players, Ages 12 to Adult Click for a larger image A values oriented, moral dilemma game of discussion and evaluation of challenges that an individual encounters from childhood to old age. The situations and questions appear on cards with choices to make. Players can create their own responses and more situations to enter into the game. Any group that gathers for some learning about living will find this game a useful tool to stimulate values discussion in a non-competitive framework. Includes: 14 x 18" play pad, 4 sets of questions, for childhood, adolescence, middle years and old age, mover, die, game, complete rules. © 1976GROUP
Choices – a values game about making moral choices
Not An Island – talking and writing about how to get back to our Time Machine
Together – we form tribes and try to make friends and lasting peace

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